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| Some in America do not like “Facts”. Rhetoric and emotion are their drivers. |
In May 2012, the Tea Party House of Representatives passed H.R. 5326. The bill included an amendment Right-wing media and far Right Neo Cons (like Michelle Bachmann) have sought for years: the elimination of a critical Census Annual Survey. Their contemptuous rationale against the American Community Survey (ACS)? “It is intrusive.” Allow me to repeat, “it is intrusive.” A short description of the survey: gives communities the information they need to plan investments and services.
The House of Oz attacked last May.
H.R. 5326 includes an amendment that would prohibit the Department of Commerce from funding the American Community Survey (ACS), a yearly household survey conducted by the Census Bureau. ACS data is used by numerous organizations (including NPP) to track demographic indicators and plan policy and services. (See Infographics below).
“…to plan investments and plan services.”
Two words that are instant ‘skin-crawlers’ for the GOP, especially the Tea Party House of Oz.
The Daily Kos May 15, 2102
In a CNN story on health care and poverty implications of killing the survey, Jonathan Gruber of MIT summed it up perfectly:
“If you’re opposed to the survey, you’re opposed to understanding what’s going on in America,” said MIT economist Jonathan Gruber, director of the Program on Health Care Research at the National Bureau of Economic Research.
The first 2013 congressional escape (recess) left all federal legislative initiatives second the to golf carts and vacation homes. The Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill (S. 2323) awaits congressional return and languishes like other critical legislation on the obstructionist mood of the GOP. It seems the 15 days the 113th congress worked since the end of the last session was a bit much.
We can only hope sanity reigns and the Tea Party influence in the House is countered in the Senate. The ACS feeds information to many government agencies, assists in funding critical human services programs and supports efforts to make life better for our returning veterans. I may have answered any curiosity about why the Tea Party (and the House Republicans) would find the Survey reprehensible. It facilitates critical programs that the Tea Party alleges are unnecessary and wasteful. We know the GOP has longstanding aversion to programs that help to make life comfortable for millions (children, mothers, the unemployed, the disabled and the elderly). GOP disdain for our veterans was readily apparent as there was no mention of our troops, foreign wars, nor veterans at the 2012 RNC Conference and no mention in Mitt Romney’s primary victory acceptance speech.
There was a time when the GOP seemed to care more about the well-being of our troops and veterans. The really sad reality is, if Right-wing demagogues cared one iota about our troops and veterans, the GOP would follow in tight formation. Sound preposterous?
If you think the poli/social Right doesn’t listen to ultra-conservative media demagogues, think just a bit. Republicans follow the insane tomfoolery and cognitive manifestations of paranoia from the likes of Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity, O’Reilly and Fox News et al, as surely as they ignore their own constituents.
Media Matters 2009
The ACS has been a target of the Right since before the 2010 elections. It became an outright target of attack and elimination after the mid-term elections. Of special noted the Census, in general, is a target of the Right now that the House has been gerrymandered into districts that electorally benefit the Right. The 2010 gerrymandering facilitated GOP retaining the House when Democrats received 1.5 million more votes in 2012.
If you are only somewhat informed on the American Community Survey, take a quick look at the survey’s usefulness across the nation, and two infographics related to survey respondent data.
What is the American Community Survey?
The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing survey that provides data every year — giving communities the current information they need to plan investments and services. Information from the survey generates data that help determine how more than $400 billion in federal and state funds are distributed each year.To help communities, state governments, and federal programs, we ask about:
- age
- sex
- race
- family and relationships
- income and benefits
- health insurance
- education
- veteran status
- disabilities
- where you work and how you get there
- where you live and how much you pay for some essentials
All this detail is combined into statistics that are used to help decide everything from school lunch programs to new hospitals.
More after the break below
[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]
American Community Survey may cause serious spasmodic reflux for the GOP for another reason. The survey reports race, gender and ethnicity data. “Melting Pot” data may not set well in the digestive systems of a party comprised of 92% white people.
[Source: Speigel Online International]
Let’s hope the Democrats in the Senate, and the gullible Harry Reid can put an end to GOP attacks on the ACS. The Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill may not present a quick shoot-from-the-hip filibuster from the Right. Unless, President Obama speaks out for passage of the bill.
Mr. President please do not even mention the ACS as a critical Census tool!
The Pardu's Scroll 