tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post4298228883825556135..comments2024-03-13T21:26:03.011-07:00Comments on Right on the Left Coast: Views From a Conservative Teacher: Lack of Math Knowledge, or Outright Lying?Darrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-61640149366001386612012-09-17T17:11:07.510-07:002012-09-17T17:11:07.510-07:00Why do we need to cover both bases?
"Measure ...Why do we need to cover both bases?<br />"Measure K will raise utility taxes by 70%, from 2.5% to 4.25%." The 1.75 number is useless in this context, and only serves to obfuscate (and fool the innumerate).Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-31098144551203588472012-09-17T16:52:29.985-07:002012-09-17T16:52:29.985-07:00So again, what is your proposed wording to cover b...So again, what is your proposed wording to cover both bases?Steve USMA '85https://www.blogger.com/profile/01098957060650513905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-28999639805760513662012-09-17T09:23:09.336-07:002012-09-17T09:23:09.336-07:00I disagree, Steve. It's not a 1.75% increase,...I disagree, Steve. It's not a 1.75% increase, it's a 70% increase. It's raising the tax rate 1.75 percentage points is *not* the same as a 1.75% increase in taxes. It's just using squishy wording to hide the fact that they're almost doubling the tax rate (and hence the tax).<br />Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-35992963861418599892012-09-17T05:08:59.430-07:002012-09-17T05:08:59.430-07:00Actually Darren, the wording is correct. It increa...Actually Darren, the wording is correct. It increases the tax rate from 2.5% to 4.25% which is an increase of 1.75%.<br /><br />If you want to talk about the percentage increase, now you are talking about 70% increase over the previous rate.<br /><br />Still, how would you have them word it? Personally and professionally, I normally list both numbers. "The tax rate increased from 2.5% to 4.25%, a difference of 1.75%. This is a 70% increase over the previous rate."Steve USMA '85https://www.blogger.com/profile/01098957060650513905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-59975244786086686432012-09-16T19:03:13.371-07:002012-09-16T19:03:13.371-07:00They *MEAN* percentile points.
This is just not w...They *MEAN* percentile points.<br /><br />This is just not what they said. They could have used the correct terminology without risk, because very few voters recognize the different terminology.<br /><br />I'd bet on ignorance of terminology.<br /><br />-Mark RouloAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-37242791870390498662012-09-16T13:11:14.803-07:002012-09-16T13:11:14.803-07:00Not sure whether that's merely sad, pathetic, ...Not sure whether that's merely sad, pathetic, or both.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-5881259571480779792012-09-16T12:29:18.385-07:002012-09-16T12:29:18.385-07:00No way to really call which this is. You would ha...No way to really call which this is. You would have to see if there is a prior record of shading the truth when trying to get the citizens to tax themselves. <br /><br />It seems to me that in our increasingly innumerate society that many folks have no real understanding of percentages and percent change calculations. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12714239838709237216noreply@blogger.com