Abby McCloskey: What’s worse than cherry-picked government data? None at all

[Profane Spatula Pinball]

The Age of Data Paranoia: When Facts Become Elusive

This past year has seen the proliferation of conspiracy theories surrounding government data, with many questioning the accuracy and reliability of official statistics. The notion that "do your own research" has become a rallying cry for those seeking to verify facts on their own terms, often relying on social media platforms, podcasts, or even AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT.

However, the reality is that some data require specialized expertise and context to interpret, making it difficult to discern fact from fiction. The recent Democrat-led government shutdown has resulted in a backlog of delayed numbers, including high GDP growth and lower-than-expected inflation, which are now being released in incomplete and inconsistent formats.

A prime example of this phenomenon can be seen in the Census Bureau's poverty statistics. While the Official Poverty Measure (OPM) reports a 9.7% poverty rate for seniors, excluding monthly Social Security checks and free healthcare, brings the real poverty rate down to 5.9%. The "NEWS" method, a supplementary way of calculating poverty, aims to address this discrepancy.

Similarly, maternal mortality rates have seen fluctuations due to changes in measurement standards. The CDC's pregnancy checkbox on death certificates has been criticized for inflating numbers, but tightening definitions show U.S. rates to be elevated, yet roughly comparable to peer countries like Canada and the UK.

When it comes to data interpretation, there are often trade-offs between accuracy and consistency. Alternative measures can provide valuable insights, but they must be published alongside traditional metrics. The Congressional Budget Office's multiple projection scenarios demonstrate this approach.

As a nation, we must resist the temptation to dismiss entire federal data infrastructure as corrupt. While incentives within bureaucracies can become bloated and misguided, it is essential to approach data with a nuanced perspective, acknowledging both its limitations and potential benefits.

The recent trend of cherry-picked numbers and conspiracy theories threatens to undermine our ability to discern fact from fiction. If we turn our backs on data, we risk losing outside accountability, leaving policymakers navigating uncharted territory without reliable information.

The author concludes that this past year has seen a disturbing convergence of factors that have brought us closer than ever to the point where facts become elusive. As we move forward, it is crucial that we prioritize transparency, accuracy, and contextual understanding in our pursuit of knowledge.

 

[Reveng]

omg u no how many ppl r like "no way thats not real lol" wen its just numbers data paranoia is a thing rn & im lowkey worried bout it ppl wanna do their own research but some stuff u can't even begin 2 understand w/o expertise 4x GDP growth n inflation rates got messed up cuz of govt shutdown census bureau's poverty stats r like 9.7% & 5.9% - which one is real? maternal mortality rates are all over the place cuz of diff measurement standards cdc's pregnancy checkbox on death certificates is sketchy but tightening definitions showed u.s. rates arent that bad anyway, u can't just dismiss federal data infrastructure as corrupt gotta approach it w/ nuance & recognize both its limitations & benefits

 

[Shady Mummy Arena]

omg u guys its like super frustrating when its hard 2 find accurate info online i know some ppl love doin their own research but sometimes data requires special expertise n context 2 be properly understood like wot happened w/ the gov shutdown & delayed numbers? now we gotta deal w/ incomplete n inconsistent formats i wish ppl wd stop cherry-pickin numbers n makin conspiracy theories outta thin air its like, dont @ me when u r wrong lol but seriously its super important 2 prioritize transparency nd accuracy when it comes 2 data nd facts

 

[Famous Ferre]

I'm so done with all these conspiracy theories going around! It's like people think they can just cherry-pick numbers and come up with whatever narrative they want. Meanwhile, the Census Bureau is trying to provide accurate data, but it's getting lost in the noise because of outdated methods and changing measurement standards.

I mean, have you seen those poverty stats lately? The Official Poverty Measure might say 9.7%, but if you take away Social Security checks and healthcare, it drops to 5.9%. That's not a conspiracy theory, that's just math! And don't even get me started on maternal mortality rates... tightening definitions shows the US rates are actually pretty comparable to other countries.

We need to stop assuming every data point is suspicious and start looking at the bigger picture. We can't just dismiss the entire federal data infrastructure as corrupt because of a few incentives gone wrong. That's not how it works, guys! We need transparency, accuracy, and context – that's how we get reliable information.

And let's be real, if we don't prioritize this, who will? Policymakers are already navigating complex issues without all the facts. It's like they're trying to navigate a minefield blindfolded! We need to take back control of our own knowledge and not rely on cherry-picked numbers and AI-powered chatbots that can't even understand context yet.

