And another thing …

State lawmakers are on the road to hear what the citizenry wants to do with the unexpected revenue surplus that’s piling up month after month. The public is torn between increasing aid to education and eliminating the snack tax. Dick and Jane or Little Debbie — a tough call.

Recent Senate hearings on charges that IRS agents are vindictive thugs who abuse their power and terrorize taxpayers were an unfair assault, a veritable witch hunt, against a group of public servants who instead should be praised for their diligence, dedication, wit, charm and impeccable attire. At least that’s the opinion of editorial writers who itemize.

President Clinton invited 100 TV weathermen to the Rose Garden the other day for a pep talk on global warming. Talk about your unintended consequences — the concentrated emission of hair spray blew a hole in the ozone layer the size of Nebraska.

Facing prison for faking citizen petitions in her last campaign, anti-tax crusader Carol Palesky is back with 58,000 signatures she swears are legit. We don’t doubt her, but what a surprise to learn that Joshua Chamberlain dots his `i’ with a happy face.

The Granite State is at it again. New Hampshire wants a special act of Congress to exempt its residents who work at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from paying Maine income tax, and it’s threatening the revive the old argument about which state owns the shipyard. Live Free or Die — another tough call.

Northeastern governors met in Rockland last week to discuss ways they can work together for the common good of the region. And, of course, to gripe. Seems every state has its own particular cross to bear: Vermont, the decline of the family farm; Connecticut, rising crime; Massachusetts, crumbling infrastructure; Maine, having New Hampshire for a neighbor.

Back to that revenue surplus, June’s was cause for celebration, July’s a pleasant surprise, but August’s has some legislators wondering if state financial forecasters are working with a blurred crystal ball. Stung by the charge, the economists say they’re right on top of things, and besides, Maine is not alone; states throughout the nation are rolling in unanticipated dough. In other words, they’re not doing a bad job and nobody else isn’t either. Or not. Neither.