Hello dodge ram.
At this point I can say that with Mint 12 " Lisa " it is the same issue with 2 Desktops when you configure the Compiz Manger to be the main manager.
To me it looks like Bug that will be solve soon.
The Bug is not in the Compiz - it is in the Preference (right click on the down Button Desktops ).
To bypass this Bug - open the Compiz settings manager and change the part that you see here in the screen shot:
- Compiz 4 Desktops
last thing for you is mark the Desktop Cube + Rotate Cube.
Then - Go to the Compiz Icon on the top bar = reload Window Manager and.....
- 6