"All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit." Texas Constitution, Article 1

It is Clear Why We Need Initiative and Referendum
By Denis Calabrese, Houston, Texas

As a new country, the United States was an experiment in a brand new kind of government. The great experiment was to see if the people could be sovereign, and government could be the servant of people. Part-time "citizen-legislators" would represent the interests of their friends and neighbors, and power would always be diffuse, not concentrated. Only those laws that were truly necessary would be added. The will of the people, not government as an institution, would be supreme. In this way, the founders believed that freedom could best be protected against the tyranny of power.

This great experiment was a fantastic success, leading in a very short time to the creation of the strongest, most productive, and most free country on earth. But corrupting influences are at work even in the most successful system on earth, and we are seeing the results today.

Power has become concentrated at the Federal and State levels. Even in Texas, where we at least still have part time legislators, we are not immune from the problem.

Incumbents have been able to create a system in which few races are even competitive. Only 24 of 150 House races are competitive races this year. When elected officials do not fear even the challenge of a re-election, they will be far less responsive to the will of the people.

Because of the tremendous advantages of incumbency that have been built into the system (free mail, gerrymandered safe districts, and their hand on a billion dollar money spigot), no longer can we simply "vote them out of office." The national and state term-limits movements are just one citizen response to this growing frustration over our inability to control who we have representing us.

Average people no longer have the most access and influence on their own elected officials. Professional lobbyists and well-heeled special interests sit with them in Austin, and spend an average of $490,000 per legislator.

We are awash in laws, so many that they literally cannot be studied or evaluated by any one person. Each of the last three sessions has produced more than1,000 new laws.

One of the best cures is to let citizens pass or defeat laws themselves, through voting. Many Texas cities already have this right. Twenty-four other states in the country also have this right. But Texas does not, and we should.