Print Column: Nobody, Not Even Voters, Should Be Able to Make Laws Unilaterally
MINOT, N.D. — The populist cranks slobbering about the initiated measure process and how it represents the “will of the people” have a hypocrisy at the heart of their argument.
I’m not talking about the fact that initiated measures often represent the will of bored billionaires (like Marsy’s Law in 2016) or a collective of Hollywood activists (like the ethics measure in 2018) who buy their way onto the statewide ballot with the help of in-state marketing firms and professional signature collectors.
Certainly you can say that is all very hypocritical too.
What I’m talking about is that the legislators, people the initiated measure fanatics deride as a cabal of elitists with no business resisting the supposed wisdom of the masses, are also elected by the people.
Their ability to make public policy is also a reflection of the will of the people.
