Have I got a political proposition for you

There's lots being said and written about the November election and the future control of Congress by Democrats or Republicans. And there are many state gubernatorial races, as well as votes for state legislators. But let's not forget the propositions, dozens of them.

There are numerous Web sites to help you keep track of what's getting decided where. The IRI has a cool map of red and blue states. Only here red equals initiative and blue equals no initiative. In this case the West is red, the East mostly blue.

Another good site:

National Conference of State Legislatures. Also, Dr. Daniel Smith at the University of Florida.

We're on a roll proposition-wise. This decade promises to see more ballot propositions than any in U.S. history. Back when the initiative and referendum movement started around 1910 there were 293. Then they diminished, until California passed Prop. 13 to freeze property taxes in 1978. Props began a rally that has become a trend.

Some states now seem to do all their political deciding by popular vote, with even legislatures putting scads of propositions on the ballot. Last decade Americans voted on 400, and this November alone there are more than 200.

Hot issues in several states: eminent domain, same-sex marriage, tobacco smoking, minimum wage, taxation and spending. Arizona will vote on minimum living space for pigs and calves. California votes on an energy tax. Missouri is voting on legalizing stem cell research. Nevada could legalize small quantities of marijuana.

There's not a single propositon about the Internet, computers, video games or broadband.