So, here is a quote that I hear a lot:
The war on poverty has failed. We have spent a lot of money on it, and the poverty rate is virtually unchanged.
[ On edit ] Well, that's an interesting comment.
But for the war on poverty to be declared a failure, it would have to be demonstrated that the poverty rate would have been lower without it. But, no one can demonstrate that it would have been lower.
Conversely, no one can demonstrate that without the war on poverty, the poverty rate would have been higher.
If you start a program at point A and the goal is to be at point B at a specific time, and when you revisit it you are still at point A...what does that mean?
It depends if your "universe" is static or dynamic. If static, it isn't working. If dynamic, which is what our population is, then you have to use more data to determine if it's working or failing.
Posted by: EBrown at September 10, 2004 06:38 PM
That's an irrational argument...
If you start a program at point A and the goal is to be at point B at a specific time, and when you revisit it you are still at point A...what does that mean?
The argument that you are using could be used on virtually any program...
Programs are measured on goals and objectives deemed "successful" if not achieved the program is not successful...
Posted by: hirez at September 10, 2004 05:57 PM