I was told there would be no math

I've been reading several papers about the House of Representatives effort to "slow the rate of growth in entitlement programs," and I've been quite impressed. As anyone who pays attention knows, there are never budget cuts in anything. Programs are always larger in absolute terms from one year to the next. But politicians like to project, say, a 10 percent rate of growth,a nd then when they pass a 9.5 percent rate of growth, the call it, and the newspapers report it as, a five percent "cut," by heartless Republicans, of course.

Travesty.

But, finally, ineducable reporters got educated, it seems, and reported it right.

Oh, except for the New York Times: "House approves budget cutbacks of $39.5 billion," subhead, "Social Welfare trims stir GOP unease."

Ah, yes, boys, you're trajectory is what we in the business call "a smoking hole in the ground."