Submitted 2 hours ago by Patnou@lemmy.world to [deleted]
Cynically? Because what they want to do rarely aligns with what people actually want. It’s far easier to just push through unpopular legislation and spin it retroactively than it is to run a full propaganda campaign ahead of a referendum and still risk losing.
Politicians only run referendums if they’re sure the outcome will be what they want, or if their hand is forced by the opposition.
why would they? america is basically under foreign occupation, that is how much your government cares about the people.
Can you be more specific? The US doesn’t have any mechanism for a national referendum on a specific issue. Usually when people use that term, they’re talking about mid-term elections (and reelection bids) being a “referendum” on a President’s total popularity.
Your link doesn’t mention Clinton at all, but starts with this:
Federal law does not allow national referendums in the United States where the general population gets to vote on an issue.
It happens at the State level regularly (in states where it’s used), but it’s not something a President can initiate.
I’m also curious as to what he’s referring to
You’d need to be a very popular president to do that and not embarrass yourself.
No such thing as an american presidential referendum. What?
Judging by what “conservative” (far right) politicians in my country say, they specifically don’t want to give people time off.
Because it’s pointless.
It’s a “feel good” thing in a Representative system.
devolution@lemmy.world 11 minutes ago
Brexit. That’s why. Don’t trust a nation changing referendum to a country of mouth breathing tools that are more concerned about what Kim K. is wearing than what a policy means.