THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Why isn't "phonetic" spelled the way it sounds?

THROW AWAY FOR THE DAY: This is a disgusting skunk that I received as a gift about 6 years ago - the kids and the dogs have drug it outside more than it's been inside - it has even spent winters out in the snow banks. But because it was a gift, I kept hanging onto it - NO MORE BABY! YOU'RE OUT, BECAUSE I'M BRAVE TODAY!