Until Friday I was aware that the California budget deficit was in the order of $38 billion and in fact some weeks ago I wrote an article in which I was trying to relate this enormous deficit with the bursting of the stock market bubble and the manufactured energy crisis in California. On Friday I read the article "Conan the Deceiver" by Paul Krugman and I became flabbergasted to understand that

"although news reports continue, inexplicably, to talk about a $38 billion [California] deficit, the projected gap for next year is only $8 billion."

All at once I became suspicious of this mass media's deception to paint the California's deficit worse than it is, maybe, just for the political motivation to unseat Governor Gray Davis and increase the reelection chances of President Bush next year. Still now I don't know if the California budget deficit is in the order of $8 or $38 billion.

An editorial of the Washington Post reports today that "the state deficit stands at $8 billion, which Mr. Schwarzenegger would raise to $12 billion by repealing an increase in the car tax." Disconcertingly, the same Washington Post ran the article Calif. Near Financial Disaster: Hours Remain to Solve $38 Billion Shortfall last June.

We are living incredible times of an upside down machination of our realities and we have examples of more finest liars as Senator Issa says "this is the size of our deficit. Yes, that's right. OK. It's about $1,100 for every man, woman and child in California" while running up gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger mouths "No one, not even the economic and academic leaders, could make head or tale of the state's budget. We do not know what is being spent or where."

Thank you again Professor Paul Krugman!

References

Pertinent articles published in Ensign

Sanchez, Rene For Issa and Recall Drive, Long Shot May Pay Off July 8, 2003 Washington Post

deSantis, Mario Hello Mr. Robinson: Canadian Walter Robinson kisses the Bush Assets July 8, 2003 Ensign

Krugman, Paul Conan the Deceiver August 22, 2003 New York Times, http://www.pkarchive.org/column/082203.html

Washington Post Mr. Schwarzenegger Talks! August 22, 2003 Editorial

Sanchez, Rene Calif. Near Financial Disaster. Hours Remain to Solve $38 Billion Shortfall June 30, 2003 Washington Post

Fox News Transcript: Rep. Darrell Issa on Fox News Sunday July 13, 2003 http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,91783,00.html

Agence France-Presse Arnie breaks silence on policy August 21, 2003 http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7019157%255E1702,00.html