Mark Twain is quoted to the effect that there are lies,
damned lies and statistics.

Notice that "research" always tends to prove the
agenda of whoever is paying for it or supporting it,
there was plenty of "scientific research" proving
the superiority of the white man and that the earth
is flat.

For years and years the tobacco companies
claimed that "research" proved that their product
was harmless, and their ads in the 1940's produced
doctor's testimonials to the health benefits of
cigarette smoking.

Today "politically correct" research proves that
homosexuality is an inborn predisposition and
that all races are mentally equivalent. This may
very well be so, but the two gentlemen who produced
"The Bell Curve" disputed this, claimed that "research"
was on their side.

My personal belief is that the truth is not necessarily
"in the middle" but does tend to be much more complex
than those who argue slogan's based on political
agendas.

In the emotion charged arena of pit killing dogs the
spin doctors on all sides proceed with glee. Those
seeking outright eradication tend to quote per capita
based figures, ignoring the fact that huge numbers
of such dogs are without registration, while those
who seek cover for the pit killers highlight the
Rottweiler figures, driven by huge numbers of
registrations in the 1990's.

Public health, law enforcement, and medical research
of every stripe is grant and budget driven, always
with the need to justify next year's budget and personal
salaries and grants.

Most of the data is at base anecdotal, that is, built
by searching newspaper archives, public records and
other sources.

Open discussion, by those willing to be publicly
identified, is perhaps the best approach to bringing
light where there has been shadow and speculation.

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