Many, many people think that this is a better way to run things than for the citizens to give up control to, presumably, corrupt politicians.

The initiative referendum was passed at the urging of Hiram Johnson, the Progressive-Republican governor of California, in a time when the Progressives were a part of the Republican Party.  He also championed the direct election of U.S. Senators and women's suffrage.

At the time it was passed, it was a liberal reform. Especially since 1977, with the passage of the infamous Proposition 13 in California, which froze property taxes at the value assessed at time of purchase, it has come to be used by conservative groups with considerable effect. They are planning a referendum to overturn the legalization of single sex marriages this November.  But I expect they will loose.  Times have changed for some things.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."