Megan's Space

I came across two stories that seem eerily related.

Operating In the Dark (NY Times Op-Ed)

The Web site of Representative Daniel Webster, Republican of Florida, instructs visitors to click on a link for “Census data for the 8th district” to learn about the area’s economy, businesses, income, employment, homeownership and other important features. And yet, on Wednesday, Mr. Webster declared that the Census Bureau’sAmerican Community Survey — the source for much of that data — is an unconstitutional breach of privacy…

I use the ACS in my work. We use the data in our advocacy work. It is a vital tool.

Here’s the other article:

Colonized by Corporations

In Robert E. Gamer’s book “The Developing Nations” is a chapter called “Why Men Do Not Revolt.” In it Gamer notes that although the oppressed often do revolt, the object of their hostility is misplaced. They vent their fury on a political puppet, someone who masks colonial power, a despised racial or ethnic group or an apostate within their own political class…

What these articles have to do with each other is left as an exercise to the reader. Hint: try reading them.