Rodent Regatta

InstaPundit also links us to a talk given by Michael Crichton on the topic of Speculation in the Media.

This is a fascinating cultural phenomenon. Speculation is rampant, not only in the media he cites, but in our culture. Just last evening I heard a televised discussion of welfare in the USA. One person looks at his paper and says, ”but only 1% of the budget goes to fund welfare needs.” The person on the other end of the discussion says, ”I don’t know where you get your figures, but 23% of the budget passes through HEW (apparently referring to the old Department of Health, Education and Welfare).

Neither party was interested in pausing long enough to educate themselves or the viewers. There were more important points to speculate about. Viewers of my personality type wanted deeper facts. Reconcile the numbers you’re discussing, then discuss them.

Deming’s work with businesses called for an agreed set of ”operational definitions.” If we aren’t speaking the same language, how can we communicate?