Thursday, December 13, 2012

Numbers and wording can make so-so news sound so outrageous - Chicago Tribune

Numbers and wording can make so-so news sound so outrageous - Chicago Tribune: "With regard to income inequality, virtually all headlines and stories focus on gross income rather than income after taxes (on average, paid by the rich) and government transfers (on average, received by the poor). And they are not adjusted for the number of members of a household (there are more people in upper-income households), age and other variables. Raw comparisons — in every sense of the word."

Why Some Conservatives Oppose Vouchers | Andrew J. Coulson | Cato Institute: Commentary

Why Some Conservatives Oppose Vouchers | Andrew J. Coulson | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Medical researchers go to a lot of trouble to test a new drug. They record exactly what they're administering, how often, and in what quantity. They solicit volunteers and randomly give the drug to some but not others. Thanks to decades of these randomized experiments, "House," "Doc Martin," and even your local GP have at least a clue as to what works and what doesn't.

As I've just argued elsewhere, most education policy advocacy is quackery by comparison."

"When we review natural experiments in education policy fromthe 5th century BC to the present, and in dozens of countries in the modern world, clear patterns emerge. It turns out that education is generally most effective, efficient, harmonious, and responsive to families when educators are freed from government regulations, families choose from among a variety of schools, schools vie with one another to attract and serve children, and parents pick up at least some of the cost directly themselves—in essence, a free education marketplace.

But the historical and international evidence also indicates that government funding of private schools tends to bring with it a pall of regulation that grows over time; and schools hamstrung with this red tape underperform those that give educators and families more freedom."

No Internet deal reached at United Nations summit | Politics and Law - CNET News

No Internet deal reached at United Nations summit | Politics and Law - CNET News: "an alliance of western democracies including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada today rejected a proposed treaty over concerns it hands repressive governments too much authority over the Internet.
"This conference was never meant to focus on Internet issues," said ambassador Terry Kramer, head of the U.S. delegation to the Dubai summit. "The Internet has given the world unimaginable economic and social benefit during these past 24 years -- all without U.N. regulation." "

"the House of Representatives unanimously approved a resolution last week aimed at sending a strong message to the ITU. It said, in part, that "the consistent and unequivocal policy of the United States [is] to promote a global Internet free from government control." "

Let's Hear It for Scandal! | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary

Let's Hear It for Scandal! | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary: "The scandal-packed Watergate period ... helped spur reforms like the War Powers Resolution, the Privacy Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which, while imperfect, at least began to address the problem of unchecked executive power."