"Rationalizing a statistic" is a derogatory term meaning finding excuses for down statistics.
Finding excuses or reasons why a stat is down does NOT bring it up and at best is a scathing comment on the lack of foresight or initiative of the executive in charge of the area.
What is wanted is (1) prevention of stats going down and (2) quick action to bring them up.
Being reasonable about their being down should be regarded as AGREEMENT WITH THEIR BEING DOWN. Which is, of course, suppressive.
"Well, the letters out stat is down because we were paying a girl so much per letter and 'policy' stated we could not hire anyone so we fired her and that's why letters out is down."
That was an actual rationalization given in Wash D.C. for the collapse of the org last year.
To begin, there is no such "policy" and surely no policy exists to have down stats. So, here the felony is compounded by seeking to blame policy for a down stat which for sure revealed the action as a suppressive effort to rationalize (and get away with) a down stat.
The only reason stats are down, ever, is because somebody didn't push them up. All other reasons are false.
Some people have a METHOD of handling a down stat which is a fixed idea or cliche they use to handle all down stat situations in their lives.
These people are so at effect they have some idea sitting there "that handles" a down statistic.
They KNOW it isn't any use trying to do anything about anything and that it is best just to try to get by and not be noticed — a sure route to suicide.
Instead of seeking to prevent or raise a declining stat in life such people use some fixed idea to explain it.
This is a confession of being in apathy.
One can always make stats go up. Hard work. Foresight. Initiative. One can always make stats go up. That's the truth of it, and it needs no explanations.