Don't be lulled into complacency just because we have a deal to help close the state budget gap.

California's fiscal Kabuki theater has really been a study in human nature that, ultimately, could be the real threat to its future solvency and viability.

It's simple, really: Human beings don't do things until they have to, and we do things that we shouldn't for as long as we can get away with them. Think about it.

Does anyone believe South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford would've apologized to anyone if he hadn't gotten caught playing Gaucho Boy to an Argentine reporter, or that Rob, Arnie and Dawn would've humbled themselves if someone hadn't raised a stink over their transgender remarks? Do you think our lawmakers would have taken a pay cut if a vigorous press hadn't embarrassed them into it?

Look at our elected officials scramble: Suddenly they're cutting jobs, reducing services, eliminating agencies and consolidating commissions. Only now are they canceling plans, postponing projects and backing off the borrowing.

It begs a patently obvious question: What were you waiting for? What do you mean you're consolidating? If commissions, agencies, jobs and services are being curtailed today, that means lawmakers do know what they can do without. So why didn't we cut five years ago the things we're cutting today?

We didn't have to, that's why, because we don't do things unless we have to, and that's the real failure here. It's not that we don't have any money in the wallet; it's that when we had money, we did nothing to ensure its proper management and safekeeping. Hey, who needs discipline when you're not being disciplined?

So what changed?

The governor says it's the pressure: "People in Sacramento have to get to a place where pressure is mounting," he says. "Decisions only happen at five minutes to midnight. I don't know why that is. That's the way it is. That's the way it always has been."

But it's not just government. We voters are no better. The recession is replete with examples of rampant fiscal irresponsibility. We took out loans we couldn't afford, bought more house than we needed, took out seconds to finance RVs. Just 40 percent of us pay off credit card bills each month. That means 60 percent of us spend money we don't have.

True, we're spending less now. We're even saving more, and banks are only lending to borrowers who can actually afford a loan. But why? Because we have to. Because we finally got caught living fat and stupid. No one says you can't have an oversized house or an SUV – provided you can afford it. This isn't about excess; it's about common sense.

Our elected leaders talk about tough decisions. "These are tough cuts!" they say. They haven't a clue. Downsizing when you have to isn't a decision; it's a necessity. But cutting jobs, eliminating services and downsizing government you don't need when you have money in the bank – now that's a tough decision. But that's what successful people do. Successful people are successful because they're willing to make tough decisions other people won't. They don't like making them, either; they just do it anyway. And they don't wait until it's five minutes to midnight.

There's a lesson here. Maybe we're looking through the wrong end of the telescope. In private enterprise, if an employee can't do a job, what happens? They find someone who can. So when an elected official says the job is too hard to affect change, he's wrong.

Instead of demanding that government run itself like a business, why aren't voters treating it like a business? Choose candidates who will get things done, and if they don't, if they can't make the change, you make the change. We keep saying we pay their salary. Use your vote to find someone else to pay. That's the lesson.

If lawmakers finally delivered a budget because they folded over job cuts, imagine their conduct if they knew their jobs were on the line.

If they worried about IOUs, imagine their sense of dread when they realize you owe them zero loyalty.

If they panicked over losing their summer vacation, how will they govern if they know we can put them on permanent vacation?

I hate to keep beating this Howard Beale-like populist drum, but we're fighting human nature here and someone has to rise above that. We know they can't. That means we must, especially since all the lawmakers did was move back the clock to read, "10 minutes to midnight."

The best insurance against an oblivious government is a vigilant electorate. It's not Sacramento that needs the clock to say five minutes to midnight; it's us. If we want responsive and responsible government, courageous enough to make tough decisions, we voters will have to behave like it's five minutes before midnight – regularly, repeatedly, perhaps permanently. Are you up for that? Or are you not yet fed up enough?

Bruce Maiman is a former evening radio talk-show host for KFBK who lives in Rocklin.