State budgets by referendum? Uhh, no thanks

On paper, Chris Elmendorf and Ethan Leib have a great idea – let citizens vote on a budget — in this case, California’s — by referendum amongst a citizens’ caucus.

In reality, it sounds stupid and unworkable.

First, who keeps lobbyist from lobbying the citizen budgeteers? Second, how versed will these citizens be in seeing through “smoke and mirrors” budgeting? Third, given the selfishness of many Americans, what if these citizens just don’t care about passing on big deficits? (The authors say, after all, they would be randomly selected.)

Oh, speaking of that, do you select registered voters only? Then, already, it’s not so random.

In short, this sounds like the same naïve idealism that led California a century ago to be the leader in referendum, initiative, etc. Hiram Johnson, et al, unfortunately, didn’t have enough foresight to know the monster they were creating.

Elmendorf and Leib should know better; if they don’t, they ought to have their tenure at Berkeley and UC-Davis revoked.