Bureau of Liberal Specious Statistics, Chapter IV

I love this stock photo of "homeless children" only because it appears these kids shop at Abercrombie and are nicely bathed and coiffed.

It ain't just conservative duck hunters who play with statistics to make a point (that people who used to look like him, cause disease).

No, the Left engages in this nonsense as well - and the government.   On National People's Radio this morning, another scare story.   There is an EPIDEMIC, not of STDs this time, but of HOMELESS CHILDREN!  Oh me, Oh my!

They then give the caveat:   "The government counts as 'homeless' any families living in a shelter, on the street, or with friends and relatives."

Wait.

Living with your Grandma or Grandad makes you "homeless"?   That sort of skews the statistics a little bit don't it?

Living on the street - OK, I get that, that's homeless.

Living in a shelter - well, maybe that's cheating a bit.   But OK, I'll go along with that, even if they aren't literally living without a home.

But living with friends or family?   How on earth is that "homeless"?

Half the 20-something male population in this country is "homeless" by this standard.

We can't have rational discussions of issues if people are going to fudge the numbers!

Note:  I looked this up online and it appears to be true.  A lot of people are counted as "homeless" even if they have a home.   California, for example:

Definition of Homeless

The term homeless children and youth means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This definition also includes:

• Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason

• Children who may be living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, shelters, or awaiting foster care placement

• Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings

• Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings, or

• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are children who are living in similar circumstances listed above

Now, these definitions may have a purpose, in assigning benefits or the like.  However, in calling someone "homeless" because they are living a trailer park is a little disingenuous.

There have been a lot of stories lately about how the "number of homeless children is skyrocketing!" and it seemed kind of odd to me.

Now I know why.  They've change the definition of homelessness.