Initiative Process Is Not Universally Popular
Did the authors of Washington’s state constitution create a monster when they gave citizens the power to write law through the initiative process? Some readers think so.
“The combination of citizen-written initiatives and the tendency of elected officials to legislate by public opinion polls is a dangerous trend, as it brings us closer and closer to a pure democracy,” said Francis E. Kent of Four Lakes.
“Our founders chose a modified form of republican - representative - government because of the inherent dangers of a pure democracy, and a good example of a pure democracy in action is a lynch mob,” he said. “In a lynch mob, emotion, not reason, reigns supreme, and the rights of the minority are ignored.
“Emotional pitches driven by large sums of money in an era of instant communications can virtually turn an entire population into a lynch mob,” said Kent.
Kenneth R. Anderson of Spokane said he votes against initiatives, even those he agrees with. “The law that is written for the initiative by its supporters is generally self-serving and either too narrow or too broad in its scope,” said Anderson, who quoted a federal judge as telling him, “The best law is negotiated law.”
But Jonathan Swanstrom Sr. of Spokane thinks the advantages outweigh any shortcomings. “This is our right to shine a light on the subject for debate and then have the majority rule by punching the voting card yes or no,” he said.
“Lawmaking by ballot,” said Jon J. Tuning of Spokane, “allows demagogues to turn public misinformation into political power any time they decide to do so.”
Smokey and why they banned it
Restricting outside smoking during the Spokane Interstate Fair is sound policy, says County Commissioner John Roskelley. Besides inhibiting people’s ability to enjoy attractions, he said, smoking poses safety and maintenance problems.
“Even though there are ‘No Smoking’ signs posted near stalls and animal exhibits, there are many violations,” Roskelley said. “If the horse stalls ever catch fire from a cigarette butt thrown into some of the sawdust accidentally, horses and people may get injured or die.”
Cigarette butts also are time-consuming and expensive to pick up, Roskelley said. Restricting outside smoking means “one less headache for our staff to contend with and will make a big difference in how the fairground looks day to day.”
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