Text 6983, 100 rader
Skriven 2008-07-17 17:11:00 av Bob Klahn (1:124/311)
     Kommentar till en text av Richard Webb
Ärende: census, was the black exp
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 ...

 RW>> BUt what does it really tell them?  NOT whether I actually
 RW>> learned anything in school <g>.  IT also doesn't tell them
 RW>> about the local schools, because I don't live where I grew
 RW>> up.

BK>>  You may not, but most people do. Even today. And the annual
BK>> proficiency tests will tell them how much people are learning.

 RW> THere again, that's my point.  And, if the local folks are
 RW> that interested, they'll get involved.  tHey'll attend

 The point is, the govt doesn't even know what is happening if
 they don't ask.
 ...

BK>>>  They don't get your name, but they may build a railroad terminal
BK>>> or a bus station if they find the numbers are growing enough to
BK>>> justify it. Or *NOT* put up a big box store if the demographics  are
BK>>> wrong.

 RW>> Yah but that they can get from numbers alone.  I've been

BK>>  Demographics include income levels, and personal preferences.  For
BK>> example, everyone knows fundamentalist Christians wouldn't  shop at
BK>> Victoria's Secret. (hint: humor)

 RW> TO some point, but there are enough ways to track that.
 RW> Look at the institutions that *are* flourishing, e.g.
 RW> churches, synagogues, merchants. THey tell you more about
 RW> the community.  WHat religion am I?  NOne of your business
 RW> MR. census taker, I'm a free thinking man who believes in
 RW> my "right to be let alone."  That's what religion I am.

 What religion you claim may have nothing to do with what church
 you attend. Nor what churches are flourishing.

 RW>> quite involved over the years, especially back in the '80's
 RW>> when very active with a blind activist group in advocacy
 RW>> work for improved mass and public transit systems.  Plain
 RW>> numbers will or should tell them what they need to know.

BK>>  Ah, but how many of that number are blind?

 RW> True, but how many of that number will use good transport
 RW> systems if they're available. BUild it, make it accessible
 RW> to the commuters by serving their neighborhoods and

 Without the basic numbers you have no place to even start.

 RW> workplaces.  WE as blind folks just had a stronger interest
 RW> than most in maintaining and strenghtening good mass
 RW> transit programs. IN our case, what we find to be quality
 RW> service also enhances the service level for the rest of the
 RW> folks who live where we do.  AS frequent users of the

 Yep. The elderly also. Which is a good reason to support mass
 transit.

 ...

BK>>  You took that left turn a little fast, you know. And don't cross
BK>> against the light next time.

 RW> Yah, at least in CHina they're really making some strides,
 RW> cameras on lamp posts, facial recognition software.  A
 RW> scary thought.

 Yep. And it's originating here.

 ...

 RW>> activities. AFter all, my government has told me that
 RW>> safeguarding my privacy and my constitutional rights is
 RW>> quite low on their priority list.

BK>>  Ah, as I said above... you already knew that.
 RW> OH I sure did, and I could easily find myself in a trick
 RW> bag.  tO wit, the type of discussion this thread spun off
 RW> from. Massage the data points and stats enough you can make
 RW> them show any damned thing you like, at least at a cursory
 RW> glance. E.g. A majority of junkes started with marijuana.
 RW> All alcoholics began life drinking milk.

 I long ago learned more addicts start with tobacco than with MJ.

 RW> Overly simplistic examples above, but I think you see my
 RW> point here.  Massage enough data points and draw your own
 RW> conclusions, pick the data points that reinforce your
 RW> conclusion, ignore the rest.

 Why... you're practically qualified for politics!

BOB KLAHN bob.klahn@sev.org   http://home.toltbbs.com/bobklahn

... All I ask is PROOF money won't make me happy.
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