There are Lies, and then there are Statistics
Statistics are almost invariably the other man's argument.
They are numeric fibs set in a row to sell more snake oil.
We must always ask ourselves, in the face of these teasers, who is to profit? What is at stake? What is to gain?
Statistics Canada - now there's a billion dollar expense that we really need and really asked for, NOT - will have us believe that we are tougher on crime here in B.C. than our fellow Canadians are elsewhere in the dominion.
But , as the Indian Chief replied to Columbus, "No. We discover you. All is relative."
StatsCan claims that we have the lowest rate of jailing drunk drivers at 6.4%, compared to the national average of 12.4%.
But what does this tell you?
It tells me that, after all the carnage,, after all the years and tears, we still believe that it is a right to be stupid drunk, drive a car and kill people. Why isn't the national average for jailing the murderous bastards who drive drunk more like 96%? I'm happy to pay for the jail costs, aren't you?
And what are these stories that appear day after day in our newspapers and newscasts about criminals getting off Scott free or with inappropriately small sentences? Are they fantasies? Are they the exception?
Why do police and librarians and doctors and mothers all believe that we are soft on crime?
Because we are, StatsCan be damned.
A horrible asshole who lives across the street from me attacked a school boy last month, absolutely unprovoked. Asshole was drunk and high on drugs. He smashed all the boy's teeth with a rock. Four police cars were on the scene.
Guess where this violent, out-of-control pig is living these days?
That's right. Across the street from me.
May he move into a house across the street from Stats Canada.
3 comments:
Speaking of statistics, Marty Zlotnik was on the radio today discussing "Save-the-Course" and his poll of GVRD residents (not Point Grey residents of course (no pun!)) that he claims supports his position.
Would like to read your thoughts on Zlotnik's position re the UBC Golf Course, as well as his "position" as a Park Board Commissioner while he is pushing "Save-the-Course".
Zlotnik's Proposal:
"Save-the-Course supporters believe there are better ways to compensate the Musqueam for their land claim than gifting this vital community asset. Even if the Musqueam insists on land rather than financial compensation which the Court believed reasonable, there are 2,000 acres of land in nearby Pacific Spirit Park that are far less utilized than the University Golf Course. An equivalent acreage of this land without a 26-year restriction on development would be far more valuable to the Musqueam today and have far less impact on our community's recreational infrastructure. "
"absolutely unprovoked". "He smashed all the boy's teeth with a rock". My response David is that you and I, and everyone reading this are hell bent on giving this Creature an enviorment in which he can thrive. Forget the Government, the Courts, the Probation Services, the Parole Board Members, based on History they will do nothing to abate this guy. It is time that we "out" such people to our neighbours, our work mates, our club or association members, our shop keepers, bar staff, and that we all make this guys existance "a living Hell'. Full stop. He and his ilk do what they do..............because they can. we need to remove one thin layer of OUR tolerance.
A couple of comments here:
I don't think all statistics are bunk. But they have to be used wisely. And that's hard to do in Canada.
Even though StatsCan is funded by taxpayers, they charge a fee for up-to-date and detailed data. For instance, if you want to know the violent crime broken down by territory for 2000-2006, it'll cost you $132. American data is free.
In the Vancouver Sun story I believe you were referring to, the median sentence for drug possession in BC is 1 day, while it is 10 days in the rest of Canada. Also, the sentence for theft is 21 days (as opposed to 30 elsewhere).
The median sentence for possession in the US is 2 months. Theft (larceny) receives a 4 month median sentence. That just shows you how ridiculously soft on crime ALL Canadian judges are.
Another hole in this story in the phrase, "B.C. judges are more likely to send convicted criminals to jail". Convicted criminals. That means they have to be convicted. A lot of them are getting off without a conviction. A lot more are not even being charged. How many? To find out you have to do a victimization survey, which StatsCan does once every 5 years. Most other countries do them annually.
Finally, there are those who say that incarceration doesn't reduce crime. This is easily disproved. Compare the US crime rate to Canada's since the Americans started getting tougher on crime (back in the 80's). Their crime rate is falling significantly. Ours is rising slightly on average. And, if you want to get people off drugs, putting them in jail with a decent mandatory treatment program works well, but only if they're in for several months.
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