Jack, statistics are often used as a device to bolster a preconceived idea. First you get the idea, and then use stats. Where's the objectivity in that? Stats have their use but are seldom employed by politicians or idealogues in an objective manner. Random sampling is error prone and a lot of stats have to do with what is being asked as political polls can tell you. For example, somebody wants to paint a rosy picture about crime in the U.S. Where do they go to promote their view? Stats. I call this "skew-tistics".

For example, 12 percent of the record sales of recordings are "folk music". What's being talked about here?

Sorry to digress from the main issue. Thank goodness for the NEA folklife division. So far they've been able to weather the congressional storms.

Frank Hamilton