The Judas ratio
A phrase I’d not seen before, it shows up in this comment by Enoch Root:
[I]t is the contention that in every human creature — and therefore every group comprised of human creatures — there is approx 8.5% corruption. Something I have been toying with for years, but wonder if there is any “there” there.
Judas represented 8.3 percent of the Apostles, though one should not forget Peter’s denial, which surely counts for something.
Of course, there is upward pressure on that 8.5 figure. Consider the Oklahoma county-commissioner scandal of 1981, in which 69 of 77 counties had at least one commissioner involved, and 13 had all three. Or, for that matter, consider Chicago of just about any year.
And does anyone believe there are only 45 practitioners of skullduggery in Congress?
fillyjonk »
18 November 2009 · 2:19 pm
Well, maybe it’s averaged over the human race. So while Congress would have more than 45, there are very likely some monastaries or abbeys that have 0.
I guess I’m more of an optimist; I often say that 5% of any group is going to be the ones who give you 95% of the trouble. Though I tend to think of that 5% as the high-maintenance contingent who will inappropriately demand, rather than as being corrupt.
Perhaps I should keep better stats on plagiarism and cheating for a few semesters and report back.
Brett »
18 November 2009 · 2:28 pm
Ah, but treason against Congress’ typical behavior would mean doing your job effectively, representing your constituents fairly and caring as much if not more about what was right than about what would get you elected.
I am willing to bet there are 45 such individuals in Congress today.
Kay Dennison »
18 November 2009 · 6:21 pm
Only in your dreams!!!!! I think the numbers are much higher than 45 — our Congress is a den of thieves.
Jeffro »
18 November 2009 · 9:31 pm
And does anyone believe there are only 45 practitioners of skullduggery in Congress?
The cream rises to the top – there has to be more…..
unimpressed »
19 November 2009 · 1:16 am
Hmph. The toilet in which all of Congress is swimming will only allow 45 of them to be on the surface at any given time, but they all float……
Population Statistic »
21 November 2009 · 12:29 pm
EXTRAPOLATING ONE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT OF GOODNESS…
Chaz recently dug up this curious postulation on human nature:
[I]t is the contention that in every human creature — and therefore every group comprised of human creatures — there is approx 8.5% corruption.
To that, I’ll cite Theodore…