As a voter in Washington State, it truly was doublespeak. It had the kind of double negative logic that required you to carefully think about the words before you voted.
The voters ended discrimination, but special interests appealed to politicians from start to reinstate racial preferences for “marginalized” groups. The Legislature and those that wrote the initiative understood that the word “quota” should be avoided at all cost. But the allowed “preferences” based on percentages of the population were in essence quotas.
I hope this and $30 car tabs never has to see itself back on the ballot. For that to happen the politicians and the special interest groups will need to accept the will of the people.
Initiatives in Missouri are famouse for double speak.
I know of a number of conservatives here in eastern WA, including myself, who voted ‘no’ on the $30 car tabs. We do not deal with the Puget Sound transit situation and our tabs pretty much stay under $100. Improvements and maintenance do cost money. We are building a bridge here — badly needed - that wouldn’t have been started if the restriction had been in effect.
Also typical of most government regs and rules,"Thou shalt not, unless, except for....".