I Could Not Have Begged for a Better Opponent
Joe Huffman emailed me early this morning:
You have to read this.
My take is here.
Here’s the comment that so flummoxed Joe:
The difference in this debate is that I have been arguing on the basis of what I believe to be true, and doing my best to explain why I believe it. Kevin, by way of contrast, claims to be able to literally ‘prove’ his case beyond any doubt whatsoever by recourse to detailed statistical data. To underline the point, he even posed the extraordinarily conceited (some would say delusional) question “why isn’t being right good enough for us?”! That’s why ‘correlation, causation and all that’ are a far greater problem for him than they are for me – a ‘reasonable doubt’ does tend to counteract the assertion that something has been literally ‘proved’.
My own view (and note that I don’t claim to be able to prove it) is that Brazil and Mexico are not more like the UK largely for one very simple reason – a greater rate of poverty.
By all means, please do read all the way to the end of the comment thread.
Here’s what I just left in James’ comment moderation pile:
Thank you so much James, for being such a STERLING stereotype for your side:
“The difference in this debate is that I have been arguing on the basis of what I believe to be true, and doing my best to explain why I believe it. Kevin, by way of contrast, claims to be able to literally ‘prove’ his case beyond any doubt whatsoever by recourse to detailed statistical data.”
In other words, “My mind is made up. You can’t confuse me with facts!”
I happen to be very, very busy this week, but I hope to have another rebuttal post up on or by Saturday, again using your own words and “detailed statistical data,” plus a whole lot of comparitive examples.
I could not have begged for a better opponent.
I have to take enjoyment out of this. The only other option would be to tear my hair out from frustration!
See today’s Quote of the Day, too. It makes much clear.