Naptown Numbers

Arguments for various public-policy proposals often begin with “Experts say” or “The science says.” What’s implied is that those of us who aren’t scientists or otherwise experts in the relevant field aren’t qualified to dispute the proposal.

I personally think we laymen too often accord such arguments more weight than they deserve. Although scientific knowledge and other expertise have their place, experts’ reasoning ability isn’t necessarily any better than ordinary laymen’s. Yet certain experts’ utterances are accepted as gospel by too much of the populace, particularly because the press often suppresses uncongenial facts.

This site will therefore present reasons why laymen should treat certain propositions with skepticism, and you’ll receive them in your inbox if you subscribe.

The topics may vary widely, but numbers and my Indianapolis home are likely to feature prominently. Hence “Naptown Numbers.”