America! Motto: Dunning Kruger* in 2012!

Well well well. The new class of citizen legislators are all in their seats and eager to right the ship of state. So, how we doing so far?

U.S. Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, who voted to repeal the health care reform act, was twice asked about the health insurance she receives as a government employee. At first she said she couldn’t understand why people were so interested in her health insurance, and that taxpayers didn’t pay anything for it. She later corrected herself after being handed a note from a staffer. Like most employees, she pays for a portion of her insurance and her employer, the government, pays the rest, she said.

OK, let's get this straight. The nice lady decides has career as a homeopathic faith healer isn't taking off like she'd hoped and gets herself a job with the Federal Government, whose major source of revenue is...for those of you playing at home, say it with us...taxes. Her new employer graciously promises to cover her health care with what has been called by some a very generous benefit package.

With us so far?

Now, the nice lady goes back to her district after voting to disallow health care supported by taxes. Twice. She tells her constituents that her health care isn't being supported by their tax dollars, until an aide, who obviously graduated from high school, passes her a note explaining how the government supports itself.

Now, to see if you've been paying attention here's a quiz. Which of the two following statements would cause the founding fathers, were they still alive, to take the first ship back to England:

1. This lady was convinced by the voices in her head that she was qualified to serve in the Congress of the United States of America.

2. Enough people agreed with her to get her elected.

When you're done, just leave your paper in the box on our desk. We'll be down in the basement looking at real estate brochures from Belize.

*Dunning Kruger