Lies, Myths and Downright Stupidity : Stossel's List of Popularly Reported Misconceptions

ABCNEWS ^ | 1/23/2004 | John Stossel

[antaresequity]

Pure bliss from Kragens....

Skip the chrome trim on the flaps too, its tacky

[Alberta's Child]

LOL! Don't worry about it.

I'm not even a Bruce Springsteen fan, but somehow that stanza always sticks in my head.

It could be worse . . . I heard a contest on a country radio station in Calgary a few years ago, in which people were asked to call/e-mail the station with their most ridiculous "misunderstood lyrics."

By the end of the day, the winner -- hands down -- was:

You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille,
Four hungry hundred children, and a crop in the field.

LOL!!

[Petronski]

The Springsteen lyric always reminds me of the moment late in "Wall Street" when the Bud Fox asks Gordon Gekko:

Tell me, Gordon--when does it all end? How many yachts can you waterski behind? How much is enough?

[perfect stranger]

"Myth No. 8 — American Families Need Two Incomes

Many families in America say both husband and wife have to work, because they can't make ends meet without both incomes. It's the reason Sherri Kowalski and her husband say they both work.

Sherri gets up every morning at 4:00 a.m. because she took a job delivering newspapers. She also sells things on Ebay. Her husband works as a lab technician, but they say it's not enough money for the family. But does she really need this job?

Contrary to what we always hear, Americans make more money these days. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that even after accounting for inflation, personal disposable income has tripled over the past 50 years. And Sherri's husband makes an above-average income.

The Kowalskis feel they need the extra income because they say they need to buy more things for their family. They recently bought a new, fully loaded minivan. But they have already have an Escort and a pickup truck.

"I wanted the better van; I didn't want the van with the cloth seats and the no entertainment system. Everybody wants more," Sherri said. A lot more.

Fifty years ago, the average family in the United States had one car. Today the norm is two or three. Houses have more than doubled in square footage, and shoppers just seem to spend as much as they want.

"Most families don't have to have both parents working. They do this by choice. People have decided they want to maintain a very high income lifestyle on two incomes to have all the things to keep up with the Joneses," Moore said."

Using a family with an above average income to prove this point disproves it's own premise.

"Shoppers seem to spend all they want."

BS alert, Shoppers tend to spend what they can afford.

And why has every previous generation been given a pass for raising the standard of living in this country over the last 229 years, and the present generation is put to fault for attempting to provide the same standard?

[VadeRetro]

In cold weather, your body uses more energy trying to keep warm than it usually does.

Right. Other things that make you vulnerable to colds: 1) prolonged emotional stress, 2) athletic overtraining.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Cold air also makes your nose run (mine, anyway). So you're constantly blowing it, and thus more likely to pick up a cold virus from some surface you might have touched..

[VadeRetro]

Cold air also makes your nose run (mine, anyway).

Which brings up the issue: "Does your nose run and do your feet smell? You're built upside-down!"

[ARA]

You are wrong... It only breeds more problems...

[new cruelty]

"Sorry, but I still believe that money CAN buy happiness and anyone who disagrees with me should send me a couple of thousand dollars. Including Mr. Stossel :^D"

"You are wrong... It only breeds more problems..."

Having money makes me incredibly happy.

[sharktrager]

Stossel has always been on Friday, as 20/20 has always been on Friday, and has consistently been highly rated.

[Tempest]

I hate you.

*runs away crying*

;)

[new cruelty]

lol.

[Tempest]

It breeds wonderful problems. Like the problem of freedom.

Freedom to do what I want when I want.
Freedom from debt.
Freedom from scheduales.
Freedom to escape and change scenary.
etc, etc. All problems I could deal with.

[lawdude]

"O'Brien said, "In the United States, there's plenty of land to properly dispose of our solid waste for hundreds and even thousands of years.""

There's always the Grand Canyon!

[FoxInSocks]

noh entertainment system

ROFL

[PokeyJoe]

posted to put Michael Moore at the top spot in Google.

see tag

[billbears]

The Office of Management and Budget says spending at the Environmental Protection Agency is up 12 percent, it's up 14 percent at the Agriculture Department, 30 percent at the Department of the Interior, 64 percent at the Department of Labor, and 70 percent at the Department of Education

But it's good for us don't you know? ;) I didn't realize the 64 percent and 70 percent increases. That's just shameful

[mfulstone]

Sadly, the majority of Americans do not have a clue about what is really going on.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Great show. He invites any additions to the list. Post your ideas here.

[stands2reason]

LOL---