Misinformation

The following were some of the findings from a survey conducted by The Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland.

For each topic, the news source with the lowest level of misinformation among its daily consumers was as follows:  

• most economists who have studied it estimate that the stimulus legislation saved or created only a few jobs or caused job losses: MSNBC, 65% misinformed 
• among economists who have estimated the effect of the health reform law, more think it will increase the deficit: Public broadcasting (NPR or PBS), 38% 
• the bank bailout legislation (TARP) was passed and signed into law under Pres. Obama: MSNBC, 38% 
• the US economy is getting worse: Public broadcasting (NPR or PBS), 34% 
• the stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts: MSNBC, 34% 
• the bailout of GM and Chrysler occurred under President Obama only: MSNBC, 32% 
• since January 2009 the respondent’s federal income taxes have actually gone up: MSNBC, 27% 
• it is unclear whether Obama was born in the US—or, Obama was not born in the US: Public broadcasting (NPR or PBS), 24% 
• when TARP came up for a vote, Democrats were opposed or divided: Fox News, 21% 
• when TARP came up for a vote, most Republicans opposed it: CNN, 28% 
• it was proven that the US Chamber of Commerce was spending foreign money to back Republicans: Fox News, 23% 
• most scientists think climate change is not occurring or views are divided evenly: MSNBC and public broadcasting (NPR or PBS), both 20% 

There are some interesting nuggets to be gleaned:

1. CPB (the umbrella organization for NPR and PBS) and MSNBC seem to get the best grades as far as informing their viewers correctly. But sadly, it is nothing to boast about because
2. folks who watch network news are generally misinformed. The lowest misinformed figure is 20%. That means, at least 1 in 5 people don't know the facts even when watching the best network for information on it. That's pretty bad!
3. And here's the whopper! The lowest misinformation among news networks about the effect of the stimulus is from MSNBC and even there 65% were misinformed. That means, two-thirds of folks think that the stimulus was a waste while watching the most accurate network on this topic. Astounding! 

Here is another gem from the study:

Those who watched Fox News almost daily were significantly more likely than those who never watched it to believe that: 

• ƒmost economists estimate the stimulus caused job losses (12 points more likely) 
• most economists have estimated the health care law will worsen the deficit (31 points) 
• the economy is getting worse (26 points) 
• most scientists do not agree that climate change is occurring (30 points) 
• the stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts (14 points) 
• their own income taxes have gone up (14 points)
• the auto bailout only occurred under Obama (13 points) 
• when TARP came up for a vote most Republicans opposed it (12 points) 
• and that it is not clear that Obama was born in the United States (31 points)

This is not very surprising to me. Unfortunately, I must be in the minority when it comes to folks who voted this past election. These are all very pertinent beliefs upon which votes were cast.

I spent the early years of my life in India. As recently as 2009, the literacy rate was only 66% in India. Whereas the literacy rate in the USA is 99%. When the same old corrupt politicians were elected into office over and over again in India, I used to think that, if only more folks could read and write, they couldn't be fooled and true democracy would prevail. But clearly, literacy has nothing to do with it.