Proposition 13

With its constitutionally-mandated spending of 60 percent of the state's General Fund, lawmakers in California fight over the remaining 40 percent using a diminishing set of gimmicks to tout a budget deal.

California has a budget crisis that will drastically change the quality of life in the Golden State. Who's to blame?

How could California, the most populous and wealthiest state in the union, be reduced to such pathetic circumstances? It would be wrong to blame Arnold and only Arnold for what's happened. This is a collective failure.

Friends, we have brought this on ourselves. We have allowed greed and prejudice to substitute for reason and sane policy.

What a blemish on the name of our otherwise moderately liberal -- and fair-minded state, that we have allowed this hate-based measure to pass.