4 ms·
I would like to see some kind of evidence or source for these claims: * Most studies show humanity is now less free than several years ago. * more countries b
by cowpig 5y ago
I would like to see some kind of evidence or source for these claims:
* Most studies show humanity is now less free than several years ago.
* more countries become authoritarian [because] China overtook the US as the largest economy in the world by purchasing power
The things he complains about seem like things worth complaining about, but the broad, sweeping claims need sources/evidence. Especially that dubious second one
- anigbrowl 5y agoI don't find the second one dubious. It's almost a truism, though perhaps it seems that way to because I have an Economist subscription and they've been saying that sort of thing for a decade (ie that economic success isn't necessarily correlated to individual freedom).
- enkid 5y agoTruisms are some of the things you should test the most, because it you don't, people just keep making the wrong assumptions. Think bleeding with medicine.
- anigbrowl 5y agoIt's almost a truism by now because the observation has been made, with evidence, so many times.
- enkid 5y agoOk, so maybe something that is almost a truism because it was repeated many times by one newspaper should also be validated...?
- anigbrowl 5y agoNot because it was repeated, because it was supported with evidence. Don't be in such a rush to reply that you skip parts of the comment.
- enkid 5y agoI'm sure that the economist would state only things they believe they have some sort of evidence for. But, once again, saying a newspaper published some sort of causative relationship "with evidence" does not prove it should be taken at face value.
- cowpig 5y agoI would love to learn more about this topic. Would you care to provide a compelling example of this observation being made with evidence?
- cowpig 5y agoI think the insinuation that other countries are leaning authoritarian because China overtook the US in purchasing power is making some dubious assumptions about the way that world politics work. That economic success isn't necessarily correlated to individual freedom seems like a weaker claim (although equally dubious in my mind, as freedom index and, say, income per capita look very strongly correlated to me)