Recent liquor Referendum in Washington State

Wine and spirits - they have been the cause of many referendums in the States, it seems. And just this past November a successful one in Washington caused that state to become the 31st state to privatize its liquor outlets (some 328 of them), according to the Economist magazine. It was helped by a record amount of a donation - by Costco, the warehouse store chain - of $22.5 million. The amount of money spent by proponents of one side or the other of a cause can create undue favouritism, some would suggest; and maybe the amount to be spent should be legally limited. But, people could say that that just creates an undue limitation upon the right to free speech. At least the monies expended were upon a much wider populace than within the few elected representatives. It must be harder to influence several thousands than for otherwise unknown lobbyists to influence the few who run the legislatures. Democracy is not a simple concept - but it is still the best!