GOP Census Bill Would Eliminate America's Economic Indicators

[Link]

As Duncan notes, in his subsequent press release which is now on the link, the issue is whether the requisite economic data can be gathered in less intrusive ways (without presumably sacrificing in a material way accuracy or quality) then a census survey, that if you refuse to answer, results in a 5K fine potentially.

If there is, then it seems to me that Duncan has the upper hand in the balancing test between the needs for the polity to have the data for policy making purposes, and concerns about individual privacy and the burdens imposed on such individuals.

I have never met anyone who was " burdened" or "fined" because of a simple government survey.  I often wonder where these right wingers live where they have all these issues and need AR-15s to deal with them.  Censuses and government surveys are standard for first world western countries.  They happen all the time without issue.  With all the problems America is facing today how does this jump to the front of the line?

And of course there is this...

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Link]

Even if not enforced, if the form says that failure to fill it out is a crime, subject to a 5K fine, that's coercive. If surveys that are voluntary can get data approximately as reliable, then it should be done that way it seems to me.

Maybe, maybe not.  I have never in my life heard anyone say that it is a "burden" or "coercion."  Anyway as a professional there are a myriad of potential fines that are a lot more than 5K that I have to avoid on a daily basis.  If this guy really wanted to avoid coercion on a grand scale he would be trying to legalize marijuana and prostitution.  The deleterious effects of that wide scale coercion are not theoretical.

Torie if that was the ONLY issue with the federal government then I would be willing to hear this guy out.  But given all the fines we professionals face on a day to day basis for absurd things this isn't even a blip on the radar.  And if you talk about the broader public I know of one guy who is serving a life sentence because of marijuana.

Anyway the guy's spokesman's first response was no response.  He may have regrouped and cooked up some half baked answer but we all know this is a big pile of BS.