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Category: Cherry Picking

Bernie Sanders is not a millionaire?

Bernie Sanders is not a millionaire?

TL; DR Summary A shared social media poster asserts that Bernie Sanders would have been the first president who wasn’t  a millionaire, since 1945. On the surface, this statement sounds plausible. His Senate disclosure forms list less than $1 million in assets. But it leaves out the value of his retirement savings and his government provided pension. A private sector worker would need at least $1 million in assets to have a pension payout similar to what Sanders will receive…

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How to use charts for misleading propaganda!

How to use charts for misleading propaganda!

This chart appeared on a blog post saying auto sales are “down again” and this should worry us about a recession.  See that blue arrow at the right? Looks horrible!!!! But this chart design is a real mess. First, the blue arrow anchors our view on the blue line and its downturn at the right. But the real chart is the harder to see gray column chart. Column charts are a *terrible* way to show a trend – line charts…

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Denmark Fairy Tales: Is Denmark the happiest country because of this? No.

Denmark Fairy Tales: Is Denmark the happiest country because of this? No.

Almost every item on this social media propaganda poster is false. Yet this poster was widely distributed on social media and nearly everyone who saw, liked or shared it believes these items are true. First, the much publicized World Happiness Index is not based on any of the items on this propaganda poster. Second, Denmark does not have a minimum wage law nor does it have a 33 hour work week. Denmark does have free university but not for any of the reasons you probably are thinking of. Denmark has subsidized child care, not free child care. The only item that is almost correct is about health care that is free at point of service (paid for by high taxes) but does not cover dentistry, vision or all prescription costs.

Obama not attending First Lady Funeral is not unprecedented; social media poster is similarly ridiculous

Obama not attending First Lady Funeral is not unprecedented; social media poster is similarly ridiculous

TL;DR Summary Conservative media said that  President Obama not attending the funeral of former First Lady Nancy Reagan is unprecedented or wrong; it is neither. Defenders of Obama published this propaganda poster on social media but cherry picked the data to draw you to their desired conclusion. Why is the death of Jacqueline Kennedy omitted?

Sanders shows how to tell a lie using only true statements

Sanders shows how to tell a lie using only true statements

TL; DR Summary Each sentence is true. But Sanders is intentionally making a straight up, outright lie when he talks about the changing share of corporate taxes. Politifact, the NY Times, the IRS, the Congressional Research Service, the Congressional Budget Office, Factcheck.org and the Center on Budget Priorities all recognize the problem with these statements. Can you spot the problem? Due to the creations of Subchapter S corporations after 1958, much – perhaps most – corporate income now flows through…

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Cherry Picking #Socialmedia #Propaganda

Cherry Picking #Socialmedia #Propaganda

TL;DR Summary: Example of a simple to understand poster that is out of date and misleading but lives on forever on the Internet! The post is from 2014 but was still being shared in 2015 and 2016. The $15 a month figure is the minimum payment if you are making too much money to qualify for more assistance. State governors largely reversed the changes. The issue has nothing to do with taxing the wealthy and the U.S. still has a future…

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Cherry Picking

Cherry Picking

TL;DR Summary: Example of a simple to understand poster that is out of date and misleading but lives on forever on the Internet! The post is from 2014 but was still being shared in 2015 and 2016. The $15 a month figure is the minimum payment if you are making too much money to qualify for more assistance. State governors largely reversed the changes. The issue has nothing to do with taxing the wealthy and the U.S. still has a future…

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Misquoted numbers give aura of authenticity to social media poster

Misquoted numbers give aura of authenticity to social media poster

TL;DR Summary: The numbers are wrong, but numbers give propaganda an aura of authenticity! This poster, like so many, is out of date, but lives on years later. The issue the poster attacks is moot – a law to address the issue was passed in 2012! This poster was shared into my newsfeed on Facebook.