Don't Confuse Me With The Facts

January 16, 2002 10:18 AM

Don't Confuse Me With The Facts
Post 9/11- fewer folks are taking vows and more are splitting up, Armed Forces Enlistment figures haven't budged, people not going to church more, Washington, D.C., the murder rate spiked 47 percent after Sept. 11; in Denver, shoplifting went up by 12 percent.
Never one to be confused with any type of facts, Government Folks say different.
I guess I'll continue to believe only that which reinforces my preconceived notions.
posted by Blake (10 comments total)

Interesting, goes to show you that the real determining factor in crime (and, likely, divorces) is the economy. The economy sucks, crime goes up.

I do think the NYC crime rate continued to go down after 9/11 (I believe there are statistics on that one, but maybe I'm buying another myth).

I am surprised about the enlistment figures though, I would have expect at least some surge in sign ups there.
posted by malphigian at 10:26 AM on January 16, 2002

This post fills me with glee.
Everybody got upset when companies used 9/11 to sell cars, jewelry, et cetera, but I heard precious little complaining about all the fucking Reenforcement Of Upstanding Model American Values sunshine going up my exit ramp.
Yay.
posted by dong_resin at 10:27 AM on January 16, 2002

More proof that this administration is out of touch with the real world. Crime, drug use and divorce are linked with poverty and unemployment.

Pray into one hand and crap into the other. Guess which one fills up faster?
posted by jeff-o-matic at 10:37 AM on January 16, 2002

I guess I'll continue to believe only that which reinforces my preconceived notions.

Doesn't everybody do that? Everywhere? All the time?
posted by Down10 at 10:42 AM on January 16, 2002

Yes, Down10, that was my point. Irony I suppose.
posted by Blake at 10:43 AM on January 16, 2002

Who could possibly interpret weak, cherry-picked, and poorly qualified statistics like the "12% shoplifting rise in Denver" as proof that we've been lied to by anyone? Good God, there are thousands of other cities and thousands of other crimes. Not to mention thousands of other reasons something might go up or down by 12% on a month-to-month basis, if that's what they mean.
posted by dougb at 10:50 AM on January 16, 2002

Regarding enlistment figures; for the Navy, September 11 has produced more enlistment interest, but not always viable candidates. Also, retention is at record levels, which means enlistment quotas would remain static.
posted by tetsuo at 11:26 AM on January 16, 2002

Spin. eh.
posted by rocketman at 2:17 PM on January 16, 2002

Personally I love how people are blaming unemployment, poor economy and everything else bad on September 11th. Such short memories. Things started turning sour the second Bush got into office. It took him a year to find something that people could blame it on besides him. I know a lot of people who lost their jobs before September 11th, and divorce has been on the rise for years.

The only spin I want is the truth.
posted by ZachsMind at 9:49 PM on January 16, 2002

Great, so 50% of things have changed post September 11th. This shows how the American people have pulled together in a time of crisis. Also, 50% of things haven't changed since September 11th. This shows how the American people will go on as normal and not let the terrorists win. This is a major change from before September 11th when only 49% of things changed and 51% of things didn't change.

With statistics like these, I'm going back to my tarot cards.
posted by DaRiLo at 1:38 AM on January 17, 2002