A year ago, I would have been horrified at the thought of California, under the leadership of Arnold Schwarzenegger, holding a constitutional convention. Now the idea sounds appealing.

Ever since Prop 13 (the first of the great conservative disasters to beset this country), I've felt that the state ballot initiative process was potentially disastrous. Too many ballot initiatives win or lose based on fear-and-smear campaigns.

The state’s legislative districts are highly gerrymandered, leaving the Legislature influenced by the political fringe of both parties and unable to agree on practical budget matters or much else. State senators represent roughly a million people each, larger than most Congressional districts, leaving them out of touch with local needs. Further, the state is one of only three requiring a two-thirds majority vote in the Legislature on taxes and budgets, which leads to partisan fighting and long delays.

A constitutional convention can resolve those problems. Blame Prop 13 for the two-thirds majority rule regarding the raising of taxes. The law mandating a two-thirds majority for passing a budget goes back to 1933.

I strongly believe in the idea of governing by way of a simple majority. If the legislators screw up, then toss 'em out at the next election. That's a democracy. What we have now is not democracy -- it's a recipe for incessant gridlock.

The "political fringe" observation is spot on. Most of the country would be shocked to learn just how conservative -- and I mean crazy conservative -- many California politicians are. In Los Angeles, you can hear pinkos on KPFK and brie-and-chablis liberals on KCRW and Air America on KTLK-- but if you drive a couple of hours north or south or east, the radio blares nothing but country music and Jayzuss Crass. (And Mexican music. That's everywhere.)

We also have to get rid of our system of term limits -- another really bad idea for which we must thank the conservative movement. Term limits insure that legislators stop worrying about compromise. Why concern yourself with building up long term relationships when there is no long term?

The massive budget shortfall means tighter cash for colleges, the closing of emergency shelters for battered women and children, and the commutation of prisoner sentences. (Actually, the last idea has genuine merit, if we're talking about fairly minor drug offenses.)

Schwarzenegger will probably close libraries. If you want the taxpayers to be more tractable, piss off lots of moms.

Both San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom and AH-nuld support the convention idea. You won't often see those two on the same page.