The Importance of Being Counted (A Discussion on Why the 2020 Census Matters)
On today’s episode we will discuss the 2020 Census. The decennial census is one of the most expensive and cumbersome government undertakings with the job of collecting vital data on residents of the United States. It is also crucial to the function of American democracy, as it is the data that determines the number of congressional districts and electoral votes in each state. It is also used to allocate resources and funding throughout the nation. As we explain in this episode, the upcoming 2020 Census is in serious danger because it is underfunded, behind schedule, and lacking in strong leadership. We first discuss the historical roots of the census, dating back to the colonial period. Next, we explain the current status of the 2020 Census and our concerns about undercounting and inaccurate data collection. In the following sections we discuss three ways the census impