Today, we answer The Mailbag: inquiries from loyal followers. You know who you are, both of you!

Maibag: What is the difference between mathematics and financial accounting?

3G: Math reflects the underlying code of the known universe. Both Yahweh's and Darwin's world is built upon arithmetic, geometry, algebra, calculus, etc. Math only goes off course, when manipulated by humans, as in genetic re-engineering. Financial accounting uses math like the magician uses her hat; it may reflect reality, but more often manipulates reality.

Mailbag: How does this special kind of math impact things like subprime, healthcare, etc?

3G: CEO,'s Boards, Congress, The Media and stockholders ( a few thousand prematurely bald guys) think that accounting is the same as math. They don't notice the distortion of reality, because they specialize in expecting people to distort reality for them (we call these lobbyists, managements, interns, experts, etc).

Mailbag: How can The Media not know that math and accounting are different?

3G: The media train in politics, history, international relations and celebrity studies. Many of them were drawn to media by Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, who played the Watergate journalists in a movie. Business bores them to tears. Their mission is to bring down a Republican President, so they missed the whole subprime thing, missed Madoff, missed Auto Wrecks. Except for people at Fox (they rooted for the Watergate burglars), the Media is mesmerized by the new President, because he got rid of a Republican President.

Mailbag: Do you think Congress, despite its shortcomings, will finally reform healthcare?

3G: Having Congress reform healthcare is like having the State Liquor Authority run AA.

Mailbag: Is the Recession almost over?

3G: Stimulus, tax rebates, bank/insurance bailouts, Auto Wrecks, pension bailouts, foreclosure bailouts, tax hikes, increased borrowing, more stimulus and "no extra cost" healthcare require the kind of financial accounting that even Bernie Madoff couldn't do. And Bernie had a truly large magician's hat! So, we would say it ain't over. All of this spending will make the whole country resemble California at first, and then Iceland. The Icelandic word for recession, by the way, is the same as the word for dead. People simply "recede." That doesn't sound too good.

Maibag: Can the American Dream be revived?

3G: We sincerely hope not. It is time for America to awake from its slumber. The Subprime Dream of a house for everyone, the Billionaire Dream of owning Nantucket (the whole damn island, Bub) and Ted's Dream of a doctor in every pot are better left in Dreamy-Land. Now it's time to wake up, do the math and create a New American Reality.

Keep the card and letter coming!