Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings

To the surprise of no one (except the majority), recent research suggests the benefits of the Head Start program are minimal. This hasn't prevented the Head Start people from trumpeting how useful they are--if anything, this only makes them louder.

Because the public feels good is being done, emphasis on "feel," they hate to stop it. They're all warm and fuzzy inside, knowing such programs exist. (Another example is the anti-drug DARE, which doesn't seem to work). And woe to any politician who wants to cut funding--being armed with only facts against feelings is a dangerous place to be.