Math Is Hard

Since I've been giving Gary Gensler such a hard time for refusing to admit a mistake, I thought it would be appropriate to pointed out just how colossally I screwed up the math in my column on the Pentagon budget. (Lucky for me it was behind the sub wall!)

The correction, which runs in this week's issue, is also behind a subwall, so I'll post below in all its mortifying glory:

Correction: Those Pesky Decimals

There were three computation errors in Christopher Hayes's March 2 "Cut the Military Budget." The Pentagon budget request represents a 13 (not 12) percent increase over last year's budget. The reported Obama Defense Department appropriation would represent a 2.2 percent increase over last year's budget (not 8 percent). And regarding the F-22 Raptor fighter jet, $3.4 billion divided by 95,000 works out to $35,800 per job (not $35.8 million). So it is not true that "more jobs would be created by hiring people to shred the money." We deeply regret the errors and have FedExed a new abacus to our Washington bureau.

Comments (18)

1. Chipmunk! .....Don't ask!

   Posted by Happy at 02/26/2009 @ 3:39pm

2. Posted by Happy at 02/26/2009 @ 3:39pm

   HAPP, I too want to be upfront and admit a mistake if I make one...

   how far did the Dow tank on news of Hilda Solis' confirmation (per your prediction)?

   Posted by Mask at 02/26/2009 @ 4:11pm

3. 80 points drop to 7270!

   Posted by Happy at 02/26/2009 @ 5:39pm

4. Posted by Happy at 02/26/2009 @ 5:39pm

   Okay....by the way, why did it spike up there until 4pm?

   Given the Market knew about Solis' approval?!??!???

   Posted by Mask at 02/26/2009 @ 7:49pm

5. BTW, speaking of "bad math"....

   heard today that 40% (FORTY PERCENT) of the earmarks in the Omnibus Spending Bill the House just passed....

   were put in by the Republican House members.

   Posted by Mask at 02/26/2009 @ 8:12pm

6. One of the reasons I really enjoy reading & listening to you is your integrity. I may not always agree with you (most of the time I do), but I know that you strive to be honest and intelligent. Thanks for putting this upfront; when I first read your article I was steamed and wanted to immediately email you, but given your history, I decided to wait. I'm glad I did. Kudos!

   Posted by dmtek at 02/26/2009 @ 9:59pm

7. heard today that 40% (FORTY PERCENT) of the earmarks in the Omnibus Spending Bill the House just passed....

   were put in by the Republican House members.

   Posted by Mask at 02/26/2009 @ 8:12pm

   Being practical.....just as I am!

   I'm actively looking at properties for my son to buy, not that he wants to before med school....to take advantage of that $8k First-Time Homebuyer freebie....I'm against it but it passed......if there is money to be had, I want it (in the family)! The house & loan will be in my son's name...straw buyer!

   IF earmarks are in the Budget, despite what The Messiah said (yet again), let the feeding begin w/out regards to party!

   Posted by Happy at 02/26/2009 @ 10:04pm

8. ....by the way, why did it spike up there until 4pm?

   Given the Market knew about Solis' approval?!??!???

   Posted by Mask at 02/26/2009 @ 7:49pm

   The same reason that since Nov. 4, there have been up days (at the close)....information & opinions aren't absorbed uniformly....another stupid question!

   Posted by Happy at 02/26/2009 @ 10:07pm

9. information & opinions aren't absorbed uniformly....another stupid question!-------Posted by Happy at 02/26/2009 @ 10:07pm |

   So it was just in that final hour before the Bell, that the traders realized Hilda Solis had become Labor Secretary?!??!???

   Posted by Mask at 02/26/2009 @ 10:24pm

10. So it was just in that final hour before the Bell, that the traders realized Hilda Solis had become Labor Secretary?!??!???

    Posted by Mask at 02/26/2009 @ 10:24pm

    You question my wisdom, then, show your evidence to the contrary!

    Posted by Happy at 02/26/2009 @ 10:57pm

11. 18=16 in my math:

    President Obama told congressional leaders Thursday he's planning to pull all combat troops out of Iraq by August 2010, which falls short of his campaign promise of bringing all combat forces home within 16 months

    MSM=poop in my math

    Posted by winyahn at 02/26/2009 @ 10:59pm

12. Posted by winyahn at 02/26/2009 @ 10:59pm

    When Obama consulted with commanders on the ground about a withdrawl, they wanted over 30 months. The compromise reached was 18-19 months, but even that is not carved in stone depending on conditions.

    My problem is how can you call leaving a "residual" force of 50,000 troops a withdrawl? A resudual force would be no more than one brigade. A couple of Divisions left behind does not a withdrawl make. A troop reduction, yes. A withdrawl, no. Obama misrepresented his intentions on this campaign promise. He has done quite well on some others however.

    I for one am keeping an eye on him.. Lets keep him honest.

    Posted by chaoszen at 02/27/2009 @ 01:10am

13. Posted by winyahn at 02/26/2009 @ 10:59pm

    Does "2 extra months" equaL "January 2013"...

    which was McCain's date???

    Posted by Mask at 02/27/2009 @ 07:34am

14. Posted by Happy at 02/26/2009 @ 10:04pm

    The morals of a rutting boar.

    I really wish that just once the "moral police" from the con side would discuss HAPPYS complete lack of ethics instead of going after some pink suited grannies.

    Posted by crabwalk at 02/27/2009 @ 07:42am

15. When we were attacked by 19 Yemenis and Saudis, the cons decided to send 500,000 men and women into harms way to protect themselves (from mythical threats). 4100 of these people gave the ultimate sacrifice so that HAPPY and crowd could continue to reap rewards from the labor of others via stocks and other investments. Tens of thousands of these troops will be permanently damaged either physically or mentally or both.

    Now the country faces an economic danger.

    What sacrifice do the cons want to make so that their country can pull out of this mess?

    NOTHING!

    They whine, they cry, they count their money, and whine and cry some more. When the country that they call the Greatest on Earth, the country that made it possible for them to grow their wealth, is hurting, their response is to ....

    cut and run.

    Zero shame.

    Zero morals.

    Posted by crabwalk at 02/27/2009 @ 08:03am

16. By accident and for a brief moment Hayes' foolishness was exposed because it was expressed in numbers. That made it impossible for him to deny or becloud his nonsense. The cold and naked numbers were there in proof of his mental incompetence.

    But most of the time, Hayes, and most of the meatheads here about don't have their twisted ruminations and bad thinking shown for what it is, because it is not expressed in numbers but in false logic, inexact analogies, unjustified assumption, lies and hyperbole. Thus an entire magazine bounces along, week after week, pissing and dribling nonsense and its foolish clientele lap up it all up avidly and think it yummy.

    It is a sad and disgusting situation, held up to the light for a moment, but only for a moment.

    Posted by Hugo_Pirovano at 02/27/2009 @ 8:26pm

17. dribbling

    Posted by Hugo_Pirovano at 02/27/2009 @ 8:28pm

18. Posted by chaoszen at 02/27/2009 @ 01:10am

    I think we 'd be in near complete agreement if we hashed this out. I agree with your statements. My main point is the same "withdrawal" parameters under Cheney would be cover for nasty intentions. I think Obama will continue to move in the direction we want.

    Posted by winyahn at 02/27/2009 @ 10:29pm