Monday, March 29, 2010

MORE MONEY AND HOUSE SEATS FOR US? THANKS, TEXAS WINGNUTS!

Nahhh, I know it won't really work out that way, because the Obama administration will work to make the Census fair, but I find myself smiling at the thought of Texas right-wingers sabotaging themselves:

Census caught in anger toward Washington
Officials worry low response rate is a form of protest


Texas is counting on the 2010 Census to deliver four new congressional districts, four new Electoral College votes in presidential elections, and millions of dollars in additional federal aid. But, as some elected officials are starting to worry, Uncle Sam can't deliver anything to the rapidly growing Sun Belt state unless Texas residents deliver their forms back to the government.

As of Friday afternoon, only 27 percent of Texas households had filled in and returned their census forms -- well below the national average of 34 percent -- according to computer data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

... a new and growing threat to an accurate national head count is coming from anti-government conservatives who may not fill out their forms to protest against "Big Brother" in Washington.

In Texas, some of the counties with the lowest census return rates are among the state's most Republican, including Briscoe County in the Panhandle, 8 percent; King County, near Lubbock, 5 percent; Culberson County, near El Paso, 11 percent; and Newton County, in deep East Texas, 18 percent. Most other counties near the bottom of the list are heavily Hispanic counties along the Texas-Mexico border.

..."People are concerned about the apparent intrusive nature of the census," said Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble. "People are very concerned that the government is going too far." ...


Ten freaking questions is "going too far"?

For every Texan missed, the state will lose an estimated $12,000 over the next decade in federal funding for transportation, agriculture, health, education, and housing....

Don't want it? We'll take it up here in the North. We'll take a few more congressional seats, too. Maybe you'll actually lose seats. Maybe this guy will lose his seat. That'd be nice.

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