Oh Fuddle-Duddle (a Canadian joke) or Typical Kind of Weather (an American joke):
Virginia Foxx is at it again. She is in a dilemma, although I am not sure she understands that. She is all for job growth in her district, but seems increasingly hostile to Hispanic immigrants. Well, there goes the Wilkesboro chicken factory, last of the big spenders! Anyway, here is the story:
Winston-Salem Journal
On illegal immigration, 'Statistics are a real problem'
Some figures used in discussion about rising Hispanic population are based on hearsay, assumptions
'At a congressional-subcommittee hearing Wednesday, several speakers discussed how numbers show that illegal immigration is bringing immense problems to Forsyth County.
"When you put the numbers out there, then it puts a reality onto it that bolsters what people feel in their gut and what they know is a problem," said U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., who is up for re-election and arranged the hearing in Winston-Salem.
"I'm a very logical person," she said. "I like to start with the facts."
The facts and figures she and other speakers cited, however, are chock full of questions.
Prosecution and arrest statistics can't prove that a certain group commits more crime, said Matthew Robinson, an associate professor of criminal justice at Appalachian State University.
"The thing you have to be careful about is not using those statistics to prove a problem," he said. "Those statistics are a function of the focus of our criminal-justice system as well."
For example, if a sheriff decided that prostitution was a problem, he could assign officers to make more arrests. Some might use the arrests to say that prostitution is increasing, but really it's an effect of increased enforcement, Robinson said.'
So here is a little experiment for you. Take the next issue of the Wilkes Journal-Patriot and read through all the crime stories, making careful note of how many Anglo names are cited and how many obviously Spanish names. Then add them up. Keep in mind that if the Hispanics are pulling their weight they should account for roughly 8 to 10% of the total. Repeat as needed for the next year or so.
Virginia Foxx is at it again. She is in a dilemma, although I am not sure she understands that. She is all for job growth in her district, but seems increasingly hostile to Hispanic immigrants. Well, there goes the Wilkesboro chicken factory, last of the big spenders! Anyway, here is the story:
Winston-Salem Journal
On illegal immigration, 'Statistics are a real problem'
Some figures used in discussion about rising Hispanic population are based on hearsay, assumptions
'At a congressional-subcommittee hearing Wednesday, several speakers discussed how numbers show that illegal immigration is bringing immense problems to Forsyth County.
"When you put the numbers out there, then it puts a reality onto it that bolsters what people feel in their gut and what they know is a problem," said U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., who is up for re-election and arranged the hearing in Winston-Salem.
"I'm a very logical person," she said. "I like to start with the facts."
The facts and figures she and other speakers cited, however, are chock full of questions.
Prosecution and arrest statistics can't prove that a certain group commits more crime, said Matthew Robinson, an associate professor of criminal justice at Appalachian State University.
"The thing you have to be careful about is not using those statistics to prove a problem," he said. "Those statistics are a function of the focus of our criminal-justice system as well."
For example, if a sheriff decided that prostitution was a problem, he could assign officers to make more arrests. Some might use the arrests to say that prostitution is increasing, but really it's an effect of increased enforcement, Robinson said.'
So here is a little experiment for you. Take the next issue of the Wilkes Journal-Patriot and read through all the crime stories, making careful note of how many Anglo names are cited and how many obviously Spanish names. Then add them up. Keep in mind that if the Hispanics are pulling their weight they should account for roughly 8 to 10% of the total. Repeat as needed for the next year or so.
posted by Clemens | 11:22 AM
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