Andrew says:

Testing comments…

greyrat says:

#SIGH# They’re reporters and editors, not statisticians or mathematicians! Do you expect them to know about (much less understand) such complex concepts?

More proof that ‘news’ is now part of the ‘entertainment’ industry.

Gnomic says:

I’m sure some politician won’t rest until all family incomes are above average.

Ron says:

And you know what the root of the entire problem is? The educational system. It’s broken, and it’s effectively breaking the minds of our children. This is not a recent occurrence either. It’s been broken for years - decades.

The biggest problem with the educational system - and in turn the economy - is that we are teaching our children to exercise their MEMORY muscles in school, instead of their reasoning and learning muscles. We have taught our children that if you can memorize the answers to a test, and you can pass that test, then you will get by just fine. Unfortunately, children are being funneled into the mindset that learning means memorizing what an authority figure tells you he/she wants out of you.

Conversely, true education consists of pulling out the passion and interest from the mind of the student. It means helping them focus on what interests them, individually, and allowing them to explore those things that spark passion inside of them. Where would we be if Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and other “Greats” of our history were taught as we teach our kids today? And where are the Thomas Edison’s of today?

How does that affect our bottom line? Well, less passion means less skills discovered. Less skills means less innovation. Less innovation means less value, and therefore we become a nation of consumers rather than producers. THAT’S why half of American families are making under $50k/year. They can’t do anything to warrant a higher wage.

Leland says:

Heh… Can’t fault them for accuracy. Half sound about right to me.

Jason says:

Well, at least they know their vocabulary…

greyrat says:

Ron: My high-school age son is passionate about, interested in and highly focused on Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh. Where’s that going to get him? Not even computer game design — trust me.

bumrocky says:

I’m a statician. This made me hit my head on my desk. It just goes to show what happens when idiots get hold of statistics.