It was bad enough when House Republicans voted to politicize the National Science Foundation, effectively telling the NSF what is and isn't acceptable science to fund. As Ezra Klein recently explained, "That's not how scientific decisions are supposed to work. And the effect could be chilling."
But it's just as bad that House Republicans have targeted the American Community Survey. As Catherine Rampell reported, it's arguably "the most important government function you've never heard of, and it's in trouble."
This survey of American households has been around in some form since 1850, either as a longer version of or a richer supplement to the basic decennial census. It tells Americans how poor we are, how rich we are, who is suffering, who is thriving, where people work, what kind of training people need to get jobs, what languages people speak, who uses food stamps, who has access to health care, and so on.
It is, more or less, the country's primary check for determining how well the government is doing — and in fact what the government will be doing. The survey's findings help determine how over $400 billion in government funds is distributed each year.
Last week, House Republicans voted to eliminate the American Community Survey altogether.
Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) took the lead in trying to kill the survey, arguing that the research "intrudes on people's lives, just like the Environmental Protection Agency or the bank regulators."
Webster added that the American Community Survey "is not a scientific survey. It's a random survey."
I'm not sure which of those words -- "scientific" or "random" -- confuses the Republican congressman more, but Webster clearly has no idea what he's talking about.
Rampell's report added, "Each year the Census Bureau polls a representative, randomized sample of about three million American households about demographics, habits, languages spoken, occupation, housing and various other categories. The resulting numbers are released without identifying individuals, and offer current demographic portraits of even the country's tiniest communities. It is the largest (and only) data set of its kind and is used across the federal government in formulas that determine how much funding states and communities get for things like education and public health."
Republicans used to support the ACS, up until quite recently.
A New York Times editorial noted:
The American Community Survey, which gives annual updates of Americans' economic, demographic and housing characteristics, is widely considered a vital tool for business decision makers. It is also a bipartisan creation. First used in 2005, it is a more timely and accurate way to ask questions that used to be posed on the "long form" decennial census.
Indeed, in 2006, Republican Congressional staff members participated in efforts to promote the survey under the slogan "Better Data for Better Decisions."
The House GOP, I'm afraid, has become even more right-wing than it was six years ago. As the Times editorial noted, the result is "know-nothingness at a new level."
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If they want to do a survey on how well corporations and the wealthy are doing however...
Evil but consistent. After all, if you believe government should do nothing to help Americans, why spend money researching which Americans might need the most help?
Apparantally, they do not want the findings reported in this survey to be shown. It would be wise to get this survey and show it to the American People. Then, we can figure out why they didn't want this to become common knowledge for everyone to see. Let's see it!
Go to the US Department of the Census and look at the numbers. They are all there!
They should post them on CNN or Fox.
It kind of figures, really... They're going to do whatever they feel like, no matter the facts or data or public opinion, so why should they support a program that proves that their philosophies and plans are failures?
Anti-Research goes right along with Anti-Intellectualism.
The rebirth of the Know-Nothing Party. Led by prancing naked Emperors. Because reality has that well-known liberal bias.
Read this and weep for us all:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/18/anti-intellectualism-us-book-banning
Anti-intellectualism is taking over the US
The rise in academic book bannings and firings is compounded by the US's growing disregard for scholarship itself
I suppose we shouldn't be overwhelmed with disbelief. These are the people who cluelessly stood by and allowed the looting of the National Museum in Baghdad, because "Stuff happens."
A building that only contained the birth of literacy, and by extension, civilization. What race of people blithely ignores the artifacts of the foundation on which almost all written knowledge of Western culture is based?!
Ahh, now the Book Burning begins. I know where I'm going today.
Thıs ranks rıght up there wıth Gov. Bobby Jıngle's - OK, I know that's not hıs nane - speech back ın 2009 where he called for an end to spendıng federal dollars on earthquake research because, hey, no one needs to worry about earthquakes.
How dıd the party that voted overwhelmıngly to fund everythıng from the Manhattan Project to NASA to Hubbell to Lıvermore to the Natıonal Instıtutes of Health research turn ınto a party fılled wıth no-nothıngs who sound lıke ıdıots every tıme they open theır mouth?
Somebody tell Webster how his pollsters operate. Maybe they can talk him into funding polls that contact 100% of his constituents. And then he'll be broke, and perhaps then he'll go away.
Why don't you tell us.
Statistics. They use randomly-generated samples and extrapolate their final results from that.
I wouldn't get too worked up about the excuse made for stopping the survey. Much more important is what I suspect to be the true motive. The right are increasingly freaked about demographic changes in this country, and the survey is one tool that lets us know precisely in what ways the country is changing. Get rid of the survey and we don't have to know about the change, and if we don't know then they can continue to operate as if nothing has changed.
In other words, we shouldn't react to this as if it were just random stupidity. There's a plan and a purpose.
