They can do it by circulating petitions and gathering a reasonable number of signatures from registered voters over a reasonable period of time to force a special election, or, they can do it when pigs fly. In Utah, where the Legislature prefers government "for the people" instead of "by the people," they can do it when pigs fly.

Our Legislature has made it nearly impossible to undo what they've done. Placing a repeal referendum on the ballot requires that organizers gather an enormous number of signatures, a figure equal to 10 percent of all the votes cast for governor in the previous general election. This year that means 92,000 signatures.

And, as if that's not enough, they add a double dose of discouragement: Those 92,000 signatures must represent 10 percent of the registered voters from at least 15 of Utah's 29 counties, and they must be gathered in just 40 days. Oh, and make sure the signers dot every "i" and cross every "t."

The requirements are so onerous, the chance of success so slim, that referendums are rarely attempted.

This year is unusual. There's a virtual run on the ballot box with a pair of petition drives under way, a grass-roots effort against taxpayer funding for a soccer stadium in Sandy and a highly organized effort by public school advocacy groups to repeal the state's new school voucher law. Both groups are getting an education.

As of Wednesday, the soccer-knockers were 57,000 signatures short and the public education advocates had 60,000 John Henry's to go, with an April 9 deadline approaching.

As you know, we're against public funding for private schools and the private soccer stadium, and polls have indicated the public shares our opinion. But that's not the issue here. We think the voters should have the right to make things right when they believe the Legislature has done wrong.

The referendum requirements are much too stringent. Petition organizers should have more time to gather fewer signatures, and they should be able to collect them anywhere in the state.

We prefer government "by the people." We want to see pigs fly.

The referendum requirements are much too stringent. Petition organizers should have more time to gather fewer signatures, and they should be able to collect them anywhere in the state.