We have all had occasions when we were distracted, upset, confused, or otherwise fallen victim to any number of reasons when we appeared to act without thinking, lacking common sense, or worse, basic intelligence. One of the oldest terms to taunt such a victim of circumstance may be “numbskull” from the 1700s, believed to derive from “nome” and “skull” in the 1400s and 1200s, respectively. Whereby, “nome” meant “deprived of motion or feeling, powerless to feel or act”, and “skull” was traced to “skalli” ? an Old Norse term for “a bald head” or skull.1
Notable Numbers Problems
Numbers can also make us feel like numbskulls now and then. Notably, as we use calculators to multiply or divide for EC and US$ in our daily lives, the most common calculator error is failing to clear previous calculations. Another common error is using the subtraction key for a negative number, e.g., to calculate a discount.2 Calculator syntax might then subtract the intended negative number from a previous answer, rather than begin a new function – especially if not cleared! And…anyone pretending 13% wasn’t “subtracted” from everyone’s wallet with GST may be a numbskull making such errors, but no one knows for sure.
…and a High Percentage of Percentage Problems
Rounding errors are also common.2 They frequently occur when adding percentages, especially if some are slightly above X.5%. They would “round up” to the next number. A few such calculations could total, say, 101% when assessing relative shares that should equal 100%.
A prevalent percentage error is to mistake “percent change” for “percentage point change” – which can lead to massive differences in meaning. Whereby the former is the rate of change, and the latter is the amount of the change. For example, “If a local county health department reports that its percentage of children diagnosed with autism increased from 1% in 1981 to 5% in 2021…The rate did not rise 4%. In this scenario, the diagnosis rate jumped 400%, or five-fold.”3
Numerous Names for Numbskull…
From Britain, to Scotland, Canada and Australia, English includes innumerable alternatives for calling out one another’s “numbskull” moments – or a pattern prompting such labels. In England, these include “cottonhead” and “plank” (as in having similar intellect to each) – and “not playing with a full deck” as might apply to anyone thinking most of our tourists want casinos. In Australia, a corollary to missing cards might be “a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock”; while Scots have an array of such terms, from “bampot” to “doaty… dobber… numpty… roaster… [and] tube”! It seems they suffer no fools up there, at all. And, Canadians use “doughhead” in English and “beau cave” in French Canadian! 4,5,6
Extending Everywhere in Europe…and across Asia!
Sadly, we are imperfect humans in every language and culture. Beyond suggesting, “Usa tu cerebro, es gratis” in Spanish (use your brain, it’s free),7 just one letter at either end of “stupid” flows across Europe to describe this unfortunate condition: stupide, in French, estúpido(a) in both Spanish and Portuguese – and stupido in Italian. Whereas Dutch and German nouns for “idiot” include “domkop” and “Dummkopt” – perhaps more in keeping with our use of “dummy”.8
Gaffes and goofs no doubt also lead to insults about intelligence in Asia, where we know frail humans are no more or less typical than anywhere else. That said, they may be called “baba” in Korea, “bèndàn” in China, and “orokamono” in Japan.8
Closer to Home…
With many regional lingual roots in Europe, it is not surprising to hear “eediat” or similarities between “doltish” and “doughtish” – including the fact that Johnny Cakes include dough, despite nothing more than a coincidental theme. Likewise, “Johnny” is an “idiot” in Barbados, just as we have “empty heads” and the occasional “dummy” here on the road.
And in Anguilla, “It’s only 4 percent more!” Means “I think you’re stupid!”
With vast differences between “percent” and “percentage point” changes, we can see how anyone telling us GST “is only 4 percent more” means they think we are stupid. Why? An actual “4 percent” increase over 9% would be 0.36% (i.e., 9 vs. 9.36%). But let’s say 9% IGT on a new washing machine would be $90 – so “only 4% more” tax would be $3.60; however, 13% GST would require $130. That’s $40, or “44% more” tax just on goods! Anyone who thinks we can’t tell $40.00 from $3.60 thinks we are stupid!
“It’s only 4 percent” also means “I think you’re stupid” because GST was never charged on things like restaurants, groceries or any other goods in stores. So, if say, 9% IGT was added to $10 worth of steak and veg that ended up on your plate at a restaurant with great service and free music, on the menu at $45, the IGT of 90 cents before GST would increase to $5.85, or 550% more tax! A far cry from 4%!
Saying “We ‘need’ GST for roads, buildings… and ‘senior care’!” Means “I think you’re an idiot!”
Ah… numbers and numbskulls. We know “roads and buildings” have averaged about 10% of the budget for the last 10 years. We did not need GST to fund capital then, and we don’t need it for buildings now. We only needed to “curb spending” as promised in the last election. Period.
Speaking of numbers: Did you know there are nearly 2x as many government staff as “seniors” over 70? If we added seniors to the SAME great insurance WE already pay in taxes for government workers, it would cost less than what they subtracted from Public Assistance in 2022. You know, in the pandemic, when our borders were closed and they broke our democracy to force GST into place?
And while renamed as “GST”, taxes collected from hotels, communications, electricity, fuel and duties are exceeding GST goals, but instead of roads, buildings, or senior care, tens of millions of dollars pay for salaries, benefits and employee expenses! In fact, at the same rate, adding 800 seniors to public servant insurance would be about $5Million, or 2 percent of the total budget for 2023. Not tens of millions of additional GST killing our economy while leaving cupboards bare and forcing homes into auction.
They could avoid confusion by just insulting us with any number of names, instead of numbskull nonsense, as if they think we are too stupid to add, subtract, multiply or divide. We must restore the original taxes now collected as “GST” ? and then, the only thing we “need” from GST is to repeal it.
Repeal GST – and pass a balanced budget bill. Now!
This article reflects cultural and economic issues raised on July 5, 2021, at the House Select Committee on GST Public Hearing. 1https://www.etymonline.com/word/numbskull; 2https://www.calculatorlibrary.com/blog/common-calculator-mistakes; 3https://journalistsresource.org/home/percent-change-math-for-journalists/ 4https://letslearnslang.com/british-slang-for-idiot-2/; 5https://www.theintrepidguide.com/hilarious-australian-slang/; 6https://cottagelife.com/general/20-uniquely-canadian-insults/; 7paulinaontheroad.com/most-funny-spanish-insults/; 8(Individual searches across various dictionaries; not listed individually.)
