Slog - Comments on The Children Are Our Targets http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our Yesterday, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) tried to ease concerns about violence in Iraq by saying: "27.51 Iraqis per 100,000 die a violent death on an annual basis. 27.51. Now what does that mean? To me, it really doesn't mean a lot until I compare it to people that I know or have a feel for the rhythm of this place. Well I by now have a feel for the rhythm of this place called Washington, D.C., and my wife lives here with me, and I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, she's at far greater risk being a civilian in Washington,... Copyright 2007 Tue, 13 Jun 2006 11:28:21 -0800 Wed, 14 Jun 2006 11:02:25 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by bill Uh, what's the population of the United States? How many of them are under the age of 18? What's the total number of troops in Iraq and total population of Iraq? These are not comparable numbers, and this statistic is bullshit.

This calls to mind Twain's insight: There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.

]]> bill http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c339454 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c339454 Politics Tue, 13 Jun 2006 11:44:58 -0800 Comment by Catalina Vel-DuRay Steve King is my hometown's rep. He is an asshole. His district is moronville, therefore he is an appropriate representative for about 80% of his constituency.

]]> Catalina Vel-DuRay http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c339505 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c339505 Politics Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:01:41 -0800 Comment by Gomez What's funny is that the United States has had terrorists in its urban neighborhoods for decades. We just call them gang members.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c339524 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c339524 Politics Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:05:28 -0800 Comment by Phenics My thinking exactly: bullshit statistics. both sets. "Gun violence" and "violent death" are not the same things. No extra points on attempting to link the two, no matter how much I want to agree with Bradley's point. Gun Violence means a gun was pointed, discharged, and resulted in death. Pointing the gun is violent, but the death (however horrific, btw) could just be an accident Violent Death would mean something really fucked up happened resulting in death. Say, being shot out of hatred or being blown-up by a bomb. Think psycho killer vs. mugging-gone-wrong.

]]> Phenics http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c339569 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c339569 Politics Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:17:27 -0800 Comment by King Kong We declare war on all Mo Fos killing our children in the USA.
Get them Bradleys rolling down to them city streets and round up them Teen killers. How about a carpet bomb over our major cities and suburbs. That'll teach those pesky child killer terroists.

]]> King Kong http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c339623 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c339623 Politics Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:31:09 -0800 Comment by dewsterling Um, we can't really declare war on the "Mo Fo's" killing children in the U.S. in as much as it is frequently another child holding the gun.

]]> dewsterling http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c339848 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c339848 Politics Tue, 13 Jun 2006 13:20:30 -0800 Comment by keshmeshi Wow. Where the hell does he get those statistics?

The estimated death count for Iraqis in this war is between 38,355 and 42,747. Keep in mind that Iraq's total population is about one-tenth of the United States' population. So, according to King's logic, more than 300,000 Americans have been murdered in the United States in the past three years, not to mention many thousands more injured? Of course, that doesn't even include the Iraqis who die every year from terrorist attacks and ordinary violent crime. What the fuck?

]]> keshmeshi http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c340140 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c340140 Politics Tue, 13 Jun 2006 14:49:46 -0800 Comment by horatiosanzserif I don't get it. By comparing the number dead of U.S. kids with the number of dead U.S. soldiers in Iraq, are we saying that our children will be just as safe on the playground as they would at a Baghdad checkpoint?

]]> horatiosanzserif http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c340141 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c340141 Politics Tue, 13 Jun 2006 14:51:44 -0800 Comment by Seth I vote for less killing everywhere.

]]> Seth http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c340615 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c340615 Politics Tue, 13 Jun 2006 17:49:24 -0800 Comment by Horace Seconded. All in favor?

]]> Horace http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c342133 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c342133 Politics Wed, 14 Jun 2006 01:34:02 -0800 Comment by Aexia Not to mention you can't compare a nation's murder rate to that of a single city. Urban death rates are always higher.

If you want to make a comparison, try comparing Baghdad to Washington, DC.

]]> Aexia http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c345006 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/06/the_children_are_our#c345006 Politics Wed, 14 Jun 2006 11:02:25 -0800