An hypothesis is simply the suspected reason for something. It is not based on the truth because you have no proof. It is on this reasoning that scientific minds supposedly go out to seek the truth. It also seems to be the basis used for finding what you want to find. This is the approach appears to be used by organizations with somewhat fixed ideas of what they want to prove. Two Canadian organizations that might have fixed ideas to prove are the Broadbent Institute and the Fraser Institute. Neither of these institutions appears interested in proving the other’s hypotheses.
Named for former New Democratic Party leader Ed Broadbent, the Broadbent Institute seems rather fixed on proving left of centre political hypotheses. Conversely, the Western-based Fraser Institute offers a more right of centre bent. You know where these organizations are going before you read what they are currently saying.
Take the news release from the Broadbent Institute this week. It says that Canadians are concerned about income inequality in Canada. A telephone survey by Environics Research for the institute determined that Canadians would be willing to pay more taxes to protect our major social programs. That is not something that the Fraser Institute would wish to report. Paying taxes is anathema to the Fraser Institute. It seems to constantly pay academics to prove that Canadians pay too much tax on everything.
Anyone involved over the years in opinion research can tell you that how you ask a question is often the key to the answers you will get. That is why a survey by any particular political party showing that more voters intend to vote for them will be met by scepticism. It should be. That is also why the reputable research firms try to keep their distance from any appearance of bias.
At the same time, a blog such as this one makes no attempt at appearing neutral about anything. The objective here is to provide an opinion. Hopefully the opinion is a reasoned enough one that you can assess and take what you want from it. The material is based on years of experience in business, politics and the news media. The required reading has covered the political spectrum, a wide range of philosophies, business strategies and all the way to a daily dose of Dilbert and Doonesbury. Keep it readable, keep it light and have fun doing it. Writing a blog can be just like life!
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Copyright 2012 © Peter Lowry
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