numbers jumping up and down

I hate to say this, because it doesn’t really affect policy, attitudes toward the vast entity, or what the where is going on, but this statistic… currently being cited in news releases about the big stand-off of a bunch of Bundys and canned food enthusiasts out near Burns, Oregon, confusing the locals

The number of anti-government militia groups nationwide grew 37% last year, up from 202 in 2014 to 276, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks such groups.

I have no freaking clue what that statistic means.  202 to 276.  Near as they explain

Well, you know, Amy, the number of militia groups, the number of extremist antigovernment groups, has really skyrocketed since Barack Obama took office in 2009. There was a bit of waning between 2011 and 2013, but in the last couple of years we’ve seen a big increase, particularly in the number of militia groups—as you said, from about 200 to about 275. And this, I think it can be traced directly to what happened at the Cliven Bundy ranch, that you mentioned, in April of 2014.

Yeah, and during that dry-spell, 2011 to 2013, the SPLC talked about heightened concerns because the fall-off spelled more militancy in the remnants.  What’s a batch of 74 throughout the middle West about to do that it wouldn’t have  with 74 fewer…

Meanwhile, they stand-offees are blasting “hope this ain’t another Waco”.  Sure.  They can only hope to be that “important”…

Leave a Reply