New York Times Misleading Headlines- A Textbook Example

The New York Times 

May 21, 2016

IMHO The New York Times is notorious for its practice to sometimes place a highly misleading headline to imply something that is belied within the body of the article, as if they want to sway opinion among those that are more prone to skim headlines, rather than more thoroughly digest articles and ask questions.

A recent example of this is with their May 21, 2016 article by Abby Goodnough and Sabrina Travernise about the simultaneous fall in the number of prescriptions in the U.S. being issued for opioids, and the rise in the number of opioid related fatal overdoses.

An honest headline would have been: "U.S. Opioid Prescriptions Down; Deaths Up".

However, the headline appearing on their print edition,
prominently at top right of page one, was: "Prescription Dip Seen as Advance in Opioid Battle"

The headline appearing on the print edition's continuation of this article on page 3 was:
"Opioid Prescriptions Drop For The First Time In 20 Years" 

Notably, it is the 2nd rather than the 1st of these headlines that now appears at the top of this article upon the New York Times web-site:

From within the body of the article:

(excerpts)

"...for each of the past three years — 2013, 2014 and 2015 — prescriptions have declined, a review of several sources of data shows."

" IMS Health, an information firm whose data on prescribing is used throughout the health care industry, found a 12 percent decline in opioid prescriptions nationally since a peak in 2012. Another data company, Symphony Health Solutions, reported a drop of about 18 percent during those years. Opioid prescriptions have fallen in 49 states since 2013, according to IMS, with some of the sharpest decreases coming in West Virginia, the state considered the center of the opioid epidemic, and in Texas and Oklahoma. (Only South Dakota showed an increase.)" ...

... One important development that may have helped propel the decline came in 2014, when the federal government tightened prescribing rules for one of the most common painkillers: hydrocodone combined with a second analgesic, like acetaminophen. In the first year after the measure took effect, dispensed prescriptions declined by 22 percent, and pills by 16 percent, according to an analysis in JAMA Internal Medicine. Refills — which the change made much more difficult — accounted for 73 percent of the decline.

Yet:

" So far, fewer prescriptions have not led to fewer deaths: fatal overdoses from opioids have continued to rise, taking more than 28,000 lives in 2014, according to the most recent federal health data. That number includes deaths from both prescription painkillers, like Percocet, Vicodin and OxyContin, and heroin, an illegal opioid whose use has been rising as access to prescription drugs has tightened."

Fewer prescriptions, yet more deaths is see as an advance?
 
This should be regarded as a textbook example of the New York Times issuing a misleading headline to conform with its slavish devotion to the incorrect position of the political campaign that it has advanced in numerous editorials and quest pieces, in favor of further overriding doctors and patients on decisions regarding opioids. 

For more on this, please see my concurrent piece in my other blog "Freedom of Medicine and Diet"

http://freedomofmedicineanddiet.blogspot.com/2016/05/opioid-prescriptions-down-deaths-up-ny.html

Imagine This- 1st U.S. 100+ mph "Autobahn" High Speed Tollway Announced For Western Utah I-80 Median Space

Salt Lake City Utah to West Wendover, Nevada Facility Proposed For Construction In The I-80 Median- Expected to Spur Tourism and Automotive Technology Development In The Bonneville Salt Lakes Flats Area

Existing Western Utah I-80

Project to construct a pair of barrier separated highway speed carriageways in the median of I-80 from Wendover, ultimately to western Salt Lake City, would bring a whole new opportunity for ultra high speed driving in the Bonneville Salt Flats area.

- 1st stage is the 50 mile western portion.

- 2^nd stage is a re-aligned I-80 segment between Aragonite and Sinclair, to provide a greater radii curve.

- 3^rd stage is the eastern portion to western Lake Point, and continue to western Salt Lake City with a speed limit reduced to 120 mph. 

Would be separate from the regular I-80 2x2 roadways.  It would ultimately have full left and right hand shoulders flanking 3 lanes in each direction, with individual minimum speed postings: a posted right-hand lane minimum speed of 90 mph, a middle lane minimum of 110 mph, and a left lane minimum of 140 mph.  Travel at 155 mph or high would require the operation of 4 way blinkers to increase visual impacts of such higher speed traffic to others, with passing speed variables limited to a differential of 35 mph to vehicles in the immediate adjacent lane.  Would feature camera enforcement for lane discipline posted regulations, with passing on the left strictly enforced, and be open via a special toll.

Would be part of an automotive development program encouraging automotive technological and vehicular construction projects, with new facilities for accommodating increased tourism based upon a love of automobiles, including a boost to automotive activities upon the Salt Lake Flats.

Is also being supported by the Nevada Casino business interests to encourage traffic from Salt Lake City and its International Airport to West Wendover, Nevada, which are discussing establishing a high speed automobile service and rentals between those points.   The casinos are expected to use various models of high performance automobiles for such a service, with various auto manufactures rumored to be considering offering the use of certain models for free in exchange for the publicity to drive sales.

Is expected to spur tourism in the Wendover- Salt Flats area.

Would be equipped with special tollway entryways to discourage inebriated drivers.

