# Interesting podcast conversation between Sam Harris and Charles Murray (of "Bell Curve" fame)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-podcast-conversation-between-sam-harris-and-charles-murray-of-bell-curve-fame/785052>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [April 23, 2017, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-podcast-conversation-between-sam-harris-and-charles-murray-of-bell-curve-fame/785052 "2017-04-23T09:21:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1241

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**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-podcast-conversation-between-sam-harris-and-charles-murray-of-bell-curve-fame/785052/1241 "2018-04-17T00:36:49Z")

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> [@SlackerInc](#):
>
> So Kimstu, my interjection is addressed to you. Will you please respond to Evil Economist (post #1232)? I have a feeling you know EE’s argument is bullshit: some kind of circular reasoning or begging the question, in that ballpark. Right?

Let me try with simple numbers:

Group A has 2 mainstream students, who each receive $1.50 of funding (the minimum necessary for the students to learn). They also have 1 special education student, who receives $3.50 in funding (the minimum amount of funding necessary for the student to learn)

Group B has 1 mainstream student, who receives $1 of funding, and two special education students, who each receive $3 of funding.

Now, Group B receives more total money ($7 vs. $6.50), but all of their students are receiving insufficient funding. The mainstream student is receiving only $1, compared to the $1.50 needed to provide a minimum education, and the special education students are receiving $3, less than the $3.50 needed to provide a minimum education.

If you still don’t understand it at this point there’s no help for you. To be honest, every time I talk with you I find myself increasingly incredulous that you did well on an IQ test–understanding the above isn’t really a high-IQ task, and you failed it.

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