The Delaware State News - Letter to the Editor
“Good programs deserve tax dollars”

Gordon E. Finley, Ph.D.
The Delaware State News
October 8, 2006

Dear Editor,

Regarding Jenny Maher’s article, “Study eyes violence laws” from Oct. 4, thank you for publishing this article and bringing public attention to this critical social problem. A major problem for the public is separating domestic violence information from disinformation.

Generally speaking, when a source derives it's income from taxpayer funds, it has a powerful incentive to present disinformation that will maximize the probability that taxpayers will continue to fund them -- whether they are on the right track or not.

By contrast there is one source that is free of taxpayer funding and strives to summarize and present the empirical research truth about domestic violence. I would urge all interested readers to visit this Web site and see for themselves: http://www.mediaradar.org

In today's economy and tax environment, it is becoming increasingly important to be sure that our tax dollars are being spent on truthful and socially worthwhile programs rather than socially harmful programs with negative consequences for large portions of the population.

Gordon E. Finley, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Fla. International University
Miami, FL