Disparate as the California ballot measures are this year, all have one thing in common: They are all initiatives. And this process of direct democracy is here to stay, so let's try to improve it. Here are two ideas to ponder.

Agree or disagree with Republicans, but it's a testament to the power of the state's minority party that the new budget includes no new taxes.

California just "closed its budget gap" by employing rosy predictions and accounting gimmicks which actually demonstrate that the state is in the red to the tune of $10 billion.

Voter apathy is an enormous problem in a representative democracy. Too many voters have either tuned out or turned off. They either don't like the candidates and/or don't feel part of the political process.