California's political farce isn't funny. It's a sorry example of bad politics, inept leadership and big money, sure to leave Americans even more cynical about politics and politicians. It also may turn dangerous, leading to more recall efforts across the country for spurious rather than substantive reasons. California is the country's largest state and the world's fifth largest economy. Blatant political opportunism there makes a mockery of our wide-open democratic processes to people watching everywhere.

Governor Gray Davis is no prize. He bungled California's energy crisis, though he may be proven right that some power companies defrauded the state. His financial leadership has been abysmal, but on this issue he is joined by governors across the country whose states are suffering huge budget crises. His strong-arm fundraising tactics rightly enraged friends as well as opponents. On this point, too, he is not alone.

While I believe most politicians are capable and principled, there are certainly some from both parties, from all states, who are pretty dismal. Some have narrow agendas that don't serve the needs of their constituents. Some are simply incompetent. Others are arrogant and self-important, characteristics few of us find appealing. Those are not good reasons to recall anyone. These officials have been elected by the majority of voters in their respective districts or states to serve a specific term. We voters don't always make great choices. Sometimes, we simply vote for the best of several mediocre candidates. We can always vote the bums out at the next election.

A recall is an extreme political action. It should be reserved for truly egregious abuses of power, such as corruption and other criminal behavior. A recall is an inappropriate way to win a seat you recently lost or to punish an elected official for making a decision you don't like. As California is showing us so clearly, recalls are politically destabilizing and chaotic.

Gray Davis won reelection as California's governor last November. Only a few months into his second term, he became the subject of a recall effort led by a wealthy politician who thought he would make a better governor. Now, that Congressman has pulled out of the race to replace Governor Davis, but over 130 other wannabes are staking their claims.

Meanwhile, the Governor is focused totally on surviving the recall, not on solving California's many problems. And deficit-ridden California is planning to spend upwards of $60 million on the election. That doesn't count the enormous amounts of money Davis and the replacement candidates will spend. What a waste of money and time!

Watching the California road show should make us reassess our recall laws. In Colorado, citizens cannot start a recall until at least 6 months after an official takes office. That may not be long enough, but it at least gives voters some time to assess an official's performance or to determine if someone has demonstrated malfeasance.

Recalls should be for criminal activity or truly egregious behavior, such as harassing or threatening citizens or employees. It should not be legal to recall elected officials simply because you don't like their decisions or the fact that they won in the first place.

Because elected officials subject to recall have, in fact, been duly elected, a substantial number of signatures should be required for a recall, certainly the same percentage as it takes to get an initiative on the ballot. In addition, to qualify as a replacement candidate, an aspirant should need to gain a significant number of signatures on a petition. That would eliminate the ridiculous circumstance where over 100 people, most with no qualifications to be governor, are on the ballot, and one could win with a tiny percentage of the vote against a recalled governor who loses with 49% of the vote.

Ultimately, it is the good judgment of voters that will determine the validity of a recall. But to put a state through this wrenching process should require a little more substance before politicians and voters themselves are put to the test. Otherwise, we could have democracy run amok and more cynical politics that undermine our great system.