Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site qantel.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!oliveb!hplabs!qantel!gabor
From: gabor@qantel.UUCP (Gabor Fencsik@ex2642)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Definitive expose' of Sandinistas?
Message-ID: <516@qantel.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 26-Aug-85 21:11:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: qantel.516
Posted: Mon Aug 26 21:11:04 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Aug-85 10:53:00 EDT
References: <296@ubvax.UUCP> <1531@bbncca.ARPA> <304@ubvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: gabor@qantel.UUCP (Gabor Fencsik@ex2642)
Distribution: net
Organization: MDS Qantel, Hayward, CA
Lines: 21

> It should be noted that even in Communist countries, general national
> statistics appear valid by all comparative tests US analysts put to
> them.  Nicaraguan statistics are probably good, too.  As reported
> by international agencies, they show great progress. [TONY WUERSCH]

Another great source of progressive statistics is the Ethiopian
goverment which has just eliminated cholera by reclassifying it 
as 'acute disentery'. 

'Soft' statistics on literacy, alcoholism, suicide and the like are
notoriously easy to manipulate, especially in countries with no
traditions of a professional civil service. More so if the legitimacy
of the regime rides on the result. The best one can say is that nobody
has managed to keep double books on these numbers so the leadership
is usually as much in the dark as the outside world. And if all else 
fails, one can stop publishing statistics altogether, like the USSR
did last year when life expectancy figures vanished from official  
handbooks.
 
-----
Gabor Fencsik               {ihnp4,dual,hplabs,intelca}!qantel!gabor