Quote Originally Posted by maladroit
i still don't think getting married is a special right for ANYONE...it smells of prejudice (no offense) to even put such a question to a referendum...it wasn't that long ago that homosexuals were thrown in prisons and homosexual sex between consenting adults is *still* a crime in parts of america...would you put that to a vote too?
Hmmm?
I see an enforcement issue there. But where I used to live, gay male prostitutes would get busted at a local park, and many times it was not by a sting, it was both parties, I would have to really really check to be 100%, but I believe that there was some kind of additional charge for sodomy, specifically to the aspect that it was "the gay" sex. Maybe I am just crazy, I dunno, but I am pretty sure there are some laws like that.
Enforcement however, in light of an incident like I described, would be kind of hairy and messy if you know what I mean. I would not think that it would be practical. Plus, the re-offense rate once someone is in the joint! Could you imagine? I mean, I heard that there might be some gay sex that happens there, no personal experience so I am just speculating I guess.

Maybe to your bigger point, about putting it to the people in the form of initiative referendum, I don't believe it is the best process for legislation that a state government could do. Just my opinion, but we do elect people represent us on each and every level of government, that's usually their job, to me the ballot initiative is more direct democracy as opposed to a far superior form of government, a representative republic, which most states model, at least where I previously lived did.

I still don't see why someone hasn't made a constitutional amendment to eliminate the state income tax. I am sure you could get signatures for that.

There are good points to voter based initiatives, however I just think the negatives far outway the good, in my mind anyway.