I've had my absentee ballots for today's special election for at least three weeks, but I still haven't filled them out. I am really torn on how to vote on the various propositions, for many reasons.

1. The California Legislature is seriously dysfunctional. The 2/3rds majority vote for budget measures has made things worse. (Ironic how a simple majority was sufficient to deprive people of their civil rights, but to spend anything needs a super-majority.)

2. I really see the need for this special election rising out of that dysfunction. The Legislative isn't willing to compromise one single bit, so they've pawned the decision off to the voters.

3. I see voters being woefully uneducated about the true cost of providing services. You get what you pay for, folks, and you've been paying almost jackshit for many years now.

4. No matter what the outcome of the election (and they're not likely to pass), there are likely to be another round of cuts next year, almost as bad as this year's round.

I'm definitely in the minority out here in California - I think we don't pay near enough taxes. It simply comes down to you get what you pay for, people just don't get that. Or even worse, they don't care. Living in Orange County, I've seen so many anti-tax bumper stickers around here. It really disturbs me that people care so little about their community.

I'm going to vote yes on all of the Propositions, but I'm resentful that it has come to this point.