The Greek Dilemma

Europeans Have To Be Given a Say in Their Future

The idea of a Greek plebiscite to challenge the European debt bailout plan may be dead. But don’t exhale yet. The world will soon see more European referenda that could force all of us to hold our collective breath.

The referenda are the likely product of a new European experiment in direct democracy that is being developed behind the scenes in Brussels and other European capitals–often in the same government buildings where European finance ministers are holding high-profile meetings to shape bailouts and save the euro.

Throughout the seemingly endless euro crisis, …

Do We Have To Take This Much Initiative?

Contemplating California’s Century of Direct Democracy

For a century, Californians have been making and unmaking laws at the ballot box thanks to direct democracy, which was instituted with the promise of leveling the state’s playing field …

This Doggone Direct Democracy

Would California Be Better Off Without Ballot Initiatives?

A century ago this month, voters approved Gov. Hiram Johnson’s plan to bring direct democracy to California. Today, some Californians wonder whether to be thankful for the effort. Ballot initiatives …

Our Insanely Direct Democracy

A Panel Suggests California’s Ballot Initiatives Could Work Better With a Lot, Lot, Lot of Changes

Some say you can never have too much wealth or too much good health, but can you have too much democracy?

California has one of the world’s most robust systems for …

Mend, If Not End

What’s the Single Best Thing We Can Do to Improve the Initiative Process?

California’s statewide system of direct democracy–the initiative, referendum, and recall–turns 100 years old this fall. Remarkably, the system approved by voters in October 1911 has not changed all that much …

Can Deliberative Polling Work?

Debating the Prospects for What's Next California

Ask Californians how to fix their state, and the answers aren’t helpful – because most voters don’t know the basics of how the state works, and their solutions are based …