Take a look at Switzerland. Universal suffrage only became universally applied when courts forced the last holdout cantons, in the 1990s. They also recently refused decarbonision efforts because those would result in higher taxes.

Masses of common people are fundamentally unprepared for voting and compromising on important and complex legislation. That's why (supposedly expert) agencies and lawmakers exist, to handle that with some higher level goals and objectives and strategic thinking.

Brexit and whichever is your least favourite California ballot proposition

- dingledork, 2023-05-01