Subj : Re: America's Freedoms To : Skuz From : Bbsing.Bbs Date : Fri Jan 13 2017 11:45:00 -=> Skuz wrote to All <=- Sk> Can an understanding of math and statistics save America's freedoms? Sk> The other day John Silveira and I were walking by a gas Sk> station in Gold Beach, Oregon, where this magazine is Sk> located, when I remarked, "The price of gas went up again; Sk> that must be killing the motel business in this town." Sk> Silveira replied, "They raised it a nickel. That's a dollar a Sk> tank. Most people reach their destination on a tank of gas, Sk> which means they need two tanks to get there and go back Sk> home. It's hard to believe people will change their vacation Sk> plans over an extra two dollars, yet they barely put up a fuss Sk> when the federal government takes a third of their paycheck in taxes." Sk> "That's because people don't think like you," I said. "You Sk> consider the actual statistics involved, but ordinary people Sk> hear on TV that gas prices are high so they change their Sk> plans. The media never mentions how high taxes are." Sk> As soon as I said it I realized I had just discovered the Sk> Holy Grail of how to save America's freedoms from being Sk> further eroded by big government-just get them to think Sk> the way Silveira thinks, namely, with the actual numbers, Sk> the math and statistics, that apply to the decisions they must make. Sk> Math and statistics, after all, underly science. If a scientific Sk> theory is statistically more accurate than other theories, it Sk> is considered true enough by scientists, and they use it to Sk> advance mankind's knowledge of the world. A knowledge Sk> of statistics should work as well with social and political Sk> problems as it does with scientific problems. If all of us Sk> understood statistics, and were as honest with ourselves as Sk> scientists seem to be when they seek answers to scientific Sk> problems, I believe liberals and conservatives would see things Sk> differently. Sk> For example, if liberals understood what the gun statistics Sk> say, namely that guns in the hands of law abiding citizens Sk> are used two million times a year to prevent crimes, including several Sk> thousand murders and many thousands of rapes, liberals would no longer Sk> favor gun control. They would tell government at all levels to repeal Sk> the 20,000 gun laws now on the books. Sk> Conversely, if conservatives understood what the War on Sk> Drugs statistics say, namely that the drug war has made Sk> minimal impact on drug use but has spawned numerous Sk> laws that violate our Constitutional freedoms, conservatives Sk> would no longer favor the War on Drugs. They would tell Sk> the government to free our prisons' drug offenders, who Sk> comprise 66% of our nation's prison population, giving Sk> America the highest per capita incarceration rate in the world. Sk> An understanding of math and statistics would also change the Sk> views of other groups in society. For example, if senior citizens Sk> understood that the statistics on the social security trust fund Sk> show the fund will run out of money by the year 2012 unless federal Sk> taxes are raised on their grandchildren to about 40%, they would Sk> vote for a presidential candidate who promises to fix social security Sk> properly rather than one who promises to give them more benefits that Sk> must be extorted from their grandkids. Sk> And environmentalists would look at endangered species Sk> differently if they understood that statistics show that 99.9% Sk> of all species that ever existed are now extinct, that it is Sk> nature's way of evolving. And they would act differently Sk> towards trees if they understood that statistics show that Sk> there are more trees now in America than at the turn of the Sk> century. They would tell the government to stop confiscating Sk> people's lands for national preserves that save bugs and trees. Sk> If people understood the statistics on education, namely Sk> that the public education system is turning out high school Sk> graduates who can't read, whereas private schools turn out Sk> graduates who can, they would vote to allow school voucher Sk> programs and other types of private school funding. Sk> In all of these areas-guns, drugs, social security, the Sk> environment, and education-it has been the lack of an Sk> understanding of the actual statistical evidence that has led Sk> people to make the foolish decisions they have. Doesn't that Sk> make sense? Sk> Sure, there are other factors in there too. Sk> Some people, like politicians, are familiar with the statistical Sk> evidence but they choose to ignore them for selfish gain. Sk> Politicians want to get elected so they play to people's fears Sk> with anecdotal evidence about children being shot, drugs Sk> wrecking families, old people starving, old growth forests Sk> disappearing, and religious nuts educating our children. But Sk> an understanding of the actual statistics would allow people Sk> to see these anecdotal tidbits for the lies they actually are. Sk> Wouldn't it? Sk> Am I missing something? If scientists use statistics to come up with Sk> the correct solution to problems, why don't we. Are we just stupid, or Sk> what? I think its a few things. Forgetfullness, .. the past isn't known to most people and newer generations. Emotionally charged, .. info delivery is polerized via emotional hooks. Mass division .. the wrong problem is being discussed, like race, instead of culture. Race can't change but culture can, but all we see is about racial polerization. Masive mind control via advertisments and consumerism. They want mindless labor and wage slaves, not healthy americans. Sk> -- Dave Duffy Backwoods Home Magazine BWHM Sk> __&%~[_] [__ _&[&__ _] :_ ] ! b7 member board Sk> [&___ [& _[&] [&][][&]:__&] __ dA flupHly squirrel ate my nuts! Sk> [&] ~~&_&]~#_&][&]~~ [&][&]&] @ http://fluph.bbsnexus.com Sk> --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (Windows) Sk> * Origin: flupH | fluph.darktech.org (9:91/1) .... ...::comptech power up::... :)bbsing(: --- MultiMail/Linux v0.49 * Origin: Electronic Warfare BBS | telnet:\\bbs.ewbbs.net (9:91/14) .