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I don't think having an opinion should preclude anyone from producing these kind of reports or reduce their persuasiveness. Personally I'd prefer to read a repo
by randomtask 17y ago
I don't think having an opinion should preclude anyone from producing these kind of reports or reduce their persuasiveness. Personally I'd prefer to read a report from an organisation, such as the CATO institute whose political opinions are well known to me, than an "independent" government commission. At least then I know where they stand.
- marcusbooster 17y agoExactly, I know where they stand -- so I know to take whatever their findings with a grain of salt. What's that old adage about stats again?
- billswift 17y agoHow about "People who generically object to statistics KNOW their own position can't be rationally supported."
- marcusbooster 17y agoI haven't said anything about their stats or methodologies, but I don't know how you can outright dismiss the reputation of the organization when accessing those very things.
- anigbrowl 17y agoThis is an intellectually lazy position, like dismissing a the findings of a scientific paper on the basis that the authors began with a hypothesis and sought evidence of its truth. Of course that happens, which is why the quality of sources and methodology should be taken into account. I haven't real the full paper yet, but the sourcing is impeccable, using government statistics and peer-reviewed papers rather than private surveys or anecdotal evidence.
- philwelch 17y ago"What's that old adage about stats again?" I think "he uses statistics as a drunk man uses a lightpost, for support rather than illumination" is apropos here.