You consistently learn the profound limits of "data" when you are trying to address criminal punishment issues. You can share data forever and most people will shrug and say 'well that doesn't FEEL correct to me."

I didn’t always enjoy Colbert’s right-wing satire schtick but GD if coining “truthiness” wasn’t sheer genius.

I've studied data analysis before and it takes everything in me to not correct every single person that throws any given statistic up on the internet who doesn't really understand how this stuff is manipulated and misleading.

It's not only in criminal punishment, though. Everywhere I turn, people are not "feeling" facts. I think back to someone saying on behalf of Rick Santorum, "he believes it [the false fact] in his heart, so it's true." Now, the economy "feels" worse, when it's not. Smfh

We're still stuck in the swamp of false objectivity but that's because it is such a useful place to manipulate others from.

Same for things like UBI. Consistently proven to work. Cheaper than running a means testing welfare system. And yet...

I just mute those people immediately

Same goes for health care

This and also just having literally the same solution to statistical opposites. Crime down? Cops doing their job, more money for police. Crime up? Cops are having difficulty doing their job, more money for police.

No date that doesn't confirm bias is accepted

Even purported progressives often seem to fall for the crock about bail reform causing a massive crime wave. Basically zero evidence to that effect, of course.