Musings of a Dumb Ass

Musings of a Dumb Ass...... A few weeks back the good Governor of my home state (Missouri) announced several hundreds of millions of dollars in unexpected revenues had came in to the state coffers and blamed the good fortune on a better than expected economy, which of course was due to the efficiency of his administration. While I am grateful of anything resembling efficiency in any part of government I resent the governments assumption that its subjects are too stupid to understand the probability of a great lie when slapped in the head with it. While appreciating my good Governer's ability to recognize an opportunity to take advantage of a situation, I do hope he also realizes there are those who would find a statement of that kind highly suspect. Instead of a growing economy in real terms, a better way to explain extra income for the state would be to explain the effects of inflation. The art of deception has become so brazen that truth is seldom necessary in the rawest terms, but here's a probable reason for the extra cash. My state has all the usual fees and licenses it feels is fair to its inhabitants, of which many have increased reflecting the ravages of inflation, plus the income tax taken from it's workers, most of which because of inflation are making a little more each year, therefore their tax check to the state is for a larger amount, plus its sales tax revenue, which may be the largest contributor to the surprise windfall and the easiest explained. In countryboy terms here's the rusty on it and how the great lies can decieve us so completely. The federal government released its estimated inflation rate for 2005 at a laughable 4.2%. Transalated that means theoretically, on December 31, 2004, if you went out and spent exactly $100.00 on a variety of goods and services, on December 31, 2005, you should be able to buy exactly the same goods and services for $104.20. I would defy any one to do that, which is the result of the most devastating results of the greatest lie we've been told. In my world, everthing I touch and purchase is far beyond the published inflation rate. So why would the Government peddle such atrocious and damaging poppycock? Why not simply say it like it is? For one thing, the legislated cost of living raise due anyone recieving a Government check would bankrupt us, next, because they can, last, because we let them. Why? Because we're not informed and don't want to be......................