Comments on: Here Is an Example From Oregon Illustrating Why I Prefer a Representative Republic to Direct Democracy http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/01/here-is-an-example-from-oregon.html Advancing liberty with responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy Mon, 06 Sep 2010 02:56:06 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: David Stokes http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/01/here-is-an-example-from-oregon.html/comment-page-1#comment-6360 David Stokes Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:28:17 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=12730#comment-6360 It seems that the plural of anecdote may indeed be data: http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/quotes-uncovered-whats-the-plural-of-anecdote/#more-33225 It seems that the plural of anecdote may indeed be data:
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/quotes-uncovered-whats-the-plural-of-anecdote/#more-33225

]]> By: Eric D. Dixon http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/01/here-is-an-example-from-oregon.html/comment-page-1#comment-5116 Eric D. Dixon Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:30:57 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=12730#comment-5116 You framed the issue as an example of why you prefer a representative republic to direct democracy. By that logic, every time a bad law is passed by a legislature or city council, you should frame it as a reason to prefer direct democracy over a representative republic. One example does not a trend make. The plural of anecdote is not data. Etc. You framed the issue as an example of why you prefer a representative republic to direct democracy. By that logic, every time a bad law is passed by a legislature or city council, you should frame it as a reason to prefer direct democracy over a representative republic.

One example does not a trend make. The plural of anecdote is not data. Etc.

]]> By: David Stokes http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/01/here-is-an-example-from-oregon.html/comment-page-1#comment-5115 David Stokes Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:28:10 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=12730#comment-5115 Thanks for the new information, Papillon. In my defense, the article I first saw about the story made no mention of that. With that new information, the new lesson to be drawn is one that our tax-exempt status does not allow me to make. Snicker, snicker... Thanks for the new information, Papillon. In my defense, the article I first saw about the story made no mention of that. With that new information, the new lesson to be drawn is one that our tax-exempt status does not allow me to make. Snicker, snicker…

]]> By: David Stokes http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/01/here-is-an-example-from-oregon.html/comment-page-1#comment-5114 David Stokes Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:22:16 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=12730#comment-5114 It was definitely not an instance of selective memory or confirmation bias. This is a blog where we comment on current events. The tax-raising referendum happened yesterday. If there had been an example of a positive use of initiative and referendum yesterday, I likely would have commented on that. It was definitely not an instance of selective memory or confirmation bias. This is a blog where we comment on current events. The tax-raising referendum happened yesterday. If there had been an example of a positive use of initiative and referendum yesterday, I likely would have commented on that.

]]> By: Papillon http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/01/here-is-an-example-from-oregon.html/comment-page-1#comment-5113 Papillon Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:19:39 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=12730#comment-5113 The tax increases, which would raise about $727 million largely for public education and social services, were approved last year by the Legislature, but later put to a public referendum after opponents gathered signatures in a petition campaign. from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/us/28oregon.html?ref=politics It is both representative republic (dessert topping) and direct democracy (floor wax). The tax increases, which would raise about $727 million largely for public education and social services, were approved last year by the Legislature, but later put to a public referendum after opponents gathered signatures in a petition campaign.

from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/us/28oregon.html?ref=politics

It is both representative republic (dessert topping) and direct democracy (floor wax).

]]> By: Eric D. Dixon http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/01/here-is-an-example-from-oregon.html/comment-page-1#comment-5112 Eric D. Dixon Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:22:28 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=12730#comment-5112 Both this entry and past attempts on this blog to denigrate initiative and referendum by pointing out some particularly bad result of a ballot vote have been instances of selective memory and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias" rel="nofollow">confirmation bias</a>. On net, initiatives are used far more often in service of positive outcomes — and have an astonishingly better track record in this regard than any representative body in the United States. There’s no doubt that the initiative & referendum process has led to some terrible laws being passed, but those drawbacks are few and far between. Overall, I&R has cut taxes, slashed spending, passed term limits, and increased government transparency. The drawbacks are especially slim when compared to the track record of legislators, who regularly pass laws that make the worst excesses of citizen initiatives seem like models of fiscal restraint. So, ultimately, I see the initiative process as one more check on government power — which is fully compatible with the structure of a representative republic. We might quibble about just how easy it should be to get something on a ballot, or what percentage of the vote any particular proposal should have to garner before passing, but direct democracy is an essential *component* of a functional republic. Both this entry and past attempts on this blog to denigrate initiative and referendum by pointing out some particularly bad result of a ballot vote have been instances of selective memory and confirmation bias. On net, initiatives are used far more often in service of positive outcomes — and have an astonishingly better track record in this regard than any representative body in the United States.

There’s no doubt that the initiative & referendum process has led to some terrible laws being passed, but those drawbacks are few and far between. Overall, I&R has cut taxes, slashed spending, passed term limits, and increased government transparency.

The drawbacks are especially slim when compared to the track record of legislators, who regularly pass laws that make the worst excesses of citizen initiatives seem like models of fiscal restraint.

So, ultimately, I see the initiative process as one more check on government power — which is fully compatible with the structure of a representative republic. We might quibble about just how easy it should be to get something on a ballot, or what percentage of the vote any particular proposal should have to garner before passing, but direct democracy is an essential *component* of a functional republic.

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