Post hoc ergo propter hoc o' the day
From, where else, the TUC:
(Post hoc ergo propter hoc defined here. Or, roughly speaking, because one thing followed another it was caused by it).
This /interesting/ statistic comes from the soi disant Association of Public Service Excellence, which also claims that 'that 92 per cent of [public sector employees surveyed] have seen an increased demand for their services since the recession as families struggling to get by seek help with housing problems, debt advice, training and job hunting'.
Hmm, 92%? Including teachers, bin men, parkies etc etc? Given that neither the TUC nor APSE sees fit to give any detail on survey methodology, I smell a self-selecting poll, findings from which should at best be handled with a pair of tongs, and at worst be totally ignored.
Speaking up for Public Services finds that every three per cent rise in unemployment leads to a 2.7 per cent rise in heart attacks among men aged 30-44 and increases of 2.4 per cent in murders and suicides in people under the age of 64.
(Post hoc ergo propter hoc defined here. Or, roughly speaking, because one thing followed another it was caused by it).
This /interesting/ statistic comes from the soi disant Association of Public Service Excellence, which also claims that 'that 92 per cent of [public sector employees surveyed] have seen an increased demand for their services since the recession as families struggling to get by seek help with housing problems, debt advice, training and job hunting'.
Hmm, 92%? Including teachers, bin men, parkies etc etc? Given that neither the TUC nor APSE sees fit to give any detail on survey methodology, I smell a self-selecting poll, findings from which should at best be handled with a pair of tongs, and at worst be totally ignored.
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On today's Daily Politics the latest New Labour Minister for Anything As Long As I Am A Minister And Have The Associated Afterlife said approx. 'Since the introduction of the licencing system(for live music in pubs etc.) the take up of licences has increased by 40%'.
That, he thought, was a good thing.
I am now about to emulate a known .gif and batter my head, eloquently and unaesthetically against my keyboard until neither exists existentially.
Vote Labour, you know it makes everything a little bit better...
STB.
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