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Show BY JIMCORMVELL MURRAY EAGLE What is it about involvement with government that gives some people the idea they're part of the team that's always right? Seems 'most anyone employed by government gov-ernment particularly the Federal monster mon-ster headquartered along the Potomac -eventually develops an attitude that emulates emu-lates that of the Kng's court in medieval times. In those days there were two rules: 1. The King is always right. 2. If the King is wrong, see Rule 1. Unfortunately, that's how it appears today to-day for those afflicted with Governmentia-praecox Governmentia-praecox a disease in which the victim is permeated with the belief they can do no wrong. For example, consider the new Susan B. Anthony dollar a queer looking coin that resembles a quarter more than a dollar dol-lar and is scarcely distinguishable from one If you're making change. John Public was disdainful when the new dollar was announced and has shown little inclination to accept it as part of the coinage. But the Government has decreed we'll use it or else. Or else what? Or else there won't be a dollar because the currency we've used for so long is being destroyed. In an announcement that's totally unlike the Federal government, we were told this would save money. Suzie will outlast the paper George Washingtons by 10-1, we're Informed, and the cost of production is only slightly more. So we'll save $50 millions annually in printing and handling costs. As you recover from the shock of the Federal government deliberately trying to save money, consider that $50 millions will just about take care of bookkeeping book-keeping and administrative costs on some of the billions spent so frivolously to research re-search the sex life of sand fleas or record the mating call of the Gallapagos turtle. If private industry had put the Susan Anthony dollar on the market, we'd predict astronomical losses, a swift tumble on the stock market and a demise akin to that of the Edsel. But this is Government. People just like the rest of us, it's true but imbued with a "freedom from error" attitude. Which means theSuzies will probably be part of our money til Hell freezes over whether accepted or rejected by the public. It's all somehow remindful of a letter written by a New Orelans attorney to the RFC during the course of seeking a loan for a client. The lawyer had visited the RFC's offices of-fices in Washington, presented the case, and been told the loan would be granted if the title to the property was valid. Returning Re-turning home, he performed an exhaustive three month study in which he ran the title back to the year 1803. The RFC's reply commended the attorney at-torney on the depth of his research and his able presentation of the matter, adding "Your abstract clearly demonstrates that you are not without ample experience in this line of your profession." But the RFC said it was holding up the loan because "You've not chained the title back of the year 1803 and before approval can be given, that will be necessary." After perusing the letter in utter disgust, dis-gust, the attorney called in his secretary and dictated this reply which was probably prob-ably mailed in an asbestos envelope: "Your letter regarding titles in Case No. 198136 received. I note that you wish the title to extend further than presented. I was unaware that any uneducated man in the world failed to know that Louisiana was purchased by the United States From France in 1803. The title to the land was acquired by France by right of conquest from Spain. The land came into possession of Spain by right of a discovery made in 1492 by a Spanish Portugese sailor named Christopher Christo-pher Columbus, who had been granted the privilege of seeking a new route to India by the reigning monarch, Queen Isabella. The good Queen, being a pious woman and careful about titles almost as careful, care-ful, it would appear, as the RFD took the precaution of securing the blessing of the Pope upon the voyage before she sold the royal jewels to finance Columbus. Now the Pope, as you perhaps know, is considered by many to be the emissary of Jesus Christ, who is the son of" God. And God, it is commonly accepted, is the Person who made the world. Therefore, I believe it is also safe to assume that He made that part of the United States called Louisiana. And I hope to hell you're satisfied." |