I’m with you re politicized data, but I also like this quote from Thomas Sowell: “Facts do not speak for themselves. They speak for or against competing theories. Facts divorced from theories or visions are mere isolated curiosities.”
To draw an analogy, it is a fact that the current healthcare system, in many cases, is prohibitively expensive and overrun by bureaucracy. But we’ve seen very clearly that even when dealing with this basic fact, various thinkers and leaders have proposed vastly different, often competing theories. Likewise, while it’s certainly important to use accurate data whenever possible, neither accuracy nor inaccuracy guarantees the best policy decision.
Likewise, while it’s certainly important to use accurate data whenever possible, neither accuracy nor inaccuracy guarantees the best policy decision.
“Inaccurate data” = “non data.”
Additionally, it’s important for scientists to present data uncorrupted by their own desires to have it fit a previously held conclusion. To corrupt data for this reason is to commit fraud.
Figuring out the “best policy decision” is not the fundamental problem here. It’s finding the truth, and Palin’s ability to realize this demonstrates her wisdom, in contrast with most other public figures.