Ballot initiatives and referenda on federal issues could be made determinative … Or federal referenda could be made largely advisory, in effect telling the people’s representatives how their constituents think they should vote, a system that actually existed in four states over 200 years ago. In the decades ahead, the public also may seek the power to veto laws that Congress enacts, thereby enabling the people themselves to overrule any federal measure they do not like … From today’s perspective, none of these scenarios for the United States is far-fetched.
Predictor: Grossman, Lawrence K.
Prediction, in context:In his 1995 book “The Electronic Republic: Reshaping Democracy in the Information Age,” Lawrence Grossman, former president of NBC News and PBS, writes: ”Ballot initiatives and referenda on federal issues could be made determinative, as Ross Perot suggested be done with tax and budget decisions in a 1992 campaign proposal that generated substantial public support. Or federal referenda could be made largely advisory, in effect telling the people’s representatives how their constituents think they should vote, a system that actually existed in four states over 200 years ago. In the decades ahead, the public also may seek the power to veto laws that Congress enacts, thereby enabling the people themselves to overrule any federal measure they do not like. As we have seen, Switzerland, a country often judged to have one of the world’s most effective democracies, has long operated with just such a system. In Switzerland, within 90 days after a law has been passed, if 30,000 voters from at least eight cantons sign a petition requesting that it be put to a popular vote, the law must be brought before all the nation’s citizens to be ratified. A majority of those voting can overturn the actions of their own elected representatives. The Swiss have made the initiative and referendum process the preferred method of dealing with national legislation in their country. From today’s perspective, none of these scenarios for the United States is far-fetched.”
Biography:Lawrence Grossman wrote the book “The Electronic Republic: Reshaping Democracy in an Information Age” (Penguin, 1995). The former executive at NBC and PBS urged people to realize that digital communications had altered how things can and should be done. (Author/Editor/Journalist.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Global Relationships/Politics
Subtopic: Democracy
Name of publication: The Electronic Republic (book)
Title, headline, chapter name: Chapter 7: The Shape of the Electronic Republic: The Citizens, the Congress, the Presidency, and the Judiciary
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 152
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne