Who gets to determine what is misinformation? Very troubling.
Insights for Navigating an Uncertain World
Who gets to determine what is misinformation? Very troubling.
Mark Skidmore is Professor of Economics at Michigan State University where he holds the Morris Chair in State and Local Government Finance and Policy. His research focuses on topics in public finance, regional economics, and the economics of natural disasters. Mark created the Lighthouse Economics website and blog to share economic research and information relevant for navigating tumultuous times. View more posts
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To answer the question, who gets to determine…? It looks as if bureaucrats with MSPH’s do. In the past 20 years the MSPH has been bastardized. With the intention of producing useful idiots? To use as a misleading signal for “public health expert?” It is NOT a research degree. One solution: credentials ought not replace our individual responsibilities to use critical thinking and intuition to discern what’s good for our health.
“Unfortunately, there are no easy solutions to the problem of health-related misinformation and disinformation.” There is a solution and it is to produce research with integrity. To tell the truth and promote meaningful discourse in setting research agenda’s, interpreting results and applying to practice. Lots of power lies in the hands of interpretation–power to degrade humanity or power to preserve and enhance public health.