Letter: Passage of I-732 would result in increased regulation and taxation

The Aug. 14 op-eds regarding the carbon tax initiative (I-732) focused on the environmental, economic, and energy impact of the initiative if passed. The initiative process allows citizens of states to decide issues through direct democratic vote, rather than state government legislation.

The Founding Fathers of the United States believed in limited democracy, meaning democracy was contained within the structure of a republican form of government. At the same time the people could make/change laws through democratic processes. The initiative process was enacted as an expression of this process.

The problem with the initiative process is, just because the people vote something into law does not make it a good law. Democracy should represent the best interests of the people. If I-732 is passed the people have enacted increased government regulation and taxation voluntarily. For the people who vote yes on I-732, they have lost any right to protest increased regulation and taxation through government legislation.

I believe that if I-732 is passed the fears of the Founding Fathers about democracy will prove true. Passage means a large sector of the voting populace is in favor of more government regulation and taxation. That does not bode well for our state or nation.

This story was originally published August 18, 2016 at 3:28 AM with the headline "Letter: Passage of I-732 would result in increased regulation and taxation."