I'm always amused when election time rolls around and there is a big message to get out and vote. People always say it doesn't matter who or what you vote for just as long as you vote. If it doesn't matter then why bother? Why do we want people to vote who are completely ignorant of what is at stake?
When we have elections we almost always have two types of ballots, candidates running for office and referendums. Both of these types of ballots come with their own weaknesses.
Our form of government which we commonly refer to as a democracy is actually a Constitutional Republic. The constitution part lays out the division of power among the branches of government establishing checks and balances and guarantees the rights of individuals. The republic part establishes a representative form of government. There are several reasons why we have representatives instead of every person voting on every issue. Besides being unmanageable it is also unwise to trust important decision to individuals who are not educated to make those decisions.
So if we have a Constitutional Republic then why do we have state referendums? Because people are uneducated. Everything I’ve written above comes straight from Political Science 101. We have referendums because people get petitions to put questions on ballots or because Politians lack the will power to do their jobs or, something that has occurred much more often lately, to score political points. By this I mean putting a question on a ballot which is obviously unconstitutional but caters to the base prejudices of the populace.
We have a representative government so that laws can be debated and passed according to a strict procedure that involves a bi-cameral legislature and an executive. These laws are debated and molded, compromises are made and consensus is strived for. When we have referendums none of this takes place. What we usually get are emotional generalities on some political commercial. Then we end up with a law that was not debated professionally and is unconstitutional which quite often denies people their constitutional rights before it is challenged in court, ultimately being overturned.
Have you ever gone to the voting booth and read a state question and not understand what it means or what the effects of it might be yet they want you to vote on it immediately? What do you do in that situation? Is it wise to make up your mind at that exact moment without researching the issue?
There is nothing logical, rational, or wise about this process. Years ago I decided personally to always vote no on referendums as a policy whether I agreed with them or not.
Seriously, do you really want your redneck neighbor Jethro, who drives the 4x4 with the confederate flag license plate deciding constitutional amendments to the state constitution?
