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Numbers and Context

Byhenry

This is way out of my field, but I want to link to it because it illustrates the way in which numbers can be used deceptively. I still heartily recommend the book How to Lie with Statistics from which the title is derived. I’m no economist, but I remember a fine discussion in a class…

Speaking Out on Darfur

Byhenry

In his regular column in Newsweek, Rabbi Marc Gellman comments on the need to speak out about the situation in Darfur. I want to call attention to his column, Responding to Evil, and suggest you read it, if nothing else so that you will see this: The most important thing I have taken from Wiesel’s…

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  2. Ron Paul to Rudy Giuliani – Read a Book!
    Thursday, May 24, 2007 – FreeMarketNews.com

    http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=42024

    At an “Educating Rudy” press conference Thursday morning, May 24, presidential candidate Ron Paul (R-Tex) “assigned Rudy Giuliani homework.”

    According to a CNN report on the press conference which featured Ron Paul and a former CIA head, Micheal Scheuer, Paul said presidential contender and former New York City Mayor Giuliani should read books to educate himself about foreign policy.

    CNN reported: “[Ron Paul] suggested that the former mayor read four books: ‘Imperial Hubris’ by Michael Scheuer, ‘Dying to Win’ by Robert Pape, ‘Blowback’ by Chalmers Johnson and the 9/11 Commission Report.”

    The CNN article’s tone might be seen as wry, even mocking. The headline is, “GOP Opponent Assigns Giuliani Homework.” But, in fact, Ron Paul has committed a radical act in American politics by bringing up the idea of historical literacy – of reading widely as a way of helping to make informed decisions.

    The expectation of literacy among leaders was more widespread in the 1700s and 1800s when heads-of-state were supposed to be familiar with a wide variety of ideas, and the books that contained them. With the advent of the popular media, the vulgarization of leadership worldwide and the relentless attacks on Western literature’s “canon” as composed of “dead white men” the emphasis on the “great conversation of the ages” has waned.

    The point of such a “great conversation” was at least in part to retain and pass on wisdom about how to better humankind’s “lot.” Not surprisingly, almost inevitably, the ideas that withstand the test of time are those that emphasize the free-market, de-emphasize government control and generally encourage individual human action over collectivism. For this reason, likely, among others, the canon has come under attack, its credibility disparaged, its value criticized by those who seek to collectivize human initiative in order to concentrate and control power.

    Ron Paul, a doctor, political economist and commentator is one of the more deeply read candidates ever to run for high office in the United States. Ron Paul is also one of the most prolific, with literally hundreds of articles on a myriad of political and economic issues available on the ‘Net. He is a commentator for FMNN, which keeps an abbreviated archive of his papers here:

    http://www.freemarketnews.com/Writers-Archive.asp?wid=110&ncat=ema

    The press conference was held in the National Press Club Lisagor Room. Ron Paul was joined by Michael Scheuer, former head of the CIA’s “Bin Laden unit.”

    The Ron Paul campaign did not videotape the press conference, though both ABC and CNN were filming. Sources close to the campaign said that the video would be requested from both ABC and CNN to display on the Ron Paul campaign site. Earlier, sources close to the campaign had hoped that a video of the press conference would be made available on the Ron Paul campaign site, http://www.ronpaul2008.com “over the next few days.” There is no certainty, however.

    During the “First in South” GOP debate, earlier this month, Ron Paul stated that 50 years of interventionism in the Middle East is a significant motivating tool for radical Islamists. Dr. Paul’s position, though disparaged during the debate by Giuliani and others, has since received backing from numerous individuals, including others in the GOP, administration officials and – in excerpted reports – from the 9-11 Commission itself.

    CNN summed up Ron Paul’s points at the press conference this way: “Texas Rep. Ron Paul questioned former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s qualifications to be president Thursday, suggesting he would not support him unless he’d read several specific books and ‘report back to me.'”

    CNN added the following in its report: “‘No, I don’t think he’s qualified to be president mainly because of his views,’ Paul said of his fellow Republican presidential contender during a press conference he called ‘Educating Rudy.’ ‘And no, unless he would read the books and report back to me and say, you know, you’ve changed my mind — then I would reconsider.'”

    The CNN story can be seen here:

    http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=42023

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