Evidence Based Policy Making

We're told that this is a bright new dawn, that no longer will law be made on the basis of prejudices, class or otherwise based, but solely illuminated by the pure light of reason. You know, that idea that we'll go out and look at the evidence and then build the legislation around that.

Hmm.

That's due in substantial part to the rise of the Internet, where the United States alone has a staggering 244 million Web pages featuring erotic fare. One Nielsen survey found that one out of every four users say they visited adult sites in the last month.

OK, lots more porn being looked at.

Rape is down 72 percent and other sexual assaults have fallen by 68 percent. Even in the last two years, when the FBI reported upticks in violent crime, the number of rapes continued to fall.

Sexual crime falls. OK, looks like they are substitutes, someone getting their rocks off over imagery doesn't then commit the crime in real life. So what are our Lords and Masters suggesting? That violent pornography shoulod be banned.

Further, we're going to raise the school leaving age. Something which actually reduces total academic achievement.

If we are to have evidence based policy making, wouldn't it be useful if those making the policy actuallly read the evidence? Or is that just being picky?