Keep referenda out of our state

Indiana’s lawmakers have barely gotten their seats warm in Indianapolis, but already at least one dumb idea has surfaced.

Rep. Scott Pelath, leader of Democrats in the Indiana House, has proposed that Indiana join a handful of other states that allow for citizen-initiated referenda.

It doesn’t sound as if he’s done his homework.

California led the nation in implementing referenda, swallowing the idea as a pure form of grassroots democracy. And what happened? Dopey idea after dopey idea was floated, some from the right and some from the left.

Some of the ones that won approval created serious problems for elected representatives and local government. Others simply sparked a series of legal challenges and questions about compatibility with federal law.

Trouble is, this country is not a grassroots democracy. It is a republic. We elect our representatives, and we hold them accountable at the polls as best we can.

Pelath probably learned that back in a high school civics class. If he didn’t, he ought to take a refresher course.

Our guess is that the referenda proposal was something of a “Hail Mary” pass attempt. Democratic lawmakers face a Republican super-majority again this year, and it’s easy to become frustrated.

Tossing out a wild notion is understandable in those circumstances. But it’s still a dumb idea. — J.R.