Protecting a Public Good: Hands Off Our Census
Recent proposed changes to the census collection process threaten the integrity of the data, and therefore all subsequent projects, funding mechanisms, and infrastructures that rely on accurate counting of the American people.
As partners of the Hands Off Our Census project, DRP Director Lynda Kellam recently co-authored a post for their blog. Like all of Lynda's work, it is infinitely quotable – but below is a personal favorite excerpt:
In the data rescue and data equity communities, we often talk about public data, like data from the census and ACS, as a kind of infrastructure. And, as with infrastructure like roads and bridges, we tend to recognize its importance only when it is failing. When it is freely available, we often take it for granted and assume it will always be there. But when these data suddenly disappear, alternative sources almost always come with a cost, and they may not be as trustworthy, accurate, or comprehensive. And the people most often affected by the loss of public data are those with the fewest alternatives. … Public data, including census data, are a public good. We the people have the right to accurate, objective, and publicly accessible information about our communities. To uphold this right, the census must count everyone fairly, accurately, and without politically motivated exclusions.
There is still time to submit a comment! Make your voice heard by November 2!
