initiative and referendum

Oregon was a proud, early leader in direct democracy. By 1904 it had elected a Populist governor and adopted the "Oregon System" of Initiative and Referendum. (See the above map, where blue shows states where citizens have full I&R and the right to amend their Constitutions). But it's all under attack.

They took all our rights and put ‘em in a museum
And they charged the people a dollar and a half to see them
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got till it's gone

(With props to Joni Mitchell and Counting Crows)