Data and statistics are generally all you need when dealing with non-human factors although you do have a tendency to get your numbers from sources that have a vested interest in presenting a rosy picture.

If a doctor tells me some alcohol is good for me because of studies he's done, even though that's really good news to me, I always question the motive of the doctor and how he ran his study because it's probably good news to him as well if he likes to drink like I do.

I know from studying humans all my life that people tend to seek out results that make sense to them and their preconcieved notions. If the military or the current administration is going to do research into the makeup of their army, they have a vested interest to show that they are top-notch. They also can create a morale problem by identifying their soldiers as people with low expectations in life so they may feel their study should reflect a more rosy picture. Tom, they're also in the propaganda business. Their job is to portray to the potential enemies in the world a military that is powerful and has no flaws.

Do you ever listen to influential economists when they're interviewed? How many of them ever say the economy is about to go into the toilet even prior to it truly tanking? They'll show you flowcharts, numbers, studies, everything to convince you that, even if a blip is occurring, the projection is overall growth. Why do they do this even when it's evident things are on shaky ground? Are they evil liars? No way. They simply have a vested interest not to create panic and to ensure their own business interests flourish as long as possible.

Your flaw is that you've never grasped the concept that human emotions and actions cannot be quantified by numbers and charts alone. Sometimes you have to get into the trenches and simply go with your gut. You seem to selectively be able to do that with members of the opposite party doubting everything they say but then you put on the blinders when the credibility of an organization or individual that speaks the buzzwords you want to hear goes under the microscope.

My distrust of our military industrial complex began long before I even knew who John Kerry or Bill Clinton was. The first inkling I had of the danger of it came from a Republican president - Dwight Eisenhower, hardly a liberal voice. Man, you live in a delusional world believing anyone in Washington is there solely to protect America and your best interests. When you start questioning both sides of issues you will have truly evolved.