(1:00 pm) As the first real post to this blog, a good place to start seems to be to lay out an approach to the task. The thing that I find most frustrating about politics is the difficulty of getting to the meaningful truth.
A hypothetical example: One spokesman says, "Our program saves $2 billion," but the opposition says, "No, it only saves $200 million." Of course, neither one is the meaningful truth, because the OMB ( or the CBO or some "think tank") says its calculations show that it will only save $1 trillion, but those savings will be over the next 10 years (not in next year's budget alone), and it does not include the administrative costs of the program ($200 million per year) nor the fact that in 10 years, inflation will have made the costs double and the remaining savings amount becomes negligible.
Were you confused by that paragraph? Welcome! So, what can we do?
Over the decades, I have tried several ways to cut through this problem, and have come up with this 6-step* approach:
- Listen to as many viewpoints as I can (based on available time and my brain's ability to deal with ambiguity). Keep an open mind for new ways to see things.
- Learn to translate the code words*. What do they mean by "spending cut?"
- Assess the credibility of each source (as best I can).
- Compare the information with my best understanding of how the real world actually works.
- Compare the issues/candidates with my own values and ethics (religious, social, economic, etc.).
- Come to some decision on WHO DO I TRUST to accomplish the best thing as events unfold differently than planned (as they usually do).
- Let each step help the others.
- Pay close attention to steps 2, 3, and 4.
- Rely on a few (trustworthy) others to do some of this work, and share their results/opinions.
Figure out who I can trust the best to help me make the best decision.
With those concepts in mind, let's get busy! Expand my mind with your views! Check out a few links below. Let's get ready to digest the VP debate tonight!
*This step was contributed by a reader/commenter (see Robb Wilson's comment below). I think he is correct, and it is a distinct and necessary step. Thanks!
LINKS:
Debunking Romney-Ryan Medicare Myths
Obama frequently attacks Ryan's Medicare plan -- but is he correct?
Ω
I would add a step 0) Learn to translate the code words.
ReplyDeleteEveryone who communicates publicly about policy type stuff uses a jargon to communicate or hide what they really mean. For instance, does the term 'spending cut' mean:
a) to spend less next year than this year
b) to make the % increase in spending less next year than it increased this year
c) to make the projected increase in spending next year less than previously projected
d) something else entirely?
Part of understanding the intended meaning of code words is also to understand how governments, corporations and other organizations do things, so that the comments fit in the specified frame of reference, which is usually vastly different than the average human's frame of reference.
Until this step is done, it is impossible to sort out what the 'truth' is in a statement.
On a second note, is your example paragraph a pulled quote from an article or a made up example of what might be written somewhere?
Thanks. Your additional step has been incorporated into my list.
DeleteExample paragraph is now clarified. Thanks again!
With a severe lack of credible resources within the media to go to for an open and honest approach for gauging the actual facts of the situations and issues brought to fore, it is extremely difficult to garner even a small amount of truth to the situation. This is worsened by the obvious and not even hidden preference of the media organizations in this country. they do this nation a disservice by presenting not even a half of the actual story, but just to further a blatant agenda. I can certainly appreciate an alternative and thoughtful examination of what facts can be compiled. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. They are encouraging. I hope I can be a bit of light on the subjects.
DeleteI am quickly learning that this is indeed a lot of work and, for my poor brain, very time-consuming. Any info or links you can provide from your experience would be appreciated by me and by the readers.
If you find this blog helpful, please spread the word, especially to people in the swing states. Those folks that are undecided could probably use something to help clarify the issues.
Thanks again.