In common with much of the country, such initiatives leave me neither hot nor cold.
As state legislators struggle to find ways to adhere to the popular will, some are now wondering whether it was a good idea to let people shape big chunks of the budget by voter initiatives, leaving the messy details to lawmakers.
Eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana, but they all did so via ballot initiatives, leaving the decision to the state's voters, not its representatives.
But the spectacular failure of the Clinton universal care initiative left politicians unwilling to propose another comprehensive plan.
As with those who supported the repeal of the driver's license law in California, the Bush initiative left many Americans wondering why elected officials would change the rules for people who live in this country only by breaking them.
For several hours, however, their unwillingness to take the initiative left spectators lamenting the absence of the injured Andy Schleck and the suspended Alberto Contador, who fought a classic hand-to-hand battle over the slopes of the Tourmalet on a murky afternoon two years ago.
Even Mr. Obama's decision to address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night to jumpstart his health initiative left some aides wary, given the inevitable parallels with Mr. Clinton's September address 16 years ago to introduce his ill-fated plan.
The initiative left the public with no way to tell if its money has been well spent, and no accountability if it hasn't.
