I hear ya pulse and I too dislike any manipulation of data/facts in an attempt to sway an argument. If ones argument lacks support when stating the truth, playing jiggery poker with the info doesn't really change that. One of my old girlfriends had a saying along such lines that seems to hold particular relevance in such discussions .... "I'm never as concerned about WHO'S right as I am about WHAT'S right."

I do my dead level best in making any case I present to be as truthful as possible. even when doing so may support the "other side" in an argument, not because I like proving others points, but because I hold real truth to ultimately be of the most importance.

I feel for you cats down unders political choices as they sound much like the "lesser of evils" kinda choices we typically face in major elections too, which is really sad all in all