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Who: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ
09 April 2018 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
An Informed Atheist Re-Addresses Christianity
10 March 2018 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
A Progressive Reform Program for America
10 March 2018 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
Supply Side and Libertarians Are Wrong and Not Supported by the Data
10 March 2018 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
How Income Inequality Injures People and the Economy
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
A Democratic Reform Program for America
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
The Supply Side Libertarians Are Wrong and Not Supported by the Data
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
The Rise of Economic Ignorance
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Rise of Income Inequality (Part VI)
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Rise of Income Inequality (Part V)
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Rise of Income Inequality (Part IV)
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Rise of Income Inequality (Part III)
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Rise of Income Inequality (Part II)
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Rise of Income Inequality (Part I)
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
Racial Hatred Is Confused
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
What To Do About North Korea
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
On Neoliberalism
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
Ban Hate Marches and Assemblies
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
On Miss Piggy and Mr. Pork
22 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
The Demise of the Democratic Party
09 August 2017 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
On Elitism

So How Can We Tell What Is True?

06 December 2016 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
Kimball Corson
Stanford University professor Robert N. Proctor explains the practice of "Agnotology" (poor choice of language, I think) is the creation and promulgation of misinformation and disinformation, generated by special interest groups, to create public confusion, to undermine honest and legitimate authority and to suppress the truth on societally important issues, mostly on matters of science and economics. The question then put is how can a member of the public know what is true in this sea of conflicting information.

First, the task is ever and always an individual one. Second, several things need to be considered regarding a particular quantum of information. They are --
a) what is its source?
b) what is the reputation of that source for credibility?
c) what sources agree and disagree with that source?
d) does the source present the information neutrally or is something more requested, impliedly or otherwise, from the reader?
e) what are the positions on that information of top colleges and universities and why?
f) do the American Academy of Sciences and other specialty associations in the area agree with that information?
g) does the information stand up to analysis and is it logically compatible with other known information?

The last test g) somewhat begs the question by presuming the reader or hearer is capable of analysis and knows other information to compare it to for compatibility. That brings me to h) the individual's strong need 1) for a quality and usually higher education, and 2) to be widely and well read across a broad range of topics and issues from nominally authoritative sources.

These acquisitions are hard, time consuming and often expensive to get but they lead to the skill of critical thinking and having a knowledge base on which to apply it, when both are properly sought and developed for that end. They are the best test for veracity and where the American public increasingly misses the boat most badly, especially with declining reading skills. That is why political lying can now be so successful and is used so much more aggressively now.

Little misinformation and disinformation can slip by all of these screens, especially h). But several points remain noteworthy. First, look how much work and effort those disseminating bad information put the rest of us to. And, secondly, consider the ability of average Americans to apply these screens or tests. Pretty scant among most I am afraid which makes the practice of agnotology increasingly worthwhile. With declining IQ's, declining reading skills and falling educational standards and opportunities and with the cost of a good education rising out of reach of most, the prognosis is not good even for those who try to apply these screens, especially h).

Deceit, which was learned from the American business community, has made huge inroads into the provision of information and into the media. America is largely unable to deal with it and that is a reason we have the huge political divisions in the country that we do. They will persist, with the ill-informed believing what they want to believe, as I have explained and how elsewhere. Divided so, Americans cannot agree and act with any unity on many issues. We are permanently fractured.

The outlook is poor, especially with the border-line illiterate media personnel we have giving us much of the defective information we acquire.
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Vessel Name: Altaira
Vessel Make/Model: A Fair Weather Mariner 39 is a fast (PHRF 132), heavily ballasted (43%), high-aspect (6:1), stiff, comfortable, offshore performance cruiser by Bob Perry that goes to wind well (30 deg w/ good headway) and is also good up and down the Beaufort scale.
Hailing Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ
Crew: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
About:
Kimball Corson: I am a 75 year old solo sailor, by choice. However, I did take on a personable, but high maintenance female kitten, now a full grown cat, named KiKiPoo when she is sweet, or KatKatPo after she has just killed something like a bird or bat. [...]
Extra:
Although I was a lawyer and practiced law with good success for thirty years, creating significant new law, I never really believed in the law, the politics of law or in the over reaching self-interest of most lawyers I met. Too much exposure to Nietzsche and other good and seriously thoughtful [...]
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Who: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