<HTML>Jordan writes   > > I-695 was a voter initiative designed to cut the cost <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">> > of car license fees to $30 /year. It passed overwhelmingly, > > with almost NO organized opposition. > > It's I-695 that shows just how awful the initiative process is. </BLOCKQUOTE> I - 695? What about I - 601 the one that tried to limit tax increases to 1% / year or some combination of the CPI and population growth.... And then there was three strikes you're out... But how do YOU feel about the medical marijuana one? How awful the initative process is? A little elitist are we? Of course the initiative process is AWFUL. Of course it provides easy channels for people to make STUPID policy decisions. But I also think it's a safety valve for when nothing good comes out of the state capitol or when, as with Referendum 51, the state transportation improving 9 cent/ gallon gas tax increase, the state Lege is too cowardly to make decisions we elected them to make. Ian writes <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Yup, but it also shows just how awful state legislatures have become that citizens have seized upon initiatives as a means of last resort to create public debates. I'd assert, while admitting to being too lazy to defend the assertion with a monograph, that state legislatures are going to hell in a handbasket faster than Congress. If you think Congress is bought, the states have been bought for a far cheaper price..... Ian </BLOCKQUOTE> And for a lot longer time too, but speaking only for myself we out here on the left coast are glad at least to pretend to have some wiggile room independent of the central regime.... DoreneC</HTML>