Saturday, November 14, 2020
Bookmarks: Crime
An Animated Visualization of the U.S. Mass Incarceration Crisis - CityLab
Bookmarks: Data Sources
Pew Research Center | Nonpartisan, non-advocacy public opinion polling and demographic research
Bookmarks: Race
White Privilege, Quantified - The Atlantic
Sunday, November 1, 2020
15 day pre election financial data
It's required by law for candidates for office to report financial data.
Here's a look at campaign finances for pertinent upcoming elections.
Here are some key points and observations:
* most campaign dollars for local elections come from the candidate and the candidate's family funds.
* you need at least $5,000 to run a respectable city commission campaign. That doesn't mean you can't win on less.
* only 8 of the 16 city commission candidates have reported finance data. This could mean they have raised and/or spent less than $3,000. Local candidates only have to provide financial data if they raise or spend more than $3,000.
* the likely winning mayoral candidate will have raised and spent nearly $10,000. Per this report Conder has spent over $30,000 and Watson over $43,000. They both have more to spend.
* be mindful that a lot of campaign money usually is spent between the 15 day report and the post election report. The post election financial data usually indicates a jump in expenditures in the 15 days leading up to an election.
* there were no financial reports for any of the Board of Education candidates.
I provide the U.S. Senate race data for comparison. Keep in mind the Senate race in Kentucky is hotly contested.
All of the state and local data above is found at the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance: https://kref.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx
The data for the U.S. Senate race is found at the Federal Election Commission: https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/senate/KY/2020/
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Bookmarks: Social Class
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Coronavirus: on lifting orders
First, I'm not at all into conspiracy. I am though very much into understanding personal and social phenomena with valid and reliable data. I've tried my adult life not to jump to conclusions without good information. In fact, in the face of no good information I'm quite comfortable saying "I don't know" or "based on the information I have..."
I also believe there is tremendous value in making decisions and living life in an informed, mindful manner.
Here's some food for thought. Be very careful how you interpret information being given out by organizations. Most are adept at "branding" and "messaging." That often means you are getting the information they present to you through a marketing filter. What you're being told is what they want you to know in the context of what's good for their organization.
For example: we're in lockdown/quarantine and there's discussion at the federal level about lifting those orders. Without on demand testing and/or a vaccine, what makes going out in public in crowds any different now than a month ago?
Also, there is some data available on infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. But, HOW and WHERE infections are occurring has not been made available to the public. Wouldn't you like to know if there are public places that are showing a trend for contraction of the coronavirus? For example, shouldn't we know if people are contracting the coronavirus by going to drive thrus or the grocery?
I present this food for thought because organizations and agencies are making decisions for you. Are those organizations operating in their best interests or your best interests? Are the decisions to be made based on finances or based on what's best for the health of their employees, clients, or even the general population?
Do your best to stay informed. Your health and the health of your family may depend on it.
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