The Guardian published a deeper examination into the many ways facts and figures are twisted and distorted--sometimes beyond recognition. Statistics can be powerful support for an argument, but it is also important to look past the headline and gain greater context before making your final decision.
An early paragraph helps explain their rationale:
Every statistician is familiar with the tedious “Lies, damned lies, and statistics” gibe, but the economist, writer and presenter of Radio 4’s More or Less, Tim Harford, has identified the habit of some politicians as not so much lying – to lie means having some knowledge of the truth – as “bullshitting”: a carefree disregard of whether the number is appropriate or not.
Guardian: Our nine-point guide to spotting a dodgy statistic
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