[CardenB]

FWIW, I think you are totally correct if you take accuracy at face value.

You really have to compare precision and recall values to know if the accuracy statement holds true. You could have have 100% precision and low recall and still have 85% accuracy (meaning you could never flag someone as lying and be wrong while missing a bunch of liars and still have 85% accuracy).

but if everything is totally evenly distributed, then 85% accuracy means 85% accuracy and your first statement is correct.

The real issue is that accuracy is only one piece of the puzzle.