Lying, Poorly, with Numbers

This is from a State Department press release titled U.S. Actions to Address: Energy Security, Clean Development, and Climate Change -

Decline in emissions growth

From 2000-2006, the population of the United States grew by 5.8 percent (16.5 million people) and GDP grew by 15 percent (about $1.5 trillion) while our GHG emissions growth was only 0.3 percent; comparable to the results of many other developed nations.

Of course what this means is emissions are still enormous and still growing. Where is the decline again?

This is an indication of the fantasy we still live in. This is a solitary but noteworthy effort to stick our head in the sand and pretend that any progress is good progress. In this case, regression is trumpeted as progress and then any progress is heralded as enough, "comparable to other nations"

This is like saying you're honest because you lie less than everyone else. What is missing is a culture of integrity about this. The score keeper here isn't us.