There is, as spelled out by the Founding Fathers more than 200 years ago, a difference between direct democracy and representative democracy. Rather than establish a direct democracy — one in which the citizenry votes on governmental decisions both enormous and miniscule — this nation’s founders had the foresight to create a representative democracy in which elected representatives vote on behalf of the people.
The purpose of bringing this up is not to spark a constitutional debate, but rather to discuss the merits of advisory measures that will appear before Clark County voters when ballots for the general election are mailed out Oct. 16. Of the six advisory measures — again, they are nonbinding — five of them deal in some fashion with mass transit. Important topics, sure, yet the measures are confusing and will settle nothing in the ongoing debate. We urge a “no” vote on Advisory Votes Nos. 1-5.
Consider Advisory Vote No. 1, billed as a “light rail advisory vote.” It reads: “Should the Clark County Board of Commissioners approve proposed Resolution 2013-07-17 which opposes any Light Rail project in Clark County unless it is first supported by a majority of the voters in a county-wide vote of the people?” A noble sentiment, yet an unrealistic one. A project that involves two states, the federal government, multiple counties and numerous transportation boards is not going to be impacted by a nonbinding vote in one of those counties. A “yes” vote on this measure will amount to so much howling at the moon.
Advisory Vote No. 2, billed as a “bus rapid transit advisory vote,” contains similar language regarding any bus rapid transit project — county commissioners would be advised to oppose “every” project unless first approved by a countywide vote. If bus rapid transit is established, will every bus shelter have to be approved by voters or commissioners will oppose it? Every pedestrian guard railing? Surely, voters have better things to do than to decide every detail of a bus rapid transit project.
