Text 6965, 86 rader
Skriven 2008-07-09 15:29:49 av Richard Webb (1:116/901.0)
   Kommentar till text 6961 av Bob Klahn (1:124/311)
Ärende: census, was the black experience
========================================
Hi BOb,

 BA> FWIW I put the same requirement on government census takers
 BA> and have been round and round with them.  Just about every
 BA> ten years.  The only legitimate questions on the census
 BA> form is how many people reside at a particular address and
 BA> how old are they.  I fill in those answers and leave the

BK>  You know a census is not just to count the number of people  living
BK> here, but to get an idea of what the demographics are. 

YEp, but they ask too many questions that imho are none of their business. YEs,
some merit in your points below but ...

BK>  And there are reasons to know that. From the medical standpoint, 
BK> knowing there are a lot of black people in some area will tell  them
BK> they may need more sicle cell treatment facilities there.  Knowing
BK> there are more Jews suggests more chances of Tays Sachs. 

Probably true.  I've even had them ask me for a phone number.  sOrry, it's
umpublished for a reason.

BK>  If they count 6 hispanic families in a town, and each has 4 
BK> members, yet there are 1000 copies of a Spanish language
BK>  newspaper delivered there, someone may suspect there are Spanish 
BK> speaking people there who have reason to want to avoid being 
BK> counted.

Maybe so, but all one has to do is observe the community.  IF they're selling
1k spanish language papers but even without the count of people then the people
who buy those one thousand Spanish language papers must be employed. check out
the employers.  ASk anybody whose native language doesn't seem to be English
for his/her green card, or proof of citizenship, i.e. drivers' license, etc. 
IF you're trying real hard to hide you won't have any of that paperwork either.

BK>  Knowing the educational level of the residents gives an idea how 
BK> well the school systems are working.

Again, I have no problem with that.  I'll fill in that one usually.  AFter all,
these schools are tax supported entities.

BK>  Next time, look at the form and ask yourself, is there anyway  this
BK> information would contribute to better governing of this  country?
BK> Or would contribute to the private sector functioning  better? They
BK> do use the info also.

And that my friend is the rub.  What the private sector may use this data for I
might not want them using it for. I don't want to be bothered by marketers and
salesmen.  Again, one of my fundamental constitutional rights has always been
assumed by jurists and constitutional scholars to be the "right to be let
alone." I get bugged at merchants when they ask for all sorts of data when I
pay cash for a purchase.  For example, after Katrina I bought myself another 
stage amplifier to replace mine that burned to go along with my electronic
piano. THe PEavey company wanted to know a bunch of stuff on the warranty
registration that I felt was none of their business. I had no problem telling
them that I'm a professional musician and I bought their product because it was
reliable, but much of the personal information they asked for I refused to
provide them.

I just don't get warm and fuzzy feelings about all these people having all this
data to use in whatever manner they choose.

IF I go to the doctor information is collected and stored that then I have
little or no control over. IF the doc sends me to the lab fluids and tissues
are collected for data collection which could go anywhere. My radio license
means I show up somewhere else in a government database.  sO, even if you piece
a lot of this together, you get a post office box address.

I take precautions with my personal information to safeguard it from the data
miners and the marketing shills.  I"ve just gone around and around with
bellsouth about providing information to marketers they shouldn't.  wHen I
moved to this place from my shack in the woods recently of course I had my
services moved. suddenly, at *this* address, not my po box I started getting
canned ads in the mailbox addressed to me personally for car insurance and all
sorts of crappola.

I pay cash, I don't use plastic.  YEs I use my atm card, and I know that
therefore my movements could be somewhat tracked. THis is one reason I don't
have a cellular phone.  we're debating whether we want one for the business, or
just stick with landline and voicemail.

Regards,
           Richard
... five boxes to freedom: Ballot, witness, jury soap & cartridge
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: Radio REscue net operations BBS       (1:116/901)