Meanwhile, a rapid slowdown in the economy, even before last week's terrorism, is pumping up projected deficits. Still, let's remember that this is very difficult stuff. There are plenty of times when law-enforcement officials must take group identity into consideration. The fight against terrorism is often messy. We have to depend largely on the individual judgment of officials with very difficult and sometimes perilous jobs, who sometimes must make too hasty decisions.
Statistics can sometimes be as amusing as funhouse mirrors.
Take this summer's report from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which ranked U.S. metropolitan areas in terms of economic output. In the latest survey, the Providence Metropolitan Statistical Area posted a better year than Oklahoma City, Birmingham, Ala., and Dayton-Springfield, Ohio. All of these areas had surpassed Providence the year before. There is a tendency after a great tragedy for the survivors to quarrel among themselves, and to unconsciously blame each other rather than the real perpetrator. We should be aware of that and try hard to avoid it.