Season 1, Episode 8

For the many or the few?

The final episode of the season explores whether ballot initiatives can withstand the challenges they’re up against, and some groups are looking to initiatives as a way to strengthen American democracy.

Throughout the series, we’ve seen what can happen when major decisions are put to the will of the people. Initiatives are far from perfect, but will we miss them if they go away? This episode will explore whether ballot initiatives can withstand the challenges they’re up against, and some groups are looking to initiatives as a way to strengthen American democracy.

Our guests this week are two bold thinkers about the future of direct democracy. They've studied initiative outcomes and seen how they can work on the ground, and offer their thoughts on where we go from here. 

This episode also covers comes of the common criticisms of ballot initiatives, which are important to consider in designing measures and campaigns that are truly democratic and serve the many, not the few.

In This Episode

Chris Melody Fields Figueredo

Chris Melody Fields Figureredo, executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC). Chris has led BISC since June 2018, bringing nearly two decades of experience in advocacy, creating collaborative spaces, and movement building. She has devoted her career to social justice and ensuring our democracy works for “We the People.”

John Matsusaka

John Matsusaka, director of the Initiative and Referendum Institute at the University of Southern California and author of For the Many or the Few? The Initiative, Public Policy, and American Democracy and Let the People Rule: How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge. John is an expert on direct democracy and corporate organization who publishes in economics, finance, law, and political science.