Think For Yourself (Stats and Resources)
Easy-to-use Resources and Statistics… so YOU can be informed. The world is full of misleading headlines, false information, and “tortured” statistics. It’s difficult to understand what is really happening from a single news source. Do your homework! Use these resources to find, evaluate and interpret “facts” so that you can think for yourself, interpret news and events, identify conspiracy theories, participate in actual discussions from an informed point of view (versus towing the line, using the approved speaking points, hurling insults), and stop relying on Facebook, Twitter, friends and family for “news”.
Let me give you an example: in response to several recent claims that “crime is down in Chicago”, we posted a chart from the Chicago Police Department showing information on year-to-date crime, city-wide, over the past 4 years. The chart is clear, it’s in a typical format (just like NYPD’s stats and those reported in other large cities). This simple post created a discussion on the site that has gone on for over a week, with several points of view represented. What this demonstrated to us is that sound bytes, people driving an agenda, and politician’s claims are dangerous and can be very misleading. We all have a responsibility to understand the data and act from a position of knowledge.
Here are a few resources you can use to make sense of the madness – along with a few key takeaway observations and suggestions for how you can use them to learn for yourself.
United States Census Bureau – Quick Facts
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/dashboard/US/PST045221
Use this tool to understand:
- Statistics for all states and counties, and cities/towns with population of 5,000 +
- Population dynamics on individuals, families, businesses, etc.
- Explore and search data available from the 2021 census.
Ad Fontes Media, Inc.’s Media Bias Chart, website, and tools (includes explanation of methodology)
We rate the news for reliability and bias to help people navigate the news landscape.
Use this tool to understand:
- Political bias of a news source
- News value and validity of a news source (Is it a fact, analysis, opinion, or propaganda)
- Evaluate a specific article
US Department of Justice – Office of Justice Programs
Arrest rates by offense and race, 2019 (rates are per 100,000 in age group): Age: All ages
Use this tool to understand:
- Arrest rates for key crime categories
- Insight into what groups (age, ethnicity, race) are offenders and victims
- Trends over time
https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/ucr.asp?table_in=2&selYrs=2019&rdoGroups=2&rdoData=r
US Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigations
Murder – Race, Sex, and Ethnicity of Victim by Race, Sex, and Ethnicity of Offender, 2019
Use this tool to understand:
- Murder rates in the US
- Insight into what groups (age, ethnicity, race) are offenders and victims
- Trends over time
Democratic National Committee
Information from the Democratic Party on objectives, history, mission, and results of the DNC party and elected office holders
Use this tool to understand:
- Objectives and platform of the Democratic Party
- The Democratic version of recent political and economic history
- Learn about current leadership of the Democratic Party
Republican National Committee
Information from the Republican Party on objectives, history, mission, and results of the DNC party (GOP) and elected office holders
Use this tool to understand:
- Objectives and platform of the Republican Party
- Learn about current leadership of the Republican Party
https://www.gop.com/about-our-party/
Black Lives Matter/About
Information from Black Lives Matter on the objectives, history, mission, and results of Black Lives Matter
Use this tool to:
- Learn what Black Lives Matter is
- Understand the mission of Black Lives Matter
- Understand the resources of Black Lives Matter