SAR #12087

In case you've forgotten, the government is us.

Better and Better: The National Association of People Who Sell Houses for a Living says that things are getting better and better, except those pesky new contract signings, which "eased" - that is went down - 0.5% in February instead of going up 1% like they were supposed to. Which means that an excuse will have to be made a couple of months from now when the houses they didn't contract for aren't sold.

Asked & Answered: Can the government force you to buy health insurance? Besides car insurance and Medicare, you mean?

Rush To Judgment: Thirty-five years ago the FDA determined that the routine use of antibiotics in livestock feed posed a danger to public health. Since then, according to a federal court, “the scientific evidence of the risks to human health from the widespread use of antibiotics in livestock has grown.” The court told the FDA it was time to do something with this information, so the FDA said it would study the mater.

Tour de Farce: Mr. Bernanke's lecture wasn't aimed at students. He was trying to shore up the myths supporting the current regime, with "bad or unimportant data" leading to impossible and "quite self-serving conclusions." Eventually the logic of simple math and the lure of political expediency wll result in inflation and hyperinflation as US dollars continue to be backed by the full faith, credit, and ability of the the Treasury to print more of them. "In this we truly trust."

Growth Factor: By 2020 at least 75% of the US population will be obese, with or without pink slime.

Two Masters: The director of the FHFA, which oversees Fannie & Freddie, is charged, by law, with making sure Fannie and Freddie lose as little of the taxpayer's money as possible – the taxpayers being the one's on the hook for F&F's losses. At the same time, the director answers to Congress, which wants F&F to stop foreclosing on the voters and get them to write down delinquent mortgages to help other voters keep their houses. Submit your solutions to this dilemma – in 25 words or less – for the usual prizes.

Factoid: "we human beings don’t really consume resources, we create them" Tim Worstall, in Forbes.

Where Do These People Come From? Pat Robertson claims that homosexuality is the result of demonic possession, which can be driven out by... Wannabe Romney says that Obama hired 140,000 more civil servants who just sit around all day trying to find ways to interfere with businesses. The truth is that over 500,000 government jobs have been eliminated under Obama. And Rick Santorum says that it is “bullshit” for the NYTimes to report what he says.

The Way We Were: Wall Street has made about $33 million in political contributions during the current cycle, 92% of it going to the GOP.

Inflation: At $50,000 each, the Afghans killed in the recent shooting rampage represent a serious increase in 'condolence' payments. Previously condolence payments were mostly in the $1,500 to $2,000 range, although generals could authorize payments of up to $10,000 if the deaths were sufficiently egregious. Back in the 1960's Vietnamese went for about $100 – or less, while the owners of the Michelin rubber trees were paid $600 per tree.

Stop The Presses! Research has discovered that financial advisers do is in their own best interests instead of what would benefit their clients.

Whether Forecast: After 7,000 new highs were recorded in the US in March, the National Weather Service observed that the warm spell was "historic" and unlikely to be matched in a lifetime. Which assumes you are very old and not in good health.

Porn O'Graph: It's a butte.