A few weeks ago, a "nonpartisan" book came out called "Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism" by Arthur C. Brooks. I was asked to look at this book and write about it by a friend who is starting his own magazine. Every time I touch this book, though, I feel like my soul just got a new stain on it.
The book is a great reminder of why I loathe conservative firebrands. They have a very special knack for looking at data, claiming to analyze it, hiding the figures at the back of the book, and then writing a book in which the data supports nothing they say it does. There is a word for this, and it is lying.
For example, look at this chart, which I copied directly from page 192. (I'll wait...)
OK, does that chart indicate that liberals are less generous than conservatives, as Mr. Brooks claims in his book? No it does not. It says that religious conservatives and religious liberals are equally involved with charity. It says that secular liberals are less involved in charity than religious folks, and it demonstrates that secular conservatives are the biggest fucking assholes on the planet. Overall, I am going to have to say that this chart does not support Mr. Brooks's point in the least. Not that it did not stop him from saying that it did.
And that, folks, what I call a lie. Or as Colbert would say, an "untruthiness."
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All statistical data is full of untruthiness..
ReplyDeleteHiding it is a common ploy.
Three thumbs down for the book..
Boy, you are absolutely right. Sucks to be you and have to read that book...
ReplyDeleteBy the way, my verification word is ifwhnwi
Doesn't that look like If When Why? Odd...
Staisticians can make black look white without even trying hard!
ReplyDeleteBill O'Reilly has been pimping this book all over the place, crowing about how it proves non-religious (who are we kidding here — non-Christian) people are less generous when giving to charity. I'm totally not surprised to find out that both he and the author of this book are full of shit. (As usual.)
ReplyDeleteTo quote Bart Simpson, "Come on, snipers! Where are you?"
Actually, the data in the book did show that religious people were more generous than non-religious people. HOWEVER, that is because they gave LOTS of money to - surprise! surprise! - RELIGIOUS causes. When you look only at secular giving, it is much more even. Except that secular conservatives give the least of any group. You want to find misers and hoarders? hang out with a secular conservative.
ReplyDeleteI'll let you know when my long ass article about this crap is out.
As much as work as my stats and research methods classes were, every time I read a study I am so glad that I took them!
ReplyDelete