I live in Massachusetts too, and I agree! In 2022 we had a few measures (spending limits on dental insurers for one) where any discussion began with "Why is this a ballot measure instead of a legislative bill?"
I live in Massachusetts too, and I agree! In 2022 we had a few measures (spending limits on dental insurers for one) where any discussion began with "Why is this a ballot measure instead of a legislative bill?"
The initiatives, it seems to me, are a relief valve for ideas which can’t get traction in the legislature. At times that’s good, forcing an issue with popular support to be addressed. But in some cases the legislature punting on an issue is for good reason.
Any how this year we have half baked ideas (mushrooms anyone?) and complex ones up for popular vote.
I don’t object to it being an issue on the ballot, I couldn’t resist the pun though. To me It didn’t seem fully thought out… you could grow 12 square feet of 3 types of psychedelics, but if I read it correctly you couldn’t actually consume it without licensed supervision. …. Seemed a bit of an inconsistency. Having gone back there is actually 15 pages of details which is dense and includes the creation of a commission. So half baked, while clever was not accurate.
At least in our D super-majority state, I'm actually glad that the legislature has the ability to amend the laws later. They're generally reticent to completely toss something the voters just approved, (lest they themselves be tossed), and this allows for corrections and clarifications of these long and confusing bills.
On the other hand, I wish we could do something about our overly long and legalistic summaries that the AG's office writes. They read like the terms and conditions of a cell phone contact and often nearly incomprehensible, even to a highly educated native speaker of English, much less to the larger electorate.
Unfortunately in California, we have gotten Republican initiated propositions passed such as top two primaries and an independent redistricting commission that our legislature can't undo and has enough public support that it will be hard to get undone at the ballot box.
I am largely in favor of independent redistricting commissions and very much opposed to extreme gerrymandering.
That said, only a fool disarms unilaterally. So, as long as some Republican-controlled states are carrying out heinous disenfranchisement through gerrymandering, I would have liked to see Democrats gerrymander California and New York to the max!
I live in Massachusetts too, and I agree! In 2022 we had a few measures (spending limits on dental insurers for one) where any discussion began with "Why is this a ballot measure instead of a legislative bill?"
Yes!
The initiatives, it seems to me, are a relief valve for ideas which can’t get traction in the legislature. At times that’s good, forcing an issue with popular support to be addressed. But in some cases the legislature punting on an issue is for good reason.
Any how this year we have half baked ideas (mushrooms anyone?) and complex ones up for popular vote.
Legalizing magic mushrooms seems to me to be a fine idea and a normal use for a referendum, although a legislative solution would be equally good.
I don’t object to it being an issue on the ballot, I couldn’t resist the pun though. To me It didn’t seem fully thought out… you could grow 12 square feet of 3 types of psychedelics, but if I read it correctly you couldn’t actually consume it without licensed supervision. …. Seemed a bit of an inconsistency. Having gone back there is actually 15 pages of details which is dense and includes the creation of a commission. So half baked, while clever was not accurate.
At least in our D super-majority state, I'm actually glad that the legislature has the ability to amend the laws later. They're generally reticent to completely toss something the voters just approved, (lest they themselves be tossed), and this allows for corrections and clarifications of these long and confusing bills.
On the other hand, I wish we could do something about our overly long and legalistic summaries that the AG's office writes. They read like the terms and conditions of a cell phone contact and often nearly incomprehensible, even to a highly educated native speaker of English, much less to the larger electorate.
Unfortunately in California, we have gotten Republican initiated propositions passed such as top two primaries and an independent redistricting commission that our legislature can't undo and has enough public support that it will be hard to get undone at the ballot box.
I am largely in favor of independent redistricting commissions and very much opposed to extreme gerrymandering.
That said, only a fool disarms unilaterally. So, as long as some Republican-controlled states are carrying out heinous disenfranchisement through gerrymandering, I would have liked to see Democrats gerrymander California and New York to the max!