Why do we need Initiative? by Mike Ford, Austin, Texas

Government at every level (national, state, local) grows larger, more concentrated, and more intrusive every year. The Initiative process is the only tool available for de-concentrating government peacefully.

Consider - Every two years a select group of 181 persons are legally permitted to take $140 billion from 20 million Texans.  We are told that we have control over these 181 people.  If we don't like what they do, we can simply vote them out of office.

But we get to vote for only 2 of these 181 persons who are taxing, spending, and making laws that interfere with our lives.  The other 179 legislators are protected from our views.  We can't vote for them.

Consider - In 2005, the Texas Ethics Commission files show that $200 million was spent lobbying 181 Texas Legislators ($1,100,000 per vote). See report, Austin's Oldest Profession. 

If that $200 million were spent to influence 15 million Texas voters, that would be $13 per voter.  Clearly you have more clout when your millions can be spent to influence 181 voters, rather than millions of voters.

Consider - Last session the Legislature added over 1,500 new laws to the books.  How many of them did you ask for?  No one, including any legislator, knows what all these laws are.

Consider - Recently only 24 of 150 districts in the Texas House of Representatives had competitive races (where the margin of victory was 10% or less).  There was no opposition at all in 61 districts. And in 33 other districts the opposition was token - with margins of victory 30% or more.**

"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

**See research Mortgaged House by Lynn Tran and Andrew Wheat for
Public Citizen's Office, Texans for Public Justice, and U.S. PIRG Education Fund.