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Re: Washington Post Underestimates "Out Now" opinion

While multiplying 41% by 34% gives you a percentage roughly equivalent to 1 in 8, the comment by DesMondu is right that it is not acceptable statistical practice to link questions or report an answer to a question not explicitly asked to all in the sample. My graduate school professors would have raked me over the coals for such a sophomoric mistake. Further, what makes this post additionally problematic is following the 1 in 8 figure with the statement about a clear majority. While 58% is a decent majority in a society that has been conditioned to only care about what 50% plus one have to say, the issue I have is that by not stating the 58% percent in this paragraph, they leave the reader to believe that the clear majority is something closer to 87.5% (100% less 1 in 8). This is VERY sloppy reporting at best, and if I didn't know better (wait...I don't know better) I'd think they were trying to intentionally mislead us.
 

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An inglorious peace is better than a dishonorable war.
-- Mark Twain
Source: "Glances at History" (suppressed)
 

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