This edition of Fun With Statistics tells us a thing or two about relational attributes. Let's get right to it, with the following graphical analysis that is apparently making the rounds on Capitol Hill.
Statistics never lie, right? Where's a good pirate, or a few thousand, when you need them?
The lesson should be obvious: make sure the two attributes you are trying to correlate are actually related. A nice trend does not a trend make.
Hat tip to Donald Luskin at the Conspiracy to Keep You Poor and Stupid blog.