Rudyard Kipling wrote a poem called, "The Gods of the Copybook Headings."  It's all about propaganda.  Most of what we hear about our so-called education system is exactly that.  We are all told that we have to continue to pay high property taxes to pay for "our high quality education system."  That's what Grady Hutcherson from the WEA called it.  But is it really?  Do our test scores really justify the hundreds of millions that we throw at Wyoming education?

The short answer is not even close.  But you don't understand the reality of it until you look at the national NAEP scores as Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder told the Appropriations Committee to do.

If we aren't paying to educate our students, what are we paying for exactly?  I reality of where we are at will shock you.

Wyoming is not immune to the government handouts.  One big portion of that is what we call "farm subsidies"--getting paid to farm nothing.  This drives up prices but it also makes it very difficult for young people to get into the agriculture business.

Rep Hageman joins me for our monthly discussion to discuss these subsidies and the ballooning problem of fraud in our healthcare system.  And, yes, I did ask her if she's running for governor.

The governor appears to be changing his tune when it comes to climate change.  But is he?  For his entire administration he has made one outrageous statement after another.  While in Appropriations last Monday, he appeared to be singing a different song.  The moment almost went unnoticed--almost I said.  Instead of an "All of the Above" approach to energy, it's now, "The Best of All of the Above."  As if adding a few words changes anything.

The Appropriations Committee meeting on Thursday was the perfect example of everything that's wrong with the Wyoming and frankly all state Government--appointed officials who believe in central planning.  That is, ignoring the free market that has created this amazing country we live in.

Josh Dorrell from the Wyoming Business Council told the members of Appropriations that it's his job to create an economic system.  He actually said that!  The committee rightly peppered him with questions demanding he explain himself.

Replay of Cowboy State Politics Live from December 4

In the Season 6 premier, the Wyoming Business Council sent out an email asking people to attend a watch party to "mobilize." Why does a state agency need to build support for "collective action." Last time I checked, state agencies don't campaign for public support. There's a ton a problems with their email, including, perhaps Wyoming Statutes.

Even the Wyoming Tribune Eagle has to admit that charitable organizations really don't need government.  And, it's not the government's job anyway.  IT'S OUR JOB.  So-called government charity is only making big government even bigger.

The government shutdown is a perfect example.  Private organizations shined, helping those in need across the whole state.  Nationwide, Americans raise over half-a-trillion every year for benevolent purposes.  Are you telling me we can't handle the needs of the poor with that amount of cash?  We can, and the WTE admits it.

If it quacks like a duck, it's usually a duck.  That's the argument an op-ed in the Sheridan Mess attempts to make.  Many in the Wyoming media have been making the same one--that if you vote conservatively you must be a member of the Freedom Caucus and somehow that's bad.  There's so many logical fallacies with that claim; not the least of which is why is that a bad thing.

The author's claims lead you to believe he must be a card carrying Democrat.  Is he a Democrat or is he just another cross-over voter?   

People never learn, in socialism, there's no turkey, there's no gravy and no stores to buy those things at anyway.  

Most of us have no idea what really happened in the Plymouth Colony.  We're told that Thanksgiving Day was the pilgrims giving thanks to the Indians for saving their lives.  That's not even close to the truth.

According to the Wyoming Business Council, the free market is working against us.  This is an amazing perspective coming from the state agency who's goal is to increase business.

Of course, my answer is that the free market is not the problem, it's government intervention and playing around in private business.

While Josh Dorrell, the head of the WBC, and I have very different perspectives on business, this interview is one of the clearest examples of the two competing forces in our economy--government and private enterprise.  Dorrell thinks that government needs to be involved and I know that that's the problem.  This is a fascinating discussion.

Joining the program is former Rep Mark Jennings.