Bob Taft and the Antiques Road Show

So in case you don't know, there is this HUGE scandal in Ohio about money missing from the Bureau of Worker's Compensation Fund. See the thing USED to be in great shape, have MILLIONS of extra dollars, and every year every business that had to pay into it got like a 75% discount on its rate. Well, leave it to the government to look around and say, 'Hey, there's something thats working really well, lets go screw that up.'

So our Governor Bob Taft, (yeah the really old President's grandson) has this golfing buddy who sells rare collectibles, coins, baseball cards, you get the idea. Well all of a sudden one day someone realizes that several million dollars is missing out of the Workers Comp fund, when I say several I mean 55 million. 10 million of it appears to be permanently missing, poof gone, noone knows where, OOPS.

They start asking around and Bob eventually says, 'Oh yeah, I forgot, I bought some coins with that. But my buddy says not to worry about it because its a great idea. We can sell them later and make big profit.'

Now here's what I want to know......did these people have a few too many beers in front of an episode of the Antiques Road Show? How do we get to the place where a millionaire politician can walk into what I imagine is a powerful board room and say 'hey guys, I have a great idea. Lets spend 55 million dollars on gold coins'. Was he wearing a pirate outfit when he said it? Did he finish up with 'aye mateys!'.

Did anyone in the room have the good sense to bust out laughing and say, 'Sure Bob, and grab yourself an Amish quilt and a rare Wheaties Box while you're at it.'

Because you and I both know that if WE had gone into OUR bosses office and said 'Can I have some petty cash for some rare gold coins?' We'd still be explaining that to the nurse on the psych ward.

Now I must tell you that I have exaggerated. See Bob says that although the Collectible Guy was his golf buddy, and it was 55 MILLION dollars, and Bob was CONVICTED of ethics violations including free gifts from this particular Collectible Guy, Bob had no idea that this whole coin deal had gone down.

No idea it happened, no idea how much it was, no idea his friend got this sweet 55 MILLION dollar deal, no idea the money was missing, no sir.

Yeah, ...right Bob,.... now be quiet and hand me another beer, the Antiques Road show is coming back on.