Direct democracy or representative government?

by Haskell, John

"In Direct Democracy or Representative Govenment? John Haskell describes the dangers and uncovers the logical flaws of politics-by-plebiscite as practiced in California and other states. Haskell makes the case that the populist impulse for direct democracy is as much or more a part of American political culture as the republican restraint embodied in the Constitution. In non-technical language Haskell uses recent discoveries in the social sciences to refute the populist position that direct democracy is the truest form of democracy. He builds on this to make a strong case for representative institutions relevant to a new century when the temptations for instant democracy by initiative and referendum or even over the Internet are greater than ever. He writes that checks and balances and separated powers are all the more essential because of our populist tradition."--BOOK JACKET.