Thanks to Jason for pointing out this Wired News story comparing the relative risks faced by Americans.
| S E V E R E Driving off the road: 254,419 Falling: 146,542 Accidental poisoning: 140,327 |
| H I G H Dying from work: 59,730 Walking down the street: 52,000. Accidentally drowning: 38,302 |
| E L E V A T E D Killed by the flu: 19,415 Dying from a hernia: 16,742 |
| G U A R D E D Accidental firing of a gun: 8,536 Electrocution: 5,171 |
| L O W Being shot by law enforcement: 3,949 Terrorism: 3147 Carbon monoxide in products: 1,554 |
These are interesting statistics,especially to show the random risk of mortality.
However,there’s been a movement in the current, cut-throat political arena to use any facts for any purpose, after all’ a fact is a fact’,and supposedly no one can argue with a fact or statistic.We’ve had on occasion those in the Bush camp comparing automobile accident statistics,or inner city murders to war dead in Iraq ( so they don’t seem so high, and the war must be going better than the ‘liberal press’ says). I have no solution and no other point to make except we must be wary of facts and statistics,because if someone wants to lie with impunity,thats what they use!
It’s high time our governments ban falling! What a regressive, primative society we live in that we can’t find a single ban on falling, anywhere!
;-)
Well, the way I hear it, gravity is just a theory. The Kansas Board of Education has taught me that we can legislate against theories.