Myth Under Standings

Some of my favorites. I would've made this a Thursday Thirteen, but there were too many of them.

FDR got us out of the Depression with all his social programs for recovery and reform. He probably delayed recovery, but we still have the vestiges of these programs today.

America is a Christian nation. If by that you mean a Biblical worldview on which people base their decisions, it's a myth. And everyone has a worldview.

A college education is a good investment. Compared to what other investment? The return on a public school like Ohio State is 4.2%, and on a private school like Harvard, 1.9%. The stock market averages about 10% over the same amount of time. Take a look.

Global warming is created or stopped or controlled by people. Next time this idea tempts you with self importance, look up at the stars and think about how insignificant you are. Or, try to look at the sun without going blind. "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?" Job 38

There are two Americas (according to a certain presidential candidate). Actually, there are 5 quintiles. Read about the most recent Treasury report on the upward mobility by 90% of the poor (bottom quintile) and the downward mobility by the extremely rich from 1996-2005--and its been the same almost as long as they've been studying it--at least since the 1960s.

There was a housing shortage after WWII. There was government created rent control which took housing off the market which created the appearance of a shortage. It did however create the need for Lustrons. About 20 were built in my home town, one by my grandparents. A sweet little house.

Rachel Carson was a wise oracle who saved the world from being harmed by DDT. Her well-intentioned, unscientific book actually resulted in the death and injury of millions of Africans.

Our health care system is a mess. There is no system, so how can it be a mess?

Teachers are underpaid. Their hourly wage ($34.06/hour) is far higher than many professions that require more education.

The Federal Reserve System is a system.

Women earn less than men . Not for the same work load, responsibilities, and education requirements. "Discrimination occurs when people are barred from professions for which they are qualified, or paid less for doing the same job. It is not discrimination to freely make a choice that has an undeniable economic consequence." CNN Money

It's the quality and not the quantity of time that matters in raising children. How low can you go? 5 minutes a day as long as it is quality time? 5 hours? Split the difference? Would you put up with that attitude from a task force member or your doctor?

Ratings on movies and music benefit the public. Which way is the entertainment industry moving--to more or less violence, sex and degradation of basic values and common sense? "Age-based ratings alone do not provide good information about the depiction of violence, sex, profanity, and other content, and the criteria for rating movies became less stringent over the last decade." Medscape General Medicine

There is a shortage of . . . name your field, but there isn't a shortage of librarians. If a shortage is reported in the media, stay away from that profession. It's a marketing move by the profession to fill seats in the colleges that churn them out.

There is an easy way to lose weight and keep it off. Eat less, move more. It's the only way.

Books with "secrets" in the title, actually contain something new and never before revealed. Open one (or 10) the next time you're in the bookstore.

The death penalty deters criminals intent on acting in evil ways. It's far more likely that their evil thoughts are influencing their behavior. Think about it. Has the awareness of the death penalty ever kept you from killing someone one, or is something much deeper and more spiritual causing you to behave rationally?