Would be equipped with roadside facilities with refueling stations, including Tesla ‘supercharger’ recharging equipment at 50 mile intervals to facilitate high performance electric automobile clientele, who would need these to accommodate the reduced millage range of such high speed driving; while Teslas for instance, which lack combustion engines for running generators and thus relay strictly upon batteries, are known to have a range of over 200 miles, the higher speed driving to be expected upon this facility would reduce that notably, with speeds of about 125 mph reportedly reducing the range to around 90 to 115 miles.  Such refueling stations likewise would also include combustion fuel stations offering more than the standard fare of gasolines, including E-85 for flex fuel vehicles, and special higher octane blends for operating ultra high performance automobiles at higher speeds, particularly in higher temperature weather.  Such stations would likewise be used to showcase various alternative fuel alternatives as part of the general use of this high speed corridor to showcase advancements in automotive technologies to promote greater efficiencies and cleaner automobiles.

The corridor likewise would add improvements to the existing I-80, including better markings, and would line it with various shrubs to provide safer means of controlling possible errant vehicles, as well as to ‘eat’ CO2 emissions from combustion engine propelled vehicles.

An evaluation of safety records would be used to refine the speed regulations for this and ultimately other such facilities.

,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKoNNY3BL4o

About Donald Trump

Previously he invoked against monetary and trade policy that resulted in shipping much of the US economy overseas, particularly to China.  But now he focus upon the low people on the totem pole- Mexican immigrants, while saying about nothing on how the bank system screws the general public, while succeeding at getting others who are relatively low on the totem pole to cheer.

Makes statements about China and infrastructure putting us to shame, as if he would provide a way out of our malaise at getting big projects done.  But when push came to shove, where has he ever spoken in favor of new bridge-tunnel crossings, anywhere, such as in the NY metropolitan region?   Has he ever spoken on any such matters, asides from stating that we somehow can't afford a replacement Tappan Zee Bridge project (and with no mention of where the years of toll monies went)?!

Likewise, he favors eminent domain for private use.  But has be ever spoke in favor of its application for public use?  Such as a new crossing of Long Island Sound that would be opposed by the super wealthy along Long Island's northern coast?   Has he ever opposed such elite types who continually get away with politically bullying, as apparently this?

He once spoke in favor of ending the war of drugs- protecting alcohol and particularly Tobacco from their competition, but now favors its continuation- bucking the overall trend of more and more people favoring its end.

Indeed, his famous statement against Mexican immigrants, speaking of rapists and drug dealers in the same breath hearkens back to the hysteria of the 1980s.

What sort of political dynamics do things as that indicate?

Catholic-Fascist Jeb Bush Drops Out of 2016 Race

upon his defeat in the South Carolina primary, about 3 weeks after being defeated by Rand Paul who nonetheless dropped out while Bush remained in the race.

https://youtu.be/XliGOGdLnnQ

Here's my write-up of Jeb Bush from last year:

http://continuingcounterreformation.blogspot.com/2015/03/jeb-bush-openly-catholic-fascist-2016.html

As an open tool of Roman, Jeb Bush fervently supported the idea of the continuing inquisition against people for failing to conform to the pharma-alcohol-cigarette protection racket of the war of drugs.

Good riddance!

"Time To Legalize Some Drugs" - D Willinger Letter Published October 2, 1987

appearing in the Westchester Gannett Newspapers
in response to a reactionary pro drug war column by nationally syndicated columnist William Raspberry

text-

William Raspberry is mistaken if he thinks the government has not been going after consumers of illegal drugs (column of Sept. 8).  Records show that most drug law arrests and prosecutions have been directed against consumers.  Indeed, in all of the "victim-less" or "vice" type of crimes, drug type laws have been the ones where the customer is most vigorously prosecuted.

Raspberry seems unaware of the large numbers of drug users serving jail sentences for mere possession, with thousands having served average sentences of ten years for having as little as one marijuana cigarette.  Although marijuana penalties were reduced during the 1970s in a few states, the definition of "dug dealer is broad enough to allow or mandate a disproportionate jail time term for friends who pass a joint around in social sessions on private property.

Likewise with the rise in popularity of cocaine and the rise of political opportunists as Rudolf Giuliani, who find it advantageous to their political careers to set up elaborate sting operations and waste tax dollars prosecuting and jailing productive white collar coke users, our jails are overflowing.  Although a minority of cocaine users destroy themselves with the overuse and/or misuse, millions of responsible productive citizens with healthy relationships with such drugs suffer daily insult and threat from the government.

I am dismayed that Raspberry fails to see the threat to civil rights posed by a government stirring up animosity and hatred towards peaceful minority groups of individuals.  If Raspberry wants to rid peaceful neighborhoods of (presumably non peaceful) drug dealers, he would support legalization.  There is no justification for the laws against marijuana and cocaine in its natural form, coca, which contains many nutrients and other alkaloids recognized as modifying cocaine's effects in ways that can only be described as good.

Legalization would not only solve or mitigate drug problems, it would solve or mitigate the disturbing increase in government powers over individual freedom.

