Posted inStatistics
Does Barack Obama Have A Mandate? A Look At The Numbers
How important was Barack Obama's victory? By what measure can he be said to have secured a "mandate"? How does his election compares to others? And how do voters in…
Posted inStatistics
Use And Abuses Of Decision Analysis: Global Warming Example
Suppose we have a simple decision to make1: implement a government-takeover of all energy companies, so as to regulate with thoroughness their carbon budgets, or leave these entities as they…
Posted inStatistics
A Citizen’s Guide to Global Warming Evidence
Was it only me? I thought Chicken Little dead. After all, when was the last time we heard competent authority shouting "Only the government can stop the sky from falling!"?…
Posted inCulture Philosophy Statistics
Genetic Engineering To Create New Super Moral Race: Savulescu Strikes Again
On the road, so here is a classic post from not too long ago. The appalling Julian Savulescu1 is back, this time staining the pages of the British edition of…
Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
A Statistician’s Lament
Regular readers (those wanting to catch up, click here) will know that the world is far too sure of itself, especially in areas which touch on human behavior, and most…
Posted inCulture Statistics
Changing Attitudes On Suicide And Euthanasia
We had such fun with abortion attitudes, today this: From the General Social Survey, a picture of the support for suicide and euthanasia by reason from 1977 until 20061. GSS…
Posted inStatistics
Paul “Population Bomb” Ehrlich Asks, “Can a collapse of global civilization be avoided?” Yes, Paul. Yes It Can
Paul Ehrlich in 1968 predicted that a devastating human Population Bomb would immanently wreak untold havoc upon the world. He was later derided, ridiculed, blasted, razzed, heckled, savaged, tweaked, tormented,…
Posted inCulture Statistics
Support For Abortion by Reason: Mother’s Health Tops List: Attitudes Are Inconsistent
From the General Social Survey, a picture of the support for abortion by reason from 1972 until 20061. GSS questions on abortions are asked of about 1,000 (order of magnitude)…