The Washington Post, January 18, 2018
BY JAMES HOHMANN

A sobering new study by the Rand Corporation describes...an epidemic of “truth decay.”...

The nonpartisan think tank describes this phenomenon as an increasing disagreement about basic facts, a blurring of the line between opinion and fact, an increase in the relative volume of opinion over fact and declining trust in previously respected sources of information.

The result is that policy debates hinge more on anecdotal, first-hand experiences and less on objective facts. When leaders cannot even agree on the nature of a problem, finding a solution becomes all but impossible.

Just as a lot of conservatives ignore evidence of climate change, the study shows that many liberals disregard mounting evidence that vaccines and genetically-modified crops are safe. The report faults leaders on both sides of the immigration debate for misusing data and statistics, blurring the line between opinion and fact.

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James Hohmann lets liberals off too easily. Despite the failures of Head Start and No Child Left Behind they continue to pretend that the heriditarian assertions of Charles Murray have been "decisively refuted." Two generations after the civil rights legislation was passed into law liberals continue to blame black social pathology on white racism, even though black social pathology has gotten worse since the legislation was signed, and even though blacks are discriminated in favor of with affirmative action policies.

Hohmann also lets conservatives off too easily. Despite the examples of the Reagan administration and the administration of George the Lesser they continue to maintain that tax cuts for the rich lead to so much economic growth that they balance the budget and result in more and better paying jobs for anyone who wants one.

The Master of Facts finds this depressing and disturbing.

He thinks it is important to be able to recognize unpleasant truths. Because he is willing to draw attention to unpleasant truths the Master of Facts is often flamed in the most cruel and unfair manner.

The Master of Facts does not show pain, but he feels. it.

 

Shut the mother fucker down.

 

It is time for a government shutdown. Let a month pass and see how quickly the politicians make progress.
If they still fail to do their job, another month shutdown is in line.