A new bridge from Windsor to Detroit?

Very interesting referendum taking place in Michigan on Nov. 5. It relates to the proposed, new bridge from Windsor, which Canada is saying it will pay for, completely - including access points from Detroit. The major legislators from rather  deep debt, Michigan are, perhaps naturally, much in favour, with its friendly neighbour . But, the family which   owns the current Ambassador bridge,  and has a virtual monopoly over nearby cross-border traffic is strongly opposed. And, by Michigan law, if they obtain sufficient signatures upon an appropriate petition, they can force a vote by the citizens upon the issue. Furthermore, if they disclose how much money is being spent towards advertising their cause (now up to 31 Million dollars) it can try as hard as they want to persuade their fellow citizens  to vote their way. Ontario has spent a lot of money already preparing for the entranceways, anticipating approvals from Michigan. One might feel that the cause is obvious. No cost to Michigan, a new bridge to help overcome, anticipated  increasing traffic. But there are some reasons, it seems, to oppose it, besides the desire to maintain the current monopoly. An editorial in the National Post on Oct. 31, points out many negative points  that might not have been obvious otherwise. Anyway, we shall see what the democratic voices of Michiganders have to say about the new , proposed international bridge on Tuesday. Would that we in Ontario had opportunities to vote upon some issues happening up here; (such as prerogation of parliament to permit new leaderships?)

Same-sex marriage voting in USA

Four states in the USA are holding referendums in November to legalize same-sex marriage. The Economist magazine in its Sept. 15 issue suggests that they are likely to pass. This despite the fact that at the last referendum on the subject , in California,  and at least ten other states, the public voted against the idea. Campaigners seem to be very active upon both sides in trying to persuade the voters. But according to recent polls more young adults, in particular, are moving behind support of the idea. Personally, this writer is very much opposed to the concept. However, if it is the will of the majority, then in a democratic society (in which many US states clearly reside, where votes of their citizens can determine issues), then one must respect such choices. If only Ontario was truly democratic, it could decide some issues that way also.  This would be rather than simply permitting representatives of parties to decide questionable issues, without in any way consulting their voters, as happened just a couple of years ago, re: same-sex marriage in Canada.  Maybe we citizens might vote the idea down, as in California, and elsewhere.