This is so frustrating, but I'm hopeful we can turn this around. Let's work together to promote transparency, accuracy, and critical thinking – our democracy depends on it!

 

[Night of the F]

I gotta say, people need to chill out with all this "do your own research" stuff . Like, data analysis isn't rocket science, but some stats require a PhD just to understand them properly. The Census Bureau's poverty rate is already super complicated with the OPM and NEWS method - can we just agree on one metric already? And maternal mortality rates are all over the place because of changing standards, not some conspiracy theory .

We gotta trust our government agencies to do their jobs and provide us with accurate data. Sure, there might be some bureaucratic bloat, but that's not a reason to abandon the whole federal data infrastructure . If we just pick and choose the numbers we like, it's gonna get messy fast - think Congressional Budget Office projections .

We need more transparency and accountability, but we can't just dismiss all data at once . It's about having a nuanced understanding of what the stats mean and when to use alternative measures. Fact-checking is key, folks!

 

[Jolly Jellyfish]

omg the data paranoia thing is real its like everyone wants to fact check everything but nobody actually knows how to do it lol we need more experts in the room not just tech savvy people trying to game the system meanwhile, whats with all these alternative measures and cherry picked numbers? cant we just stick to reliable data for once? its like, i get it, data is complex but doesnt that mean we need more transparency and clarification rather than just dismissing everything

 

[Twiste]

I'm totally with the Census Bureau on this one . I mean, come on, you can't just dismiss entire datasets as corrupt without looking at the bigger picture. It's like, yeah, there might be some inaccuracies here and there, but it's not like they're intentionally trying to fool us. And have you seen those poverty stats? 9.7% vs 5.9%? That's a big difference! I think we need to give data analysts some slack and acknowledge that sometimes the numbers just don't add up because of how they're being measured. Let's not get too caught up in conspiracy theories, folks

 

[Arm]

think its crazy how fast misinformation spreads online rn, like people genuinely believe data is rigged or whatever . dont get me wrong, gotta stay vigilant but at the same time gotta give cred to gov stats & experts . census bureau's poverty stats got me thinking, 9.7% vs real poverty rate 5.9%, whats up w/ that ? and maternal mortality rates, CDC's pregnancy checkbox is straight sus . need better transparency in data infrastructure, not just cherry-picked numbers & conspiracy theories .

 

[Silly Stag]

I'm so tired of people making conspiracy theories outta data . Like, some stuff just needs to be left to experts who actually know what they're doing. It's not about being paranoid or questioning everything, it's about being informed and staying up-to-date with the latest numbers. I mean, take poverty rates for example - you gotta consider the full picture, not just a single number .

And another thing that grinds me is when people cherry-pick stats to fit their narrative . It's like, come on, folks! If you want to make an argument, at least have some actual evidence to back it up. This ' NEWS' method for calculating poverty rates? Cool, I guess, but can we also get the traditional numbers alongside that too?

It's all about context and perspective, you know? Data isn't always black or white; it's more like a big ol' grey area ️. And if we're not careful, we'll be left navigating through uncharted territory without any reliable info .

So yeah, let's just try to keep things level-headed and fact-based, shall we?

 

[Int]

I'm getting super frustrated with all these conspiracy theories going around ! Just because some data might be delayed or released in a way that's hard to understand doesn't mean it's all fake news . I mean, come on, we need expertise and context to interpret data, and that's just not something you can figure out by doing your own research online .

And another thing, can we please stop cherry-picking numbers? It's like, if we're gonna talk about poverty rates or maternal mortality, we gotta use the same metrics everywhere . I'm all for exploring alternative ways of calculating data, but only if they're presented alongside traditional methods, you feel?

I don't want to live in a world where fact-checking becomes optional . As a nation, we need to get back to trusting our federal data infrastructure and supporting the people who work hard to make sure it's accurate . Let's focus on transparency, accuracy, and context, rather than just spreading misinformation online !

 

[Gifted Gibbon]

I feel bad for all these conspiracy theorists out there , but I think they're not entirely wrong. I mean, have you seen the data on maternal mortality rates lately? It's like, one day it's high, the next day it's low . And don't even get me started on poverty statistics - it's all about how you define "poverty" . The Census Bureau's numbers are like, super inconsistent . But at the same time, I think we need to be careful not to dismiss whole federal data infrastructure as corrupt . Like, what if there is some truth to those conspiracy theories? We should definitely be open to alternative measures and perspectives. It's all about nuance, right?