Donald Trump says he is campaigning to Make America Great again. Democrats like former Attorney General Eric Holder say that we are an "already-great nation." In politics, of course, both sides think it's great when their team is in charge but not so great when the other team holds power.
The reality of American greatness is far more complicated. In the summer of 1619, two contradictory strands of our nation's history began in Jamestown, Virginia. One strand was noble, the other was shameful.
As many as six citizen petitions could end up as questions on the ballot this November, covering everything from cruelty to farm animals to marijuana legalization to a special tax on millionaires. In all, as many as 35 petitions were filed — though only a handful made it through the certification process.
Direct democracy is alive and well, so it seems. But is that a good thing?
