Statistical Pretzel Making 0
Psychology Today considers how to lie with statistics, using one of Texas Governor Rick Perry’s campaign claims as its primary example (surprise, surprise). A nugget:
The other problem with Governor Perry’s fine sense of justice is that he was engaging in a statistical charade. It was a prime example of statistical cherry picking. If you look only at Federal income taxes paid you get a very different result than if you consider the total tax burden of our income earners. Counting payroll taxes, sales taxes, excise taxes for gasoline, and the like, you get a very different result.
Print the article out and keep it by your television for use while watching Fox.
