Letters To The Editor: Random Stats Don’t Prove Anything

Random Stats Don't Prove Anything
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Michael Paul Williams' column defending a dog's right to be a dog stumbled going into the eighth paragraph. Even though I agree shooting a defenseless dog is bad form in policemen, the use of groundless statistics lost those of us who expect accuracy. It is improbable that the 16,000 page viewers, 100 Web commenters, and 2,000 video viewers agreed with the column's convoluted judgment of the policeman's response.

What the statistics do show is that it is a great story, drawing heavy reader reactions from both sides of the issue.

The one point when reality could intrude was missed. Some of the 100 comments could have been quoted, or Williams could have given a statistic about how many were on each side of the issue.

However, the column does get high marks and kudos from Web revenue staff for its heavy marketing of TimesDispatch.com (that site should get this letter published) both in the text of the column and the ad banner beneath.

Stephan Mandas.
Ashland.

Until China moves to correct this miscarriage of justice against the American reporters and places sanctions against the North Koreans for their nuclear lunacy, fear-mongering, and threats to humanity, I refuse to purchase any product made in China. Curtailment of food and fuel shipments to its puppet state North Korea would be a meaningful start, but China is enjoying the continuing uproar and the worldwide attention derived from being a major player in the region. I'm not holding my breath that any substantive assistance from China's leaders will occur.

Any other Americans interested in significantly boycotting the purchase of Chinese imports to the United States?

Carol Bonbright.
Midlothian.

Never has natural selection resulted in evolution. No new species has ever been created from another species via natural selection or any other process. That was, and is, the main problem with Darwin's argument and sadly the evolutionary dogmatists have made certain the basic fallacies of Darwinian theory are never allowed to be discussed openly in the public schools or in general public debate.

Your newspaper does not do this debate justice, as you constantly skew your major editorial articles in an evolutionary direction and do not give an open and honest public forum to the many wonderful creation-based scientists who can literally tear the evolutionary argument to shreds. Until the clear distinction between natural selection and evolution can be discussed openly, the religion of Darwinism will continue to rule the day.

Rodney Horst.
Hanover.

As for auto quality and workmanship, I strenuously beg to differ with Vogt. I'd buy my 2006 Pontiac GXP again tomorrow. It's stylish, well-made, a joy to drive, and gets reasonably good gas mileage (avg. 23 mph) for a V-8.

I have no ties to the auto industry. My previous car, a Chrysler, ran well for 15 years. Before that I drove a Dodge and a long line of Buicks. My family buys Ford and GM vehicles. For more than 35 years, I've found American car quality to be superb.

Yes, the American auto industry has made mistakes and has issues: slow to respond to the wishes of some buyers, late to market with smaller, greener options, duplicated models in different brands, and still arguing against higher per-gallon mileage requirements. The industry also has contractual responsibilities to retirees and current employees with which their Asian competitors needn't contend.

Instead of gleefully heralding China's entry into the American auto market as the final nail in the American auto industry's coffin, Vogt and the American people should rally and support a bedrock American industry with the purchase of great quality American autos.

Marjorie D. Arwady.
Chesterfield.

We moved from Chesterfield (served by Verizon) to Montpelier (served by Embarq) and I was stunned by the change in the cost of service. Basic home service costs about 30 percent more than Verizon. A bigger surprise was the local calling area -- Montpelier and Beaverdam. Everything else is long distance. So a long distance calling package is the only reasonable option, just to call my workplace or keep in touch with my family in Chesterfield. Until recently, there was no Internet connection service available to us through Embarq, leaving expensive satellite as the only option. And guess what? We pay all those government fees and taxes and surcharges, just like everyone else. And since they are calculated as a percentage, they are higher. So rather than having lower telephone bills, we actually pay significantly more.

Embarq customers may be "fewer than 10 percent of Virginia residents" but we didn't have much choice -- some federal agency determined which company would be our carrier. It seems rather rude to demonize us as some sort of freeloaders. If the SCC decides to keep Embarq's subsidies in place, it's no special favor and doesn't "penalize everyone else." We'll still pay the same taxes and fees on already high bills.

Kathryn Brock.
Montpelier.