David,
When I was an anthro student studying social network theory there was a lot
of interest in gossip and social networks, brokers and information in
maintenance of power structures, eg specific configurations of social
networks. As you point out this doesn't distinguish left or right. And
your point about statistics is well taken -- numbers connote immediacy and
also the idea that someone counted when in fact all they (I) did was pass
something equivalent to gossip. This moves quickly to why we take anyone's
statements as worthy of believing when they deal with matters of fact.
Paul H. Dillon
----- Original Message -----
From: David R. Russell <drrussel@iastate.edu>
To: <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2000 8:00 AM
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Interesting piece]
> 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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