I agree with Canie's idea of permitting one law to be passed only after there is a balanced budget.

As a lawyer (practicing appellate lawyer) I can honestly say that the law has become not only inaccessible to the layperson, but incomprehensible to lawyers (not that they hold any monopoly on cerebral giftedness).

I was involved in a case in August 2007 that resulted in three different versions of the same tweak to the Penal Code were fronted by three different legislators - all on the same side of the aisle. I was astounded that they simply could not coordinate and say, "Hey, let's organize and pass ONE version of this amendment." That would be too easy and each of them wouldn't get enough zip from the press.

I just plod along . . . knowing that, eventually, the meek will inherit the earth (carbon credits or no carbon credits).