Correlating the Percent of Uninsured with County Level Lifestyle Measures and Rural Populations | Healthcare 4 All PA Education Fund

My new guest post for Healthcare 4 All PA is UP.  % of Rural population is a variable that needs to be adjusted for.  The plot above shows how the % of diabetics in each county is correlated with the % uninsured after adjusting for the % rural population. 

Correlating the Percent of Uninsured with County Level Lifestyle Measures and Rural Populations | Healthcare 4 All PA Education Fund

The Science of Why We Don't Believe Science | Mother Jones

Chris Mooney at Mother Jones magazine gives a good review in a long article of the research into why some reject out of hand science that contradicts their beliefs and cling to studies that give support.  I would love to write that I am immune to this bias but I am not.  That is why all of the evidence (or as much of it as possible) needs to be considered before a judgment can be made. Reconciling one's beliefs with scientific findings that are contrary is a painful process for anyone indeed.

The Science of Why We Don't Believe Science | Mother Jones

Those who have a financial interest in keeping a large segment of the public in line with beliefs that are contrary to scientific findings, such as the petroleum industry and global warming, will often spend money to propaganda to maintain these beliefs.  Mooney shows how easy this is to do and maintain.  It's not necessary to persuade everyone to cling to these beliefs just enough to block effective action on these issues.

**Related Posts**

Global Warming, Wikileaks, and Statistics: What Barry Sanders Can Teach Us 

ADHD, Genetics, and Causality: A Chicken-Egg Problem 

Cause & Effect, Slip Slidin' Away 

The US and Republicans Want Health Care Law Repealed....?