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statistics! However, you can twist & distort stats to prove or disprove a point very easily and taking stats out of context does precisely that.
I don't think that the incarceration rate has as much to do with race as it does with poverty and homelife of these kids.
To summarize, the study was flawed - and the authors acknowledged that and I believe they omitted 3 significant factors that I think need to be accounted for -
- Gang activity
- Quality of parents / guardians
- Wealth / poverty status
Without accounting for those factors and basing the study solely on race, the outcome of the study is very flawed, IMHO.
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Right, Tiger. Statistics are just numbers. Numbers can't lie. It's those dang statisticians and their ilk that lie in how they develop and use them. Here's the real conclusion of the study: "It is time for a nationwide effort to identify the causes of this differential treatment of minority youth and a concerted campaign to provide a fair and equal justice system for our youth." I would have added 'apparent' before differential treatment, since we haven't proven yet that there is differential treatment. And we certainly haven't proven Mr. Pitts claim of racial persecution, or white racist claims that black kids are bad and white kids are angels. It is time for proper use of the power of scientific probability and statistics rather than cheap politics.
If contested, this case hinges on an argument about probability and statistics, nothing more, between Dr. Edwards and Dr. Qark. Study Lesson 2 on my blog. If the jury does not understand the science of probability and statistics as we do, they cannot reach a fair and just decision by definition. Twelve Popes cannot even reach a just decision on the boot camp case because they reject the concept of probability and statistics. God does shoot craps regardless of what Einstein says. Our advances in medicine and engineering are due to the fact He does!
My theory for the number differentials in the study is it's caused by "wealth/poverty" status. In the same (urban or rural environment) kids from households making under $25K/Yr. commit crime at the same rate regardless of race. But it's a theory just like Pitts' theory is whites persecute blacks and the study proves it.
We have to identify the causes of why black kids in Florida seem to be punished 1.7 times worse than white kids. And correct it. Now I have to write Lesson 3 on my blog about probability and statistics to prove that Dr. Edwards' argument about Dr. Qark's research is BS. Can't some math teacher help me out here. I prefer to complain about black gangs like the CRIPS and the destruction they cause and white gangs like the Republicans and Democrats that are even more destructive to our society. Not to worry. Even I have trouble determining when I'm serious. Stan | 
