twelve more days and still more money

Those of you following along for the last two-plus years may recall that back in my salad days of blogging, I came across a Christmas article by the folks at PNB Bank in Pittsburgh putting a current value on the gifts from the song Twelve Days of Christmas, if they were purchased today. Before I bring you up to date, let’s revisit those glorious days of yesteryear.

http://jimboandhisfriends.blogspot.com/2004/11/twelve-days-and-sixty-six-large.html

Or, maybe my update last year.

http://jimboandhisfriends.blogspot.com/2005/11/twelve-high-dollar-days-of-christmas.html

You may recall that last year the index of dodecagonal Christmas giving was up approximately nine-and–one-half percent. This year the index of twelfth-night philanthropy is up three-and-one-half percent, meaning the average between last year and this is six-and-one-half percent. Due to compounding, if we extrapolate this rate of inflation over ten years, the actual annual rate is 8.7%.

If you are tired of hearing me complain about the lack of fiscal responsibility of our current government and especially the current executive branch of that government, you’d best hit the “next blog” button, now. For despite sacking that worthless John Snow earlier this year, the administration is still behind the eight ball.

Hang your head in shame, Mr. President. Hang your head in shame.

How can this happen in a civilized society?

But, this is the Christmas season and a time of hope and cheer. With the same spirit that the spendthrift in the Twelve Days of Christmas song cast away his money on his true love, I will cast the seeds of hope before you.

Perhaps the new government that will be in place after the first of the year will be more careful with our dollars. Perhaps, unlike our current government, they won’t cast our dollars before the lobbyists in the same way that Jesus suggested in Matthew 7:6, when he said:

“…neither cast ye your pearls before swine…”

All I can say for sure, however, is that the love-struck dude in the song would best be warned to save his money for a rainy day, rather than laying down seventy-eight large to impress his lady.

At least that is what we think, here in Jimbo’s world.