The first law of life is that nothing is certain except death and taxes.

Sir Isaac Newton’s third law of motion is that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Apply these laws to politics and the result is California’s Nov. 3 general election, which has five propositions dealing with taxes out of 14 total measures.

When that many ballot measures deal with the same issue, voter confusion is not just inevitable; it’s baked into the system.

According to the Public Policy Institute of California polling conducted Sept. 4-10, thin majorities of likely voters support the so-called Billionaire Tax, Proposition 40, and also two measures designed to kill it, Props. 41 and 42.

Perhaps I can help clear up some of the confusion by breaking down what these propositions are about.

Proposition 40: Billionaire Tax

The headliner is Proposition 40, which would apply a one-time 5% wealth tax on the state’s estimated 200 billionaires. Those taking the hit would have five years to pay.

How much would this tax raise? It could be as much as $100 billion, according to the measure’s backers. Meanwhile, the state Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates it would generate “tens of billions of dollars.”

Where would this money go? Ninety percent is allocated to health care for low-income Californians. Education and food-assistance programs would get the remainder.

Republicans are united against Prop. 40, and Democrats are split, with Gov. Gavin Newsom leading the early charge against it. Newsom has since moved into the background as he weighs his presidential ambitions. But his initial argument holds firm: If passed, Prop. 40 will chase billionaires out of the state.

The prospect of Prop. 40’s passage also triggered Newton’s third law of motion.

One, it brought Silicon Valley’s moneyed class out of the shadows and into the glare of the public political arena. Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google and the world’s third-richest person at $266.5 billion, contributed $82 million through June 30 to the effort to defeat the proposition.

Two, it triggered two competing tax measures from the Brin-backed Building A Better California political advocacy group: Props. 41 and 42. Building a Better California received more than $118 million in the reporting period ending June 30, according to state records.

According to PPIC, 52% of likely voters said they’d vote yes “after reading the ballot title and label.”

Supporters: SEIU–United Healthcare Workers West, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, AFSCME California

Opponents: Gov. Newsom, billionaires Sergey Brin and Ripple Labs co-founder Chris Larsen, the California Teachers Association, California Primary Care Association, and California Medical Association.

Related Story: How to Decode the Minefield of California’s Tax Propositions

Prop. 41: Audit New Tax Spending

The intent of this measure is to cancel out the billionaire tax if it passes. In addition to requiring audits of programs receiving funding from the tax, the measure also ensures that the new revenue count toward California’s spending cap.

That cap, commonly known as the Gann Limit, stipulates that if the cap is exceeded two consecutive years, excess revenue must be returned to taxpayers, directed to education, one-time infrastructure grants, or to local governments.

If voters approve Props. 40 and 41, the measure with the most votes would be enacted.

On this measure, PPIC polling indicates 51% support.

Supporters: Building a Better California, Reform California, California Chamber of Commerce

Opponents: Those backing the billionaire tax

Related Story: How to Decode the Minefield of California’s Tax Propositions

Prop. 42: Ban on New Personal Property Tax, Retroactive Taxes

This also is aimed at submarining the billionaire tax. Again, if Props. 40 and 42 pass, the measure with the highest vote total takes effect.

The PPIC poll shows 54% support for the measure.

Supporters: Building a Better California, Reform California, the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California,  California Chamber of Commerce

Opponents: Those backing the billionaire tax

Prop. 43: Two-Thirds Approval to Pass Local Special Taxes

What is a special local tax? Think Fresno’s Measure P parks and arts tax or Fresno County’s expiring Measure C transportation tax. If this proposition passes, special local taxes that qualify for the ballot through citizen-led signature petitions will need 66.66% for adoption. Today’s threshold is 50% plus one.

According to PPIC polling, 51% of likely voters say they’ll oppose Prop. 43.

Supporters: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Reform California

Opponents: Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland; Evolve California

Prop. 3: Permanent High-Earner Income Tax

Back in 2012, California voters approved Proposition 30, which temporarily increased income tax rates on the top 2% of high-income taxpayers. Four years later, voters gave a thumbs-up to Proposition 55, extending the higher rates through 2030. Voter support for the hike increased from 55.4% in 2012 to 63.3% in 2016.

Now, organized labor wants to make this temporary hike permanent.

Who does the state define as a high earner? The tax applies to income over about $371,000 for single filers and $742,000 for joint filers, with the thresholds adjusted annually for inflation. Depending on California’s economy in a given year, the high-earner tax generates up to $15 billion annually for K-12 schools and community colleges.

The California Teachers Association has contributed $10 million in support of Prop. 3.

The latest PPIC poll showed 58% support among likely voters.

Supporters: AFSCME California, California Democratic Socialists of America, California Federation of Teachers, California Professional Firefighters, California School Employees Association, California Teachers Association, SEIU California

Opponents: California Taxpayers Association