The Solution For Unwanted Statistics

By Steve Sailer on February 12, 2012 at 10:24pm

Earlier, I was whining about how the CIA no longer bothers to update its fascinating table in the CIA World Factbook on countries' military spending as a percent of GDP. For example, the U.S. number still says, comically, "2005, est."

There's another federal website with unpopular that would be too embarrassing to delete, but the feds have found a similar solution: just let it wither on the vine by never updating it. That's the Bureau of Justice Statistics' page on Homicide Trends. It's still there, but the latest data is for 2005. I started looking at it when debating Steven Levitt in 1999, and it was regularly updated with each year's new numbers. But, now, it doesn't appear to have been updated in a half decade.

Homicide Trends In The U.S.

Trends by race

Racial differences exist, with blacks disproportionately represented
among homicide victims and offenders

In 2005, homicide victimization rates for blacks were 6 times higher
than the rates for whites.

To view data, click on the chart.Homicide Victimization by Race

For more information about racial patterns in violent victimization
see Key Facts at a Glance.

In 2005, offending rates for blacks were more than 7 times higher
than the rates for whites

To view data, click on the chart.

Homicide Offending by Race

 

The genius behind this is that if the Obama Administration simply deleted it, Rush Limbaugh would have a field day. But by never updating it, it's increasingly not news. It's so far out of date that it gives the news media an excuse to ignore it. Who knows what could have happened since 2005? Maybe whites have higher homicide rates today. Who can say? So, best to just ignore it.