Facts, Conspiracy, and Democracy

[wsushox1]

Read this great article by the Washington Post today about how so many Americans don't believe facts that are provided by the government, unbiased consulting firms, etc. I'm curious to get the esteemed SN Politics section opinions on this opinion article.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/when-the-facts-dont-matter-how-can-democracy-survive/2016/10/17/560ff302-94a5-11e6-9b7c-57290af48a49_story.html?hpid=hp_no-name_opinion-card-f%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.0221a5c30a35

[Cdizzle]

My opinion is that the opinion piece sucks.





I'll try to read it later when I have time.

[wu_shizzle]

Is there any doubt that politicians pick and choose what data to highlight, and what data to bury?

There is just too much evidence that those who benefit from big government use selective information or misinformation to further their cause.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

There is just too much evidence that MOST PEOPLE use selective information or misinformation to further their cause.

FIFY

[Aargh]

I stopped believing much that I hear from the government or from political office-seekers 50 years ago. The lies and manipulated data are so obvious and based on self-serving interests that it's difficuit for me to comprehend how anyone can believe any part of it.

All I need to do is read ShockerNet or look at Facebook and I'm seeing all sorts of bias, prejudice, restatment of made-up "facts", etc. framed as facts. It frightens me to think some people actually believe the garbage they spew. The fact that the country has survived as well as it has gives me hope that we can muddle through all the misinformation we're fed and survive another 4 years of whatever government we happen to empower.

The part that really bothers me is misinformation that leads to wars and the loss of American lives on foreign soil.

[SHOCKvalue]

Where was this "data trutherism" term, and criticisms of quantitative distrust, the eight years Dubya was in office? Where would a liberal be without the ability to make up words and terms to use pejoratively towards people that dare disagree?

Oh yeah, it is something totally new and relevant today because it is the right doing it this time. Before it was just healthy intellectual skepticism from the enlightened illuminati that populates the political left.

Oh... and screw Trump.

[SB Shock]

I think people should:

1. Understand those who who feeding you conclusions to data may have a bias

2. Learn to look at the raw data yourself and see if interpretations match what they are saying. Eventually you will find there are some you can trust more than others.

It like when march madness is getting near - do you believe some talking head on ESPN or do you go to the data......

[ShockingButTrue]

I wish this would have been just an X-files episode.

[ShockingButTrue]

http://redstatewatcher.com/article.asp?id=43635

Google didn't list any major news outlets so maybe it's not true.

[ShockingButTrue]

http://conservativeangle.com/exposed-dem-operative-who-oversaw-trump-rally-agitators-visited-white-house-342-times/

Ditto

[ShockingButTrue]

Let's blame this guy.