Complaints About the Republican Party IV

[Winslow]

The difference in rankings between the US and UK is a fraction of that between that of the US in Australia which you just discounted.

But I think that the point was that some of the posters on this board from the US have nearly incomprehensible posts when you try to muddle through the misspellings, grammar and punctuation.

Yeah, that was the point, and it wasn't that subtle.

As an educator that's feeling a lil defensive (my problem not yours Nick), if you factor out poverty, then the U.S. is doing fine. Almost 1/4 students in the U.S. is in poverty.

[Winslow]

We have to assume that Winslow doesn't know them.

It was in the scheme of things a worthless anecdotal and statistically irrelevant (I don't know THAT many CEOs).

But that seems to be how we talk about politics these days.

[Iangould]

So the US is doing about as well if a little below Australia, but better than the UK, so what was the point?

You asked a question.

I answered it.

What was your point in asking the question?

[Iangould]

Even if you accept the proposition that successful businessmen make good Presidents, Jon Huntsman as former CEO of the Huntsman Corporation is far more qualified than Cain.

Oh and if you're concerned about relations with China, Huntsman is far and away the best qualified candidate.

[Loren]

I've never been terribly enamored of the CEO-as-President ideal either, but there is a career I've long wanted to see better represented in government and in the Executive: economists. People accustomed to analyzing data, quantifying risk and reward, and well-versed in the behavior of crowds and unintended consequences.

[JeffreyWKramer]

I've never been terribly enamored of the CEO-as-President ideal either, but there is a career I've long wanted to see better represented in government and in the Executive: economists. People accustomed to analyzing data, quantifying risk and reward, and well-versed in the behavior of crowds and unintended consequences.

I think government would be a lot better if there were a lot fewer businessmen and lawyers in office, and a lot more of any sort of scientist, including economists.

Unfortunately, scientists tend to focus on facts rather than rhetoric and sound bites, and a lot of the electorate - especially on the GOP side - tends to be distrustful of anyone who has an education and doesn't use it prmarily to make a lot of money, so I don't see that happening any time soon.

[Jeff Brady]

Do you have to make a rude and predictable comment everytime?

As long as you make unbelievably ignorant statements every time...

[Slam_Bradley]

It was in the scheme of things a worthless anecdotal and statistically irrelevant (I don't know THAT many CEOs).

But that seems to be how we talk about politics these days.

I knew exactly what you were saying. I was using the same type of anecdotal information. I have no doubt you dealt with a number of CEOs when you were an expert witness. Likewise I've worked with a lot of businessmen who have also been county commissioners, city councilmen, mayors and governors. They've shown me nothing to think being a businessman would translate into being an effective President.

[the4thpip]

So the US is doing about as well if a little below Australia, but better than the UK, so what was the point?

You really read that out of the chart?
Guess "reading charts" then belongs in the "science" column on the right.

Hint: The question of "education" is more complex than a single number.

[invisiblefive]

that chart has so many problems:
first, France is behind america, which is of course impossible.
second, we have one point more than america in average, and yet we're three ranks behind.
third, america is ahead of france, which is obviously some kind of printing mistake...

now, that was funny, but let's see the real charts, please.

[dupersuper]

I bet that used to be Bin Laden, but they had to take him out because of Obama taking him down and all.

I doubt Bin Laden has ever been in a position to enact gun control policies even if he did support them, not that facts ever got in the way of the kind of people who make those posters.

Before the sex scandels I really liked how he was very successful business man and that every company he came across he improved them. As of now the U.S needs a smart and stern business man. Obama is not one of those savy and smart business men........

Yes, business men sure have lead your country well...*eye roll*

that chart has so many problems:
first, France is behind america, which is of course impossible.
second, we have one point more than america in average, and yet we're three ranks behind.
third, america is ahead of france, which is obviously some kind of printing mistake...

now, that was funny, but let's see the real charts, please.

I like that chart














because Canada's 3rd.

[invisiblefive]

I like that chart



because Canada's 3rd.

hee is my opinion on this chart: it's a reasoning in four points:
1) the chart is right
2) the chart was made by an american using math
3)the chart proves that the americans suck at math
4) therefore, the chart is wrong

too bad they didn't include points for logic, because i tell you, we'd be first.

[Winslow]

hee is my opinion on this chart: it's a reasoning in four points:
1) the chart is right
2) the chart was made by an american using math
3)the chart proves that the americans suck at math
4) therefore, the chart is wrong

too bad they didn't include points for logic, because i tell you, we'd be first.

The chart is a UK chart.

Now we know why the French scored so low on reading.

The chart isn't very clear (which means the British suck at making charts). There are only individual rankings for individual subjects, but they listed them in order of reading scores. There is no overall ranking (at least that's my interpretation).

[Tadhg]

The chart is a UK chart.

Now we know why the French scored so low on reading.

The chart isn't very clear (which means the British suck at making charts). There are only individual rankings for individual subjects, but they listed them in order of reading scores. There is no overall ranking (at least that's my interpretation).

Your interpretation is correct. I was just getting ready to post that until I saw you had beaten me to it.

I found this spreadsheet to be an easier way to view the data

[Charles RB]

So the US is doing about as well if a little below Australia, but better than the UK, so what was the point?

Eh? You're eight places below Australia on reading, fourteen below them on maths, and ten on science. And we beat you on both maths and science by five or more places (though you've got us beaten by seven places on reading).

Going off the OECD, Australia's beating the both of us at education. And New Zealand beat them and Canada beat them, so the moral here is that our education systems are shit compared to those three countries and we should be trying to find out what the Canadians are doing that we aren't.