Taking the initiative

This is an election year, for newly turned 18 year olds and the rest of us older than 18. Besides political offices, constitutional and charter amendments will be on the ballot, if each collects the required signatures.

That’s the reason they are called “initiatives.” In this state, relatively late to join the union, 1889, the constitutional founders took their fellow citizens seriously, respecting them, and did not “in any way limit the initiative and referendum powers reserved by the people.” That is the sole sentence of the first section at the start of the constitution, under Article I, Declaration of Rights.

This year it is likely that Initiative 1631, the Protect Washington Act, putting a tax on carbon, will be on the ballot. Starting late, but possibly making the ballot, is Initiative 1639, the Gun Violence Prevention, which will write measures controlling gun ownership into the constitution.

On the county level, our neighbors are pursuing a call for “home rule,” collecting signatures for a ballot measure directing that a charter be written for Skagit County.

Whether you are for these or against these or don’t know they exist, signing a petition is a step in the very democratic process of allowing and advancing debate. If the measures don’t get signatures to get on the ballot, they die for this election cycle. Once they are on the ballot, you can still vote them down. But your signature providing ballot access is an endorsement first and foremost in democracy. It is proof of your trust in your fellow citizens. Approval of that debate in the town square and in our communities is healthy and allows the iniative to go forward to a concluding vote in November.

Whether you decide to vote for or against any issue or candidate, signing petitions and going to meetings gets more information into the body politic and advances everyone’s understanding. Then when we vote, we will be better informed – or at least we gave ourselves and our neighbors the opportunity to learn more and debate the pros and cons of each issue and candidate.