Reader Bruce Sandys sends word of an incredible howler in the Detroit News.
The headline of a Sunday article boldly proclaims, “Poll Suggests Slim Majority of Michiganders Favors Anti-Affirmative Action Proposal,” referring to the effort to place a Proposition 209-like ban on racial preferences on the ballot in Michigan.
After several long quotes from preferentialists, however, the article reports:
But a January poll suggests a slim majority of Michigan voters support a ban on affirmative action in admissions and state hiring. A Detroit News poll conducted Jan. 7-12 of 400 registered voters found 64 percent of respondents favored a ban on affirmative action; 23 percent were opposed.
Since when is three to one support for something “a slim majority”?
UPDATE
See this important discussion of polling results in Michigan, which demonstrates the mendacity of organizations supporting preferences.
Two to one.
Please correct.
64 / 23 = 2.78; rounded, 3 to 1.
I sent a letter to the editor along almost these exact lines.
Thanks for noticing the same.
Chet
MCRI
Ya think the editor and Detroit News author of this article are graduates of the “new or rainforest math”? And this, is exactly, how new math works — it’s all… relative.
Notice this is never referred to as a civil rights proposal but an “anti-affirmative action” proposal.