Correlation is not causation. Indeed, it’s the first thing that one learns when this topic is taught in statistics. Unfortunately, it is often forgotten when statistical correlations are calculated.
However, when one predicts a future event, and that event does not happen, he deserves to lose all benefit of the doubt. Reality has demonstrated that his prediction was wrong, and it is reasonable to suspect his presumptions, prejudices, methods, and models.
The WOD promoters predicted carnage on the highways and an increase in underage marijuana consumption following Colorado’s legalization. Neither has happened; in fact, the opposite has occurred. Personally, I doubt that legalization had much to do with either phenomena, but the drug warriors’ predictions were, as a matter of fact, wrong and the legalizers have been, as a matter of fact, correct so far.
Conservatives should apply the same criterion to the prognostications of drug warriors that they apply to global warming alarmists. If global warming alarmists predict decadal increases in global temperature, and the satellite data indicate no change in seventeen years, it is reasonable call the alarmists wrong. (James Hansen predicted monotonic decadal increases in global temperature. He was, as a matter of fact, wrong.) Since so many profit from climate change alarmism, it’s even reasonable to suspect that the whole thing is a scam. Same applies to the WOD.
And how do you know there has not been an increase in underage marijuana consumption? Where are you getting this "Fact" from, and how do you know it's true? Do they take a poll of the underaged tokers or something?
If tou make something more freely available I find it unlikely that teen usage will go down or remain the same. How would their be a reverse correlation?
Free Republic Quote of the Year, so far.
My 'guess' is that since GAS is so high, once pot was legalized, people in CO decided to stay home and get high. I.E. they shifted their spending habits.
Less traffic, less accidents.
Conservatives should apply the same criterion to the prognostications of drug warriors that they apply to global warming alarmists. If global warming alarmists predict decadal increases in global temperature, and the satellite data indicate no change in seventeen years, it is reasonable call the alarmists wrong.
Amen!