Motives add bias to research

Insurance isn’t affordable, but the law requires it.

Why isn’t it affordable? Check the credit reports. Insurance companies are adjusting their rates based on them. Is this legal? Sure, they have more money than we do. They also have us against the wall because, in order to own a home, car, cow or anything, you have to insure it. Make sure that your cows do not produce sour milk if you cannot afford the insurance.

Speaking of cows, the University of Texas Longhorns are conducting research to find out if there is a correlation between bad credit and insurance claims. I bet there is.

Depending on who is providing the grant money for the research, statistics can be easily manipulated.

For instance, a survey conducted claims that 34,000 nuns, or 40 percent of all sisters in the United States, claim to have been victimized sexually. These numbers are based on 1,100 surveyed nuns.

We, as educated readers, have to take into consideration who funded the research, why out of 40,000, were only 1,100 surveyed, which 1,100 were surveyed, which nuns were not surveyed and why nuns were being used for this example?

What I am getting at is don’t believe everything you read especially if it is based on facts backed by research. Ask yourself who funded the project in the first place and why.

Consider that insurance companies have lots of money and the University of Texas wants that money. The Texas Legislature, who receives more money from insurance companies than you and I could dream of, also allots money to UT.

So, to my brothers and sisters at UT, watch out for what becomes of your hard work.

And to Rick Perry, our good governor, consider the facts and who worked or worded the statistics when they are presented to you before you go to fight for us against the big bad insurance companies who are unjustified in charging the people more for charging.

University Wire — Southwest Texas State U.