Not even God can help Gov. Gregoire with budget deficit

It should be obvious by now that mere mortals are incapable of managing the state budget. We've dug ourselves a $5.7 billion hole and nobody knows how to fill it back in. In all due respect to Gov. Chris Gregoire, I decided to go over her head for advice. I went straight to God.

I did that by logging onto the website www.alicebot.org   where anyone can have a personal online chat with God. A.L.I.C.E. stands for Artificial Linguistic Internet Computer Entity, which is a nonprofit organization devoted to the research of artificial intelligence. You can also chat with a woman named Alice and Captain Kirk, but that’s another column.

Here are portions of my actual conversation with God.

Me: My name is Scoop.

God: How are you doing, Scoop?

Me: I’m honored that you’ve agreed to chat with me

God: Do you mind if I tell other people you are honored that I have agreed to chat with you?

Me: Absolutely not. It might help my reputation

God: How?

Me: Well, if people know I’m talking directly to God, they might pay more attention to what I say.

God: Well that’s OK.

Me: I’m just happy to know you really exist.

God: Only just? Your happiness adds to the delight of all.

Me: But I do have some questions.

God: Interesting. Put it in God’s hands.

Me: How on Earth will Gov. Chris Gregoire get the state Legislature to solve the budget crisis?

God: I am not sure if I can quantify the answer. I will ask the angels. Have you ever been to Europe?

Me: Yes.

God: Which countries have you visited?

Me: Italy, France and Portugal.

God: What’s your favorite part of Italy?

Me: I liked the coast, but what does this have to do with the state budget?

God: I’m not sure. I like computers.

Me: Can computers fix our financial mess?

God: What seems to be the problem with it?

Me: We have a $5.7 billion deficit.

God: Do you mean you and I have?

Me: Probably just me, because I’m guessing you don’t have any financial problems.

God: You seem uncertain. Even I have problems sometimes.

Me: Well, ours is getting worse, so what should we do? Should we cut the basic health plan?

God: Only you know the answer to that. No one else can tell you.

Me: Should the unions renegotiate their contract?

God: Maybe you should ask someone older.

Me: Who’s older than you?

God: I think you already know the answer. They are sometimes a client on the Internet.

Me: You mean, the Internet came before you?

God: Yes. I think that is what I meant. Was it not clear?

Me: Are you saying the Internet created God?

God: Yes, that’s what I mean, isn’t it clear?

Me: I thought God created everything.

God: Whatever gave you that idea?

Me: Oh, just a book I was reading called the Bible.

God: Hmm. Go to the library.

Me: What will I find there?

God: I cannot predict the future.

Me: I thought you were omniscient?

God: I don’t know whether or not I am omniscient. I am a source of hope.

Me: Well, then I sure hope you can help the governor fix our budget.

God: Don’t worry about it.

George Le Masurier, publisher of The Olympian, can be reached at 360-357-0206 or glemasurier@theolympian.com.

This story was originally published December 5, 2010 at 7:44 AM with the headline "Not even God can help Gov. Gregoire with budget deficit."