SO, TELL ME AGAIN - WHAT IS IT THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND?"

To all my Pennsylvania friends:

Let's make this as simple as we can. You have an investment counselor that Vinnie, your brother-in-law recommended. He said, " Stick with Tony and you'll never go wrong.".

So, you do. You select Tony over all the ones who are guaranteeing you that they will take you to the promised land. Now, you're a little hesitant because you've been led astray before.

You remember how your dad who worked in the mills - sometimes on the same shift as your grandfather -listened to the union steward promising him, "Look the mills and this union have been with you forever. They put food on your table and provided your kids with gainful employment. Hell, they got you that house in Munhall, by God. We will be back!"

Well, we now know the mills didn't come back and the union steward is still selling security to a lot of folks. One of them is you. Tony is a likeable guy.

Still, you start to get concerned. Your investment doesn't seem to be paying off. You keep paying more and more each year and are getting a negative return. Last year, your investor told you, "Relax, I know it hasn't been easy but we have a 472 mil guaranteed line of credit that is going to make you and me forget all about those lean times."

Having seen your family burned once, you get a little bold and ask him, "Just what is the source of this 472 million that will make us okay?"

He responds, "Never mind. Trust me on this. It's definitely going to take care of our financial difficulties."

Again, you're not quite convinced. You say, "How well did you research this? That's a lot of money. What can I get in writing that will reassure my wife Gladys who thinks I'm a fool when it comes to money?"

He looks you right in the eye and says, "Look, either you trust me or you don't. I've been doing this for a long time and when did I ever steer you wrong?"

Before you can answer a black limo pulls up and your investment counselor says,"Sorry Pal, I just got a call, I'm needed in a meeting at the Capitol."

Now, you're impressed. The Capitol? By God he really is big! You now have something to tell Gladys that will finally put her in her place.

You get up the next morning and open your freshly delivered Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. You read: "Federal Government refuses to allow the state to put tolls on Interstate 80." Apparently, there were a few glitches committed by the folks over in Research.

Bottom line: The 472 million in tolls on Interstate 80 expected by Tony and his pals ain't gonna happen.

Once more you were misled by your investment counselor - a local legislator. You then discover that the financial difficulty facing him and the rest of the "investors" will rise from the March 31 estimate of 700 million (that's with a "m") to as much as 1.1 billion.( with a "b".)

His answer? Probably nothing. You see,as stated in the Post Gazette: "Legislators are loath to raise taxes or fees before they face re-election in the May 18 primary and the November general election."

Any chance that after those dates your investment counselor will be coming to you and asking you to increase your investment?

"Probably so" is the correct answer. So, do you think that either May or November is a good time to sever your relationship with your investment counselor for good?

You see, now you really do understand.