Playing the Percentage Game

To the Editor:

Recently I read an opinion which shows that 1,422 crimes were committed by native-born citizens compared to 782 crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. While one might say that you are more likely to be the victim of a crime from native-born citizens, one might say the undocumented immigrants only commit about one-half the crimes. Politicians for years have used percentages to try and prove their point and are pretty good at covering a topic in their favor.

However, if you look at the numbers of crimes committed by the undocumented immigrants you would think the native-born citizens are worse. While the numbers are correct one has to look at the number of crimes committed by the undocumented immigrants. Would we have those crimes committed by the undocumented immigrants? That is 782 crimes per 100,000 people that would not have been committed if we removed all the undocumented immigrants. The crime rate would certainly go down if those undocumented immigrants were not in this state.

Playing the percentage game certainly has its advantage as it covers up true statistics. 

Frank Chlumsky Muldoon