Re: [Phys-l] Economics 101, Sociology 101, Social Justice 101, ---Physics 101?

[John Mallinckrodt <ajm@csupomona.edu>]

I wrote:

>  I wonder if you could explain to me how  knowing the absolute  
> numbers would in any way alter one's understanding of the point I  
> was trying to make


I should have asked how it would "improve" one's understanding  
because it seems to me that shouting "1% represents ... THREE MILLION  
people" is a good example of using absolute numbers not so much to  
promote objectivity as to obscure the argument.

John Mallinckrodt
Cal Poly Pomona

I wrote:

> Rick Tarara wrote:
>
> > ...something to remember when spouting off about the top 1% or 10%  
> > or whatever.  That top 1% represents something like THREE MILLION  
> > people in the U.S.  Part and parcel of Twain's remarks about  
> > statistics is the use of percentages when that seemingly makes  
> > your point better and numbers  when that does so.  To be  
> > objective, it helps to do both.
>
> Rick,
>
> Since this would appear to be directed at my discussion of (or,  
> perhaps, merely my "spouting off about") income and taxes for the  
> wealthiest 1% of all Americans and at least appears to suggest that  
> my argument was not objective because of the fact that it dealt so  
> heavily with percentages, I wonder if you could explain to me how   
> knowing the absolute numbers would in any way alter one's  
> understanding of the point I was trying to make.
>
> Thanks,