So you're saying it's basically like exams - the teachers turn themselves inside out trying to make D and borderline C students achieve a solid C because that's the target. But Bs will be damned lucky to become As, and the Es and under might as well go home because getting them up a grade would be too much hard work and (in terms of the target) pointless?
Given that a median is defined as relating to or constituting the middle value of an ordered set of values - WTF has this to do with poverty? The choice of 40% of median income appears to be an entirely arbitrary value.
In all the waffle from Givernment, no one explains what constitutes income - for example how does the analysis take into account the mutitude of 'benefits' received by those on lower incomes - tax credits, social housing, counil tax benefit, child benefit, etc - all of which amount to income. Given that the poorer end of society often seems to spend a disproportionate amount of its income on booze, fags and satellite TV - should we not define poverty in terms of roof over their heads, access to food, medical care, education (i.e. Maslow's basic needs) - thus the poor are those who are homeless ... rather than feckless or simply idle!
Mary and Mr. Angry
Both of your comments hit the nail squarely on the head, in different ways.
The trouble is that most of what is quite important to our future is poorly understood by Politicians (and thus the rest of us).
Statistical rigour is not part of government spin (obviously by definition). A bit off topic but related to Wat's OMG 2 a few days ago. The whole "Man-made Global Warming (AGW)" debate is also riddled with such arbitary arguments and spin. The AGW world is now massive business and scientists are not always interested in rigour, some just in income.
You might find this link interesting - a bit dull in places but please read to the end.
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/...-you/#more-
8684
I will post the link on the OMG 2 comments but people may have moved on now.
Very good article.
In my opinion, it is all a matter of market timing. It does not matter if it is gold, oil, or Microsoft, if you have access to good market timing signals, they will help you get in and out at a profit.
No guarantees in this business, but if they are right most of the time, you can still make $s.
There are may web sites providing them out there (search Google). Just find one that works and use it! Check out http://invetrics.com as an example.
Its Dow Jones timing signals are up 43% as of 6/23/09 while the Dow is up just 29% off its March lows.
Following a market timing system works!
I think poverty is a bit more comfy than it used to be.
Commenting by HaloScan
