Has America become an oligarchy?

Skybird · 10-31-11, 05:57 AM

Steve, JU-88, give it some rest. You are running circles over things that have little or nothing to do with the content of the article.

For the record, and to reiterate it:
The content the article is about is not ordinary people buying stuff they can afford with their wages.

It would be good when embarking on such discussions to actually read and refer to the piece that actually opens a thread or discussion.

Like every nation, the US also has several offices, some state-run, some privately maintained foundations, that collect statistical data of economy, finances, taxes. By chance I stumbled over several such articles in the past two weeks or so, all of them marking the same same general direction in their data's conclusions, agreeing with what the article here is saying. Also, thw widening gap between the top 1 and 5% of society, and the lowest25% - or whatever division model you prefer - is not new a reveleation in statistical analysis. It is an observation made since many years, and in many Western countries. But nowhere it seems to derail that extremely like in the US.

Statistics are not representative for the individual case. They even should not be, since that is not what statistics are designed for. What they should do is to make reality-grounded statements about whole groups and populations - not individuals. Therefore, it makes little sense to try countering a statistical statement by refering to one's own personal single example. The question then only is if your own example is representative for enough other individuals as well to make you all, as a group, able to form a footprint in statistical descriptions of the whole basic population. And voila - again you are dealing with groups - not individuals. So statistics can display majoirty and possibly minority groups as well, but again: not individuals. Your individual fate, from a statistical conclusion's point of view, is almost non-existent.

Be thankful that it is like this. Else those of you needing to take drugs and medications would not be able to generally trust them to do something good and not to add damage to your overall health. The whole process of drug evalutation is a statistical one. I dare say most of science also is tightly linked to statistical analysis, and empiry.

10-31-11, 05:57 AM	#11
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,670 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Steve, JU-88, give it some rest. You are running circles over things that have little or nothing to do with the content of the article. For the record, and to reiterate it: The content the article is about is not ordinary people buying stuff they can afford with their wages. It would be good when embarking on such discussions to actually read and refer to the piece that actually opens a thread or discussion. Like every nation, the US also has several offices, some state-run, some privately maintained foundations, that collect statistical data of economy, finances, taxes. By chance I stumbled over several such articles in the past two weeks or so, all of them marking the same same general direction in their data's conclusions, agreeing with what the article here is saying. Also, thw widening gap between the top 1 and 5% of society, and the lowest25% - or whatever division model you prefer - is not new a reveleation in statistical analysis. It is an observation made since many years, and in many Western countries. But nowhere it seems to derail that extremely like in the US. Statistics are not representative for the individual case. They even should not be, since that is not what statistics are designed for. What they should do is to make reality-grounded statements about whole groups and populations - not individuals. Therefore, it makes little sense to try countering a statistical statement by refering to one's own personal single example. The question then only is if your own example is representative for enough other individuals as well to make you all, as a group, able to form a footprint in statistical descriptions of the whole basic population. And voila - again you are dealing with groups - not individuals. So statistics can display majoirty and possibly minority groups as well, but again: not individuals. Your individual fate, from a statistical conclusion's point of view, is almost non-existent. Be thankful that it is like this. Else those of you needing to take drugs and medications would not be able to generally trust them to do something good and not to add damage to your overall health. The whole process of drug evalutation is a statistical one. I dare say most of science also is tightly linked to statistical analysis, and empiry. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert. Last edited by Skybird; 10-31-11 at 06:50 AM.