The growing popularity of state ballot initiatives has some viewing these “direct to voter” efforts as a victory for democracy. At the same time, however, they can carry massive hidden costs that make many of them financially damaging to the citizens they are supposed to help.
The once-great state of California has been the poster child for the direct democracy process. Last year alone, Golden State voters were asked to vote on thirteen different state ballot propositions covering a range of issues, from taxation of commercial and industrial properties to voting rights to policies governing dialysis clinics.
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