Democracy Derailed

by David S. Broder

Book Overview

Now in paperback, how initiatives are remaking our democracy, creating a hazardous new arena of politics.

Where once most state laws were passed by legislatures, now voters in half the states and hundreds of cities decide directly on such explosive issues as drugs, affirmative action, casino gambling, assisted suicide, and human rights. Ostensibly driven by public opinion, the initiative process is far too often manipulated by moneyed interests,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0156014106
• ISBN13: 9780156014106
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Good Introduction, But Off in Places

As a political consultant working in California, much of what Broder writes is familiar to me. That said, I am certain that, for many Americans, this text will be their introduction to this rather peculiar facet of democracy in the western USA. Broder does a good job covering the topic in broad strokes, from its origins, to the days when it was used infrequently, to its use now, often by powerful and wealthy interest groups trying to push their agenda, often with very deceptive tactics. While he does a good jobs on these topics, as well as bemoaning these initiatives impact on representitive democracy, he misses several important subjects.Most important, he does not deal with the implication of California's constitution (our basis law) being often radically altered by a vote of 50%+1 of the people who show up at the polls. Nor does he deal with how the legislature now often won't touch issues, figiuring that they will be covered in the initiative process. Most importantly of all, he does not lay enough of the blame on elected representitives whose failure to act in face of serious problems has led to many of Californias most famous initiatives (prop 13 and the problem of skyrocketing property taxes being the best example).As I said, this is a good introduction, but a lot more could be written on this important topic.

Good Book, but Common Knowledge for Most

Being a Californian, and one who works for a State Senator, I was interested to see what an outsider would have to say about our Great State. After chuckling about what some in the national media have said about California politics, I was surprised to see that Broder did a decent job in summarizing the recent proposition campaign in 1998. His book is a case study that follows the money, and the advertising campaign tactics meant to trick and deceive voters. Unfortunately, this tale is all too common in Californian's high priced television driven political process. Broder could have chosen any major proposition ballot initiative in this state and produced similar results. However, because Broder's case study and thesis is such a common occurrence in California, anyone with just a meager understanding of politics would have found the conclusion of this book axiomatic. Of course, this speaks to the well researched and truthful nature of the book, but I picked it up looking for special insight into the political process from a veteran reporter. Unfortunately, Broder's book shines no more light on the problem of money and the lack of checks and balances in proposition campaigns than already exists. I don't want to sound like a snob, and in all honesty, I would recommend this book as a primer in California's proposition campaigns, but it only provided a basic understanding and little more.A clear problem exists, and Broder does a good service in pointing it out so eloquently.

A thoughtful analysis

David Broder takes a serious and thoughtful look at the initiative and referenda process in the US. After developing several case studies from a variety of states, Broder grapple the tough issue of achieving a balance between direct popular control and the Constitution's representative framework. He does a good job of letting both sides speak for themselves rather than imposing his own arguments on people from both sides of the issue who often make their points quite elegantly. While some reviewers are obviously distressed by Broder's rejection of some of their views, I think most readers will find this book an excellent starting place for discussions on initiative and referenda's contribution to democracy and its many meanings.

A strong indictment of a dangerous trend

An odd phenomenon of American democracy is that trust of government and voter turnout has dropped as the franchise has expanded. As the legally empowered citizenry becomes more diverse, its differences become more difficult to deny. This poses a problem for representative democracy - good representatives who take the concerns of many into consideration produce laws through compromises that rarely constitute wholesale victories for any particular faction. The result is the disenchantment of many, especially some of the more newly enfranchised populations (voter turnout is particularly low, for instance, amongst young people and African Americans). The traditionally powerful - the wealthy - have, since 1979 discovered a new way to exert their dominance, in the guise of an old populist device: initiative and referendum. David Broder's new book touches on the philosophical origins of I & R, but its real value is its exposure of the money behind the industry. "Democracy Derailed" debunks the notion that ballot initiatives empower regular citizens by explaining the million-dollar minimum price tag to put a measure on the ballot in California. Broder details the layers of lawyers, media consultants, paid signature gatherers, and political professionals involved in simplifying and distorting the yes-or-no measures that have been mutating state laws in California and other states.The reality of I & R is chilling, yet its illusion of citizen empowerment is alluring. So, "Democracy Derailed" is not only fascinating and compelling, but it is also a terribly important book. The mechanics of democracy rarely generate the attention of issues they are designed to address. It takes a writer of Broder's stature to draw attention to a subject such as this. Will it be enough to stem the dangerous tide of I & R? Maybe not, but its an important step in the right direction. "Democracy Derailed" is an excellent compliment to 1998's "Paradise Lost : California's Experience, America's Future" by Peter Schrag and last year's "A Necessary Evil" by Gary Wills. Alan Rosenthal's "The Decline of Representative Democracy" takes a more academic approach to the state of state lawmaking and is also excellent.

Is Voting Always Good?

David Broder's new book is an outstanding example of what political journalism OUGHT to be. Unlike many political books, this is not just a tell-all rehash of conflicting personalities, but a thought-provoking assessment of an important issue that confronts the nation. Before reading this book, I naively assumed that ballot initiatives were inherently a good expression of the democratic process. Broder's book reveals how the process can be subverted by well-heeled special interests. I don't always agree with Broder, but he makes me think.