Attention: Deficit Disorder

Every time it rains it rains
Pennies from heaven.
Don't you know each cloud contains
Pennies from heaven

--Pennies From Heaven, Bing Crosby

We're so sorry, Uncle Albert
We're so sorry if we caused you any pain;
We're so sorry, Uncle Albert
But there's no one left at home

--Uncle Albert, Paul McCartney
__________

''The federal government recorded a $1.3 trillion loss last year — far more than the official $248 billion deficit — when corporate-style accounting standards are used, a USA TODAY analysis shows (''Rules 'Hiding' Trillions in Debt.'')

Of course, our government follows the Enron school of creative bookkeeping, and so does not tally in all of its outstanding debt. But if they did an honest audit, it would reveal:

''Bottom line: Taxpayers are now on the hook for a record $59.1 trillion in liabilities, a 2.3% increase from 2006. That amount is equal to $516,348 for every U.S. household. By comparison, U.S. households owe an average of $112,043 for mortgages, car loans, credit cards and all other debt combined.''

''This hidden debt is the amount taxpayers would have to pay immediately to cover government's financial obligations. Like a mortgage, it will cost more to repay the debt over time. Every U.S. household would have to pay about $31,000 a year to do so in 75 years.''

Because real people like you and me have to cover that tab, we might get angry if we saw the actual black hole that is our government at the moment. The board which sets federal accounting standards is considering requiring the government to follow normal accounting rules.

Unsurprisingly, the White House and the Congressional Budget Office cry foul, saying ''the programs [Medicare and Social Security] are not true liabilities because government can cancel or cut them.''

I've noticed the same ethos in two small business transactions this week. Target stores and Pier I each assured me that my purchase could be returned at any time, given I saved my receipt. However, upon being approached for a return, both asserted their new policy of the two-month cutoff. "Sorry, but the rules changed sometime between when you purchased the item in good faith, and came in to cash it in."

Isn't that the new way forward? The New Deal is no deal. Cut bait when you tire of the fish in that pond--it's not like they can walk to another. Toss in a few melamine pellets and they'll go belly up. . .a lot easier to catch that way.