initiative and referendum process

[Joe Goldman <jgoldman@nipc.org>]

I very much support the use of initiatives and referendums to give citizens a direct policy making role. However, it is imperative that some format or medium be developed that allows citizens participating in a referendum to deliberate with other citizens about the issue. States that have referendums on the ballot should be sponsoring public forums and town halls where citizens can come together to talk about the issues and learn more about the pros and cons involved. Decision-support and communication technologies have developed to a point where large scale public forums of this kind are very possible and have been done successfully in many contexts.