Direct democracy (initiative process) is essentially a slap in the face of the legislature. It means that the legislature has failed to do its job and represent the people, and as a result the people have had to do an end run around them. Direct democracy, no matter how well-meaning the initiatives are, is essentially mob rule. Representative democracy, when it works, is better and safer. A responsive legislature is wonderful when it is responsive. The problem nowadays is gerrymandering and special interests that are not representing the needs of the people. @Caravanfan, you need to frame the question a slight bit differently. In an ideal world which is better, direct or representative democracy?. Right now we don’t have an ideal world.