Re: [Fwd: Interesting piece]

From: David R. Russell (drrussel@iastate.edu)
Date: Mon Aug 14 2000 - 08:00:38 PDT


Paul,
I have no reason to think the figures might be mistaken. I ask
because I'm interested in the ways discourses circulate through
various activity systems in these new times, and statistics are a
great way to follow that because they sometimes carry with them
voices of precision and authority, whether when used by the left or
the right. And sometimes don't. Here's my favorite joke about
statistics. I have no idea what the source is:

"87.3% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

;-)

David

>David,
>
>I actually got them from the director of a local artist coop with which I
>work who got them from someone name Lynn Ahrens, but if you are really
>curious I suppose I could track it down further.
>
>Do you think they might be mistaken or is it just a prudent request before
>passing them on?
>
>I know the death penalty statistic is accurate and have little doubt about
>the other poverty stats.
>
>Paul H. Dillon
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: David R. Russell <drrussel@iastate.edu>
>To: <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
>Sent: Friday, August 11, 2000 12:39 PM
>Subject: Re: [Fwd: Interesting piece]
>
>
> > Paul, have you got a source or sources for those figures?
> > David
> >
> > >Ken,
> > >
> > >Here's some succinct one liners about Bush's record:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > The State of Texas, under the leadership of
> > > > Governor George W. Bush, is ranked:
> > > > 50th in spending for teachers' salaries
> > > > 49th in spending on the environment
> > > > 48th in per-capita funding for public health
> > > > 47th in delivery of social services
> > > > 42nd in child-support collections
> > > > 41st in per-capita spending on public education
> > > > and ...
> > > > 5th in percentage of population living in poverty
> > > > 1st in air and water pollution
> > > > 1st in percentage of poor working parents without insurance
> > > > 1st in percentage of children without health insurance
> > > > 1st in executions (avg. 1 every 2 weeks for Bush's 5 years)
> > >
> > >Paul H. Dillon
> >
> >
> > David R. Russell
> > Professor
> > English Department
> > Iowa State University
> > Ames, IA 50011 USA
> > (515) 294-4724
> > Fax (515) 294-6814
> > drrussel@iastate.edu
> > http://www.public.iastate.edu/~drrussel/drresume.html
> >

David R. Russell
Professor
English Department
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011 USA
(515) 294-4724
Fax (515) 294-6814
drrussel@iastate.edu
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~drrussel/drresume.html



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