01:00 AM EST on Sunday, March 26, 2006

When 20,000 signatures were submitted to the Rhode Island legislature in support of voter initiative, I wondered how long it would take the politicians to respond. The answer was two days, and the response was what was expected: Voter initiative leads to government by special interests! This is an insulting response from our legislators.

There are really two issues here: the role of special interests and the voters' competence to handle the situation. Let's look at the second issue first.

The Rhode Island voters have a pretty good record at the polls. They vote on everyone from city councilors and school-board members to the president of the United States. Given the sometimes dodgy choices they are faced with, overall they do a remarkably good job. In addition, voters vote on bond issues and other issues of interest at the city level, and again, their record is good. Lastly, voter initiative is available in a number of towns in Rhode Island, and again those voters have handled the process well.

Overall, I think everyone, except our state legislators, believes Rhode Island voters can handle the responsibilities of voter initiative. It is interesting that on the issue of a casino, the legislature wants to place the issue before the voters, just as a voter initiative would place an issue before the voters. Either we are competent or we are not: Which is it, Legislators?

Which brings up the role of special interests. And here we have to listen to our legislators with awed respect, because if anyone knows about selling out to the special interests, they do. Harrah's, CVS . . . the list is endless.

Will special interests have a role to play in a voter initiative? Perhaps. Can the voters do a worse job of controlling the special interests than have our legislators? Of course not. Actually, can anyone do a worse job than they do? I don't think so.

We need to remember that politics in New England started off as a pure democracy, with town meetings where everyone had their say and community agreement was reached. When populations and distances became too great, a second and inferior type of government, representative government, was devised. In Rhode Island, in too many cases, representative government has failed the people. It is time for the people to take back some of the power they have given the legislature.

Voter initiative is the tool to accomplish that. Keep track of how your legislator votes on voter initiative. If he or she votes against it, ask that person why they think you are incompetent to handle your responsibilities at the ballot box. Because that is what their vote is saying.

JOSPEH H. WEAVER

Warwick