Ah statistics, as Homer Simpson once said, "Oh, people can come up with statistics to prove anything. 14% of people know that." To which I add, 37% of all statistics are ironic commentaries on the deceptive use of statistics. All of this of course is leading up to... some economic statistics (from Time Magazine 12/16/02 pgs 36-37).

• Unemployment 6% -- Up 33% since George Bush took office.
  
• GDP Growth Rate down %45 in the seven quarters since Bush took office.
  
• Federal deficit up 167% -- tax cuts and the "war on terrorism" turned a $236 billion surplus into a $158 billion dollar deficit. Ken Lay would be proud.
  

But now that Bush has replaced the Treasury Secretary with John Snow I'm sure things will get better. After all who better than a railroad executive and Augusta National Golf Club member to turn the economy around? His railroad isn't doing so well, but then again, who's is? To be fair Snow will resign his Augusta membership before he takes office, but isn't joining Augusta such a "rich white man good ole boy" thing to do?

Speaking of Augusta, I'm reminded of a letter to the editor of Newsweek this week. The author's point was simple. When they let a rich privileged white woman into Augusta won't that be a huge victory for the rights of women worldwide? I'm sure a Nigerian woman facing death by stoning for adultery will feel much better knowing that a snobby company owning woman gets to place golf with a bunch of snobby company owning men. If I find that copy of Newsweek(12/16/02), I'll copy the letter.