Abuse of Facts

August 13, 2011 at 12:29 PM

By VINCENT DE SANCTIS

In Francis Mason's letter published in the Star Democrat titled "Liberal Math," I was misrepresented by the writer's accusations about my "arithmetic." This letter is an example of not only someone unable to get the facts straight but ignoring the purpose for why the facts were presented: the laying off of some 4,000 FAA employees and stopping work on airport projects affecting some 70,000 private sector jobs around America as an example of how our economy is a partnership between government and the private sector.

My letter, one, referred to the potential for more than a billion dollars in lost aviation fuel revenue not a "million". Two, rather than address the fiscal consequences of this action the writer preferred to raise an issue about how much money was needed to collect "1 million" from the FAA as if the more than 1 billion legitimately owed by the airlines was irrelevant, Three, Mr. Mason introduces an irrelevant observation about corporate jets rather than giving attention to the very serious consequences of Florida Republican Congressman Mica's admission that he only stopped the FAA budget because he was trying to punish a couple of Democratic Senators. Congressman Mica has subsequently admitted that he had no idea that his politically motivated action would have such a negative impact on America's economy.

Normally I would refrain from responding to critics over differences of opinion but it is apparent that avoidance of arguments by misrepresenting facts so as to make a political statement are considered acceptable. No they are not. A basic rule of debate: demonstrate that you know your opponent's position before you present your own.

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