5 Complaints About Modern Life (That Are Statistically B.S.) by Mark M., M. Asher Cantrell (http://www.cracked.com/article_18983_5-complaints-about-modern-life-that-are-statistically-b.s..html)
In order presented (that is, my #5 will be their #5):
#5: They do realize that inflation works by rising prices before wages, thus acting as a transfer of wealth from the small & medium businesses, the middle class and especially the poor to politically connected corporations, big banks, politicians etc, right? Or as Tom Woods and others have shown repeatedly, that had tax rates either been much lower, or non existent throughout the 20th century, things would be far cheaper relative to wage rates, right? And of course, the fact that government takes ~63% of national income each year, a number that increases, and doesn't include the aforementioned inflation, bogus laws (drug war, anyone?), or broken window effects.
What's more, the increase in quality the author speaks of happens in spite of, not because of, government intervention (again, explained by Tom Woods and others @ the Mises Institute).
#4: I have no reason to doubt the increase in real average IQ scores, but I have serious reason to doubt the quality of education over the past decades, at least in the USA, where increases in gov't spending and monopolization have crippled the education system.
As for their sources supporting this, if I were trying to support a claim saying that Google is good, would they accept a source from Google saying this? Of course not. I expect the same courtesy from them: non-government sources, please.
#3: Yes, because as we all know, without mandatory ingredient labeling, companies would sell us food laced with sulfuric acid and arsenic to kill us. *rolls eyes*
#2: Um, notice that he doesn't mention the REASON for those increases in crime were because of alcohol prohibition, AND because of the war on drugs. He says "it's been the lowest since the 1950s" and it would be even lower if we didn't have drug prohibition.
#1: OK, this one is relatively subjective, so I don't have much to say about it. I will say as much though, I *did* like that "sugar" song, thank you very much. :P
#4: It's widely accepted that IQ is a measurement of innate ability, not educational level. If anything, increasing IQ means that, if schools perform at exactly the same level, grades and other performance indicators should be going UP. The Flynn Effect shows that schools are performing at even LOWER levels than these indicators would suggest.
#2: And, of course, the 1950s was the period in between Prohibition and the crackdown on drugs in the early '70s.
Quote from: MrBogosity on February 27, 2011, 03:56:21 PM#4: It's widely accepted that IQ is a measurement of innate ability, not educational level. If anything, increasing IQ means that, if schools perform at exactly the same level, grades and other performance indicators should be going UP. The Flynn Effect shows that schools are performing at even LOWER levels than these indicators would suggest.
Thanks.
They claim that the quality of education has gone up for several decades. I've stated reasons why I doubt this, at least in the USA, and my reasons for taking issue with their source for this claim.
Also, look at this one: 6 Important Things You Didn't Know We're Running Out Of by Cezary Jan Strusiewicz (http://www.cracked.com/article_19048_6-important-things-you-didnt-know-were-running-out-of_p2.html)
Notice how they're all because of, or at least made worse by, government.
I think the thing with schools is children have gotten smarter over the years but since schools are a government monopoly, they've barely budged in a century. Kids are doing so poorly in school because they're boring the everlasting shit out of them.
As Stefan said, the school system's biggest crime isn't teaching misinformation, it's making learning boring.
And speaking of public schools: http://www.cracked.com/article_19203_the-5-craziest-ways-public-schools-are-trying-to-make-money.html
That is just pathetic, I swear.
Okay, so I read the article bit and it said that graduation rates are at all time highs (or something) too.
Though I don't give them brownie points for it because the system has been dumbed down so far as to be ridiculous. I would post a video or two from Stefan Molyneux showing just how much...better even an 8th grade education was compared to today. Even by modern standards. Sadly, not even Hawkeye could recall the specific video. :( Oh well. Regardless, the original points me and Shane made still stand.