Re: ?Ecological Fallacy

[beidelma@tis.inel.gov (D. Lee Beidelman)]

This is great; it takes me back to the epi class that I took at the U. of NC
at Chapel Hill.  The discussion is a good refresher on the "ecological
fallacy".  Thank you all.

I agree with David Scherer's last post, including that "this thread would be
much better without impuning motives to those with whom we disagree".
However, it appears to me that this discussion is as much _political_ as it
is scientific.  And whenever we combine the two, the water is bound to get
muddied.

Personally, I just hope that the Health Physics Society, and Health
Physicists in general, do not get "politicized" over this issue.  At present
I think there is still consensus that the use of the linear _assumption_ and
the ALARA philosophy constitute the accepted standard of professional
practice.  Let those that want to change that standard make their case.

So, read carefully, and when a representative of the American Nuclear
Society starts using words like "total waste" and "scam" and "_any_ other
conclusion is to foster unjustified public fear....", etc., then consider
_their_ motives, and understand that it has now become a _political_ discussion.

D. Lee Beidelman (beidelma@tis.inel.gov)

Standard Disclaimer: these are my personal opinions only.