A place for all things STL.
Ballot initiatives are like the one thing that seems to work well in this state gov
Well sure, that's because our population largely votes in favor of progressive measures. We voted no on "Right to Work" multiple times now, voted for Medicare expansion, voted for marijuana legalization, etc.
And then we turn around and vote in asshole Republican politicians who immediately work against those interests. It's because they know what's best for us, of course. /s
I don't think the state legislature working around citizen initiatives is unique to Missouri. I lived for 20+ years in Seattle -- Washington has a ballot initiative process as well.
Many years ago, a ballot initiative limiting the cost of license plate tabs (the yearly renewal sticker for your license plates) to $30 state-wide was proposed and voted on and passed. Then the state decided OK, the tab renewal fee is $30 -- we'll just make up the money by creating additional road taxes and fees. I never paid less than $100 for my tabs every year due to the additional fees, although the bill was itemized and "Tab Renewal" was always $30.
For the record, Washington has now, and had then, a Democratically controlled state legislature along with a Democratic governor.
You're probably not wrong, but in your example that's "the state needs X amount of dollars to operate, either we get it here or we'll have to get it elsewhere". Not "we as politicians know better than you what's good for you regarding how you live your lives".
Agreed -- Washington is a lot more socially liberal on the whole than Missouri, so that is the trend.
I just can't even with these christo-fascist GOP assholes. Why anyone supports having less of a say in how they're governed will always be beyond me.
Greetings from Kansas, though I grew up in Missouri. Both our states are gerrymandered to hell with bizarro-world state governments. "I can't even" with these people is right, though I sure as hell can vote in every single election. I hope voter turnout continues an upward trend over the next generation because it's increasingly clear that if we want things to run the way the majority of people want, we have to overwhelm the polls.