And another thing …

Several years ago, as Maine finally began recovering from the recession of the early ’90s, experts warned repeatedly that the state would remain vulnerable to disastrous revenue collapses as long as its narrow sales tax base continued to rely so much on economy-sensitive car and truck purchases; lawmakers responded by narrowing the tax base even further. Now, another downturn is here and much of an unexpected $100 million revenue hole is being blamed on a sudden drop in car and truck sales. All that honking and still they never saw it coming.

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Speaking of surprises that aren’t, new labor statistics show that the cooling economy has had no effect upon the virtually zero unemployment rate in prosperous Cumberland County but it has pushed joblessness back near 10 percent in poor Washington County. Experts warn that this disparity will continue until the state targets economic-development efforts specifically at its struggling regions; lawmakers respond by looking for new ways to narrow the sales tax base.

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“Temptation Island” is over, and all’s well that ends. For those not paying attention, this is the TV show that put young, attractive, “committed” couples in an exotic Caribbean resort for two weeks, separated them, forced them to date young, attractive uncommitted singles and encouraged the sharing of what were euphemistically called “intimate moments.” In the final episode this week, the three finalist couples were reunited and, after tearful confessions and recriminations, all agreed to forgive, forget and return home together. It’s called reality television, but don’t try it in real life.

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Elsewhere in the vast wasteland, the XFL appears headed for sudden death without the overtime, as TV ratings for what was excessively promoted as a smash-mouth extravaganza of football with a pro-wrestling attitude have plummeted to the sub-atomic level. Let’s see – third-rate players, uninformed announcers, cheerleaders bundled up against the winter chill – it’s hard to see where they went wrong.

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People used to say never discuss politics or religion. With faith-based government social services in the works, we suddenly find ourselves talking about both of them at the same time.