DEMOCRACY DERAILED: Initiative Campaigns and the Power of Money
Author: David Broder

Publisher: Harcourt Brace & Company,
March 2000

Washington Post columnist David Broder has been called the dean of American political journalism. Indeed, he may be one of the last political journalists having a shred of unbiased credibility with the American people. Broder's book nails moneyed interest schemes to subvert the initiative process, but he fails to recognize the people's need for more democracy.

DEMOCRACY DERAILED misses the real purpose of the right of initiative, referendum and recall, which is aptly written in Article II, Section 1 of the California Constitution: "All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their protection, security and benefit, and they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require."

California's Proposition 13 "tax revolt" revived the initiative process and it spread across the country jolting local and state governments, which decried common sense tax limitation as destructive to public education and government services. Time proved Prop 13 opponents wrong. However, it did not resolve government's subversion of voter mandates or special interests using the courts to overturn initiatives, until it became nearly impossible for the people to reform government.

Unfortunately, sovereign power, which is supposed to rest with the people, has been derailed, not only by moneyed interests but by government itself. Clearly, the initiative process is so costly and increasingly restrictive, that ordinary citizens have little time or opportunity to experience their right to participate in self-government.

The condescending view of citizens is nothing new. It began with Plato saying the people were too ignorant and unsophisticated to govern themselves. Many of the founders subscribed to that view. Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine did not. Since then, the majority of people have been increasingly indoctrinated into believing it through constant reminders from political mercenaries, academics, the courts and media elites.

Undoubtedly, Broder's efforts are well-intentioned, but America has already been overly assaulted by selfish interests and battered by the failures of good intentions. And it's rather hypocritical for the elite to use the term "democracy" when they want the people's attention and support, then revert to the term "republic" when they don't.

Though elements of society have become too superficial, self-absorbed and vulnerable to extremes, the elite tend to paint the public with broad strokes of contempt, as evidenced by the growing parade of shallow political books. Alas, it is difficult at best for anyone looking down from such lofty views to understand what it's really like down here in the trenches of democracy.