Although history has shown conclusively that drug prohibition is doomed to failure, politicians seek more police state power to fight this war.  For so many to be so blind or deceitful about this assault on civil rights and liberties is frightening.

DOUGLAS. A. WILLINGER
New Rochelle

Also see:

Blame for drug abuse misplaced to benefit politicians, big business 
published January 4, 1988

http://freedomofmedicineanddiet.blogspot.com/2012/04/blame-for-drug-abuse-misplaced-to.html

Rand Paul 2016 Wimp Out

Rand Paul defeats Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina, and John Kasich in February 2016 Iowa Primary.

Yet it is Paul - the sole libertarian candidate in a field of authoritarian candidates - and not those that he defeated that announces a suspension of his campaign!

http://bcove.me/809p1o5e

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/03/politics/rand-paul-dropping-out-of-presidential-race/

[excerpt] (CNN)Rand Paul, the libertarian-minded freshman senator who was once viewed as a formidable presidential contender, is suspending his White House bid.

Paul discussed the matter with staff Wednesday morning and sent out a statement confirming the decision to drop out of the Republican presidential primary.

"It's been an incredible honor to run a principled campaign for the White House," Paul said in the statement. 

"Today, I will end where I began, ready and willing to fight for the cause of Liberty."

Paul, a Kentucky Republican, is expected to instead place his focus squarely on his Senate reelection bid, where he faces a wealthy Democrat, Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, who has the money to partially finance his campaign.

Paul finished a disappointing fifth place in Monday's Iowa caucuses, registering just 4.5% of the vote despite placing a heavy emphasis on the state's college towns to bring out younger voters inspired by his libertarian-minded message. He promised that night to continue his campaign.

Note the general lack of media reporting of his decision to be a drop out, that Paul defeated Bush, Christie, Fiorina and Kasich.

Why should it be Paul that drops out and not Bush, Christie, Fiorina or Kasich?

This is even more perplexing when we consider that it occurred just before the primary in New Hampshire, a state known for being more Libertarian.

I cannot believe that Rand Paul would drop out before the crucial primary state of New Hampshire as thousands of libertarians have moved there. Maybe Rand does not have the fire in the belly as his dad had or there are forces at work. I am very disappointed with his decision and this will reflect badly on his senatorial campaign this year- Don Meinshausen

Once again we have a demonstration of the utter absurdity of the staged state primary system with the early states getting to effectively decide the range of candidates, thus violating the Constitutional doctrine of equal protection, by denying voters in the later states the same range of choices?

https://www.google.com/search?q=rand+paul+owa+results&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#eob=R/2/short/m.03s0w/

100% reporting	Delegates	Vote %
Cruz (won)	8	27.6%
Trump	7	24.3%
Rubio	7	23.1%
Carson	3	9.3%
Paul	1	4.5%
Bush	1	2.8%
Fiorina	1	1.9%
Kasich	1	1.9%
Huckabee	0	1.8%
Christie	0	1.8%
Santorum	0	1%
Gilmore	0	0%

Site for 2016 Libertarian Party Candidate Gary Johnson
http://govgaryjohnson.tumblr.com/

DNC Must Fire DWS

Deborah Wasserman Schultz fallacy on supporting human rights violations to protect big alcohol!

https://theintercept.com/2016/01/06/wasserman-schultz-fueled-by-booze-pacs-blasts-legal-pot/?comments=1#comments

excerpt - Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz told the New York Times  she continues to oppose legalizing marijuana – even as she has courted alcohol PACs as one of the largest sources of her campaign funding.

Wasserman Schultz, a House Democrat from Florida, said she doesn’t “think we should legalize more mind-altering substances if we want to make it less likely that people travel down the path toward using drugs. We have had a resurgence of drug use instead of a decline. There is a huge heroin epidemic.”

The fifth-largest pool of money the congresswoman has collected for her re-election campaign has been from the beer, wine, and liquor industry. The $18,500 came  from PACs including Bacardi USA, the National Beer Wholesalers Association, Southern Wine & Spirits, and the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/01/06/the-real-gateway-drug-thats-everywhere-and-legal/

excerpt - You may have heard that marijuana is a gateway drug. Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie makes this argument seemingly every chance he gets. Anti-drug groups often make similar claims.

The evidence seems convincing enough at first blush: studies show that 99 percent of illicit drug users tried marijuana before they did any other drugs. But on its own, this line of thinking actually is pretty tenuous: we could also safely assume that 99 percent of illicit drug users also tried coffee, or soda, or chocolate milk before moving on to stronger substances.

New research out this month in the Journal of School Health could shed some light on this question. A team of researchers from Texas A&M and the University of Florida examined data from from 2,800 U.S. 12th graders interviewed for the Monitoring the Future study, an annual federal survey of teen drug use. They wanted to establish which substances teens typically used first.

They give away their findings in the title of their paper: "Prioritizing Alcohol Prevention: Establishing Alcohol as the Gateway Drug and Linking Age of First Drink With Illicit Drug Use." They found that "the vast majority of respondents reported using alcohol prior to either tobacco or marijuana initiation."

Not only that, but of those three main substances -- alcohol, tobacco and marijuana -- kids were the least likely to start using pot before the others.