Like Book Burning, which should be made illegal. They are trying to destroy the History of our Country and that of other Countries. Our Grandchildren and our Great Great Grandchildren will never know about the way in which we fought for human rights and human dignity. And they will have to fight these battles again and again , just like we are doing in 2012. How long must we do this? I for one am growing weary. We need help from journalists and reporters now, stop making this a TV ratings game. stop appeasing to the advertisers or the Large Corporations and move this Country forward in line with the 21st. century. I know eventually I will be out there with the Occupiers. I was just hoping to avoid that and get some movers and shakers in the media on board. Alot of people have lost their jobs, which side are they on? They are trying to erase us from this World. That means you too, when they are done using you we will welcome you to join in the March, what else can we do? Just know this Greed will eventually die, who will it take down with it.
There has never been a Republican that wasn;'t confused about big words like "research" and "census." They don't have a clue what they are crusading to defund -- it just sounds like "big government" to them, so they want to kill it and score points with the Tea Baggers. Or maybe they do understand what killing of these programs will mean? You know, a lot has been made lately about the Census data and government research showing that America will soon be a majority minority country,and that more minority babies are being born today than white children. Could this all be a simplistic reaction to just cut off the data and maybe all of those "black" and "brown" kids will just go away? http://www.sunstateactivist.org
What poor people?Our survey says we don't have any. This could get interesting, I just don't know where this is heading. How much more are they trying to keep us in the dark about? Remember there are more of us.
Puts the "no birth control" plot into perspective don't it?!
I don't remember where it said it was a sin to take care of yourself and your family, the best way that one knows how to. It doesn't matter how many or what race or religion they are. They are here for a reason, just like everyone is. It's time to get to know your neighbors. Welcome to my neighborhood. That's where the hard working women reside our backs hurt, as well as our hearts. We have come a long way baby, there's more butterflies, where this comes from. You have not felt the wrath of Flower Power yet.
This Daniel Webster lost to the devil, and invited his party to join him.
This effort by Rep. Webster is made all the more puzzling -- and nonsensical -- by the fact he spent 30 years in the Florida Legislature and the Legislature uses the results of this very survey.
Dan is in the HVAC business. Maybe too much exposure to Freon over the years.
He's also the Republican who beat Rep. Alan Grayson in 2010. He's running in a different district this year and Grayson is trying to win back his seat.
Oh, please, please, please, Florida! Vote Alan Grayson back in!
Well the man obviously has no knowledge of statistics - I think that's now offered in HS? There are so few persons aspiring to be GOPstapo representatives thay they'll fund practically anyone with a "clean" past or one that can be made to look that way (their way) but the republicans have always had severe wackos proposing all sorts of nonsense and a lot of their time is arguing as to why it doesn't go anywhere.
In the long term, this is the most insidious and damaging aspect of the Republicans' policy agenda. Nothing hamstrings the ability of a company--or a country--to survive and prosper like a lack of research and development.
Their opposition to basic and applied research means that, every day, people die who shouldn't. Get sick or live with disabilities when they shouldn't. Live life less happily, conveniently, and efficiently than they otherwise would. The economy underperforms, as people aren't working in jobs that move the society forward for want of the products of that research.
But, then, I guess if your goal is to move the country back to the 1800s, you don't worry about little things like that.
It reminds me of the days of "welfare reform," when Congress enacted "reforms" that would kick people off welfare after a certain period of time, because their ideology said that it was "trapping" people in dependency, but voted down any efforts to track what happened to people afterward.
To echo Steve's usual understatement, it's almost as if they don't want to know the real effects of their policy decisions. "My mind is made up, don't confuse me with facts."
Putting aside the "distraction" factor, the point is that in the TeapugniCANT ideal world each feudal lord and master will be responsible for his own serfs. Ergo, no need for a universal survey to see how folks are doing and/or what they might need. The laird doesn't care and the serfs aren't getting it whatever "it" may be - food, housing, medical care - it's your problem. Just be sure to show up for work, stay for 15 hours, and make your payments to the company store on time!
This isn't the only reactionary position, but part of a coordinated, RICO-eligible cabal. Can we please ask some hard questions about Fukushima??? http://www.naturalnews.com/035847_plume-gate_Fukushima_radiation.html
Here's a little research I did-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5E6jetXBac
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/Vox-News/2012/0126/Mitt-Romney-the-first-Mexican-American-president
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/The-Romneys-Mexican-History.html
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/01/how-mitt-romneys-mexican-born-father-was-eligible-to-be-president/
So Mitt why are the Latinos not rushing in your defense?
The Republican commitment to blissful ignorance is unwavering.
Abstinence only education, suddenly takes on a broader meaning.
Yeah, that darned ACS is such an intrusion. Just like the EPA - always coming and testing the soil in my yard for hazardous waste. And those bank regulators! Can't tell you how many times they've intruded on my life...
I'm pretty well convinced that Mr. Webster thinks a "scientific" survey is required to include specific questions about the Table of Elements, or how to dissect a frog. What a freakin' idiot.
Research & development is what made this country thrive and stand out. Health care & education is what makes a nation strong. Infrastructure is what keeps it running.
But those 'great' minds in the GOP driven Congress focused on self serving agenda of pandering to lobbies and special interests and feeding MIC don't have the inclination or time to pay attention to the country & nation.
Just the day before they passed the Defence bill adding another 8 billion dollars to military spending and further assaulting civil liberties of the people of this country. By granting the military powers to detain anyone indefinitely without showing cause or legal recourse.
Another bill they passed was authorizing use of force against Iran.
So-called "science" is at best a waste of money. You spend millions of taxpayer dollars that could have gone to buying car elevators, and what do you get?
The so-called "research" either tells you what you always knew (e.g. that having a baby at 14 isn't a good start in life for women), which is a waste of time and money.
If not, it tells you nonsense (e.g. that the Earth is warming due to human activity) which is even worse.
Either way, the best thing we can do is stop it. Like abortion, outlawing it would be best, but refusing to fund it is at least a start.
Can anyone start to ridicule -- I mean seriously ridicule -- the GOP for its illiteracy both linguistic and mathematical?
One GOP rep that wanted to kill the survey was because it used 'random sampling' and was therefore 'unscientific' (!)
Random sampling ASSURES the scientificity of research surveying.
Now we can see why they want to make war on education.
I use the ACS at work. Of course the GOP are desperately afraid of it. It's knowledge and knowledge is power, power they can't control. It is painfully obvious that the GOP thinks that the only way for it to survive is to keep Americans ignorant.
I recall a press release from the Bush years about the rationale for reduced NSF funding for research on how to improve science and math education in K-12, which said basically: "We already know everything we need to know about education. We don't need more research." Of course they didn't/don't really want people/serfs to learn science and math or to develop critical thinking skills.
Republicans may be evil, but they are not stupid. There is usually some kind of money making or power grabbing scam to whatever evil it is they are attempting. The trick is to find that scam before their evil ideas go into effect. The Republicans have spent a century scamming the urban populations out of political power with their voting laws, their gerrymandering and their financial control of state houses, now they want to apply that expertise nationally.
It's too bad this piece of Florida panhandle white trash can't go back to being gator-bait like he used to, it's obviously what he's good at.
I am more and more in favor of expelling the South from the Union. First remove all the federal facilities in old Dixie, then blow up the TVA, and let them go back to the 18th Century existence they pine for. And reinstitute the Civil War blockade.
Don't need a survey to tell me how we are doing.We are doing worse than we were 3 and a half years ago. Once the amateur is gone things will turn around.
I know what you mean, once we clean up the mess that Bush and his friends left us with we could on with the business of living. Romney just needs to understand that if he were to win he would take this Country down to the depths of Sheol, believe me you don't want to go there. I enjoy your sarcasm though.
Actually the mess started back in 1992 under Clinton when the government decided everybody and there poor brother should own a home. You can thank Barney and his friends for the financial crisis. It was for that reason and that reason only we had the financial crisis. It's sad the previous Congress did not acknowledge that when they were determining what caused the crisis. That is typical of Congress though.
We still have high unemployment(who knows what the real number is,probably about 20%), High gas prices, an embarrassing foreign relations approach and a depressed overall outlook by the American people we have not seen since Carter.
How's that "Hope and Change" working for ya. I'm just hoping to hold on to my change.
Hang on, so Clinton leaving a surplus was part of the financial crisis? Huh. Clearly, my math teacher didn't explain how "more" actually equals "CRISIS!".
He also failed to instruct me properly in how wars and tax cuts for the rich that were simply added to the debt without the slightest regard for how they would be paid for is a rational, responsible, monetarily sound plan.
Now, my statistics teacher did in fact say that you can pull numbers out of your ass ... like "20% unemployment" ... with no trouble at all. Statistics are just pretend math anyway.
Hawkeye, could you please though explain in more depth the embarrassing foreign relations approach? Because, you see, as a furr'ner myself, it seems to me that the USA is actually gaining credibility in the eyes of the world ... or is THAT the problem? Are you longing for the halcyon days when GWB or Raygun held the statesman view that the only thing other nations need to know is that the US of A is exceptional and we should all be jealous (aka the "we have nukes and are just the types to use them" approach)?
Waiting with bated breath.
Hawkeye has no idea that we were brainwashed and that we were the new Russia in the eyes of the rest of the World. He has no idea that Bush and Cheney are the equivalent of Hitler and are now considered War criminals. Hawkeye is not brainwashed he works for them, he forgets how miserable he was as a Doctor working in Korea. We have become the enemy. And alot of us are trying to convince the rest of the World that we are victims just like they were or are to a Dictatorship that was eventually going to sweep us under the rug like they were or still are. We are still very vulnerable in the eyes of the World and we are trying like hell to expose the GOP and their friends so that we can take our place in this World as a friend and a fellow comrade in the fight against injustice. We all have the right to be here , we all have a lot to contribute against hate. Our message should be that of Peace, Love and Understanding. My only hope is that we can accomplish this so we can get down to the business of healing this Earth and restoring it's heart. I am so sad today, my heart is breaking. And I don't know how much longer I can go on. Please somebody help us.
Was that "The Devil and Daniel Webster" or "The Devil in Daniel Webster" or "The Devil and Denial Webster".
Elected as best to represent his district in Congress!
How about Dub? You've been dubbed the dub.