What was that about lies, damned lies and statistics? The Las Vegas Sun gave us a classic example of the last over the weekend.

The “independent study” it commissioned purports to show that the water returns and the new taxes give the city a far better deal than it is now getting with Royal Links. This kind of argument wouldn’t pass the laugh test in either Accounting 101 or Politics 101. Not even Billy Walters has argued that he is such an idiot that he has cut a bad deal to help the city’s taxpayers.

The test is not what the rate of returns could be because the land deal to build the golf course appears itself to have been a sweetheart deal. That’s why there’s an inquiry. And the 30-plus percent return the city is supposed to be getting is totally bogus. The city is not in the business of land development and saying that it invested in Walters’ original deal is ridiculous.

The original deal was done to create a buffer to the sewer plant. Walters is now arguing that the city will not have to bear the cost of building a wall or taking other odor control measures. The plant, he argues, may not be extended for 20 years and by then we’ll have odor-free sewer plants. If he’s so sure of that, Walters and any developer who buys his land, should be forced to put up a bond to indemnify the city. But, of course, that won’t happen.

If we all followed Walters’ logic, we could all dream up more exotic uses for our land and houses that would just have the city raking in tax revenue - brothels, poker rooms, liquor store, gun store - and that’s before I’ve really started thinking. All of them would be more lucrative to us and the city than just plain old suburban houses.

I’d even bet some of us could turn in our water rights, especially if we were willing to dig a well in the backyard. There’s a reason the city won’t let the rest of us do that, though. It’s called city planning.

If the Sun’s study is the best defense Walters has, it really proves what his critics have been saying all along - the deal was indefensible.

Full disclosure: Your faithful blogger is paid by Stephens Media, whose journalists have been attacked for pushing personal agendas and being woefully ignorant. Our (and our colleagues’) only aim is good journalism and good government.