Referendums inoculate societies against extremists.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.
[Margaret Mead]

My comment on that:

Yes, and that is precisely the trouble. Think how "committed" the Bolsheviks were to destroying Russia's fledgling democratic institutions. Think how "committed" the Nazis were to destroying Germany's fledgling democratic institutions. Think how "committed" those 'Generals' are to destroying Burma's fledgling democratic institutions.

And think how various tiny ideological groups in our own societies are "committed" to imposing their prejudices upon the majority by pushing their control over so many of our institutions.

That's why we need the antidote of the citizens' referendums to ward off the viral infections of the lobby groups of whatever ilk: business, ideological, political.