Thanks and yes, I agree with you! Reality is muddy and complicated and political tendrils reach deeply into all government functions. I would like to ask though

Thanks and yes, I agree with you! Reality is muddy and complicated and political tendrils reach deeply into all government functions. I would like to ask though: what do you think the author wants us to believe? a) that data is more unreliable because of corrupt influence, or b) data is less reliable because of statistical department cuts and a partisan audience? If it’s b, why mention a? It’s not that I disagree with b or a, just that if you are arguing for one, why mention the other except to say “yeah, this happened but it doesn’t contradict my view because x”