Reports in the media today quote the HHS secretary as saying that half the nations Medicare Advantage plans are rated average. e.g., Obama administration eases pain of Medicare cuts - Yahoo! News Guess what - that is the definition of average - 50% of any population fall in the Z = +/- 0.67 range. Then 25% are below average and 50% above average. Even if every plan made tremendous improvements the statistics would still be the same.
It also depends on your definition of innumeracy. It could be that she official knew exactly what she was saying, and hoping no one would call her on it. Lies, damned lies, and statistics, right? -=Steve=-
James: In this case it would make little difference (at least based on the 2008 GAO statistics). Steve: In recent years I've heard both a CA secretary of education and a local school board candidate state "It is unconscionable that half our students are below average" I think that politicians throw around "statistics" while not understanding them and relying that voters also do not understand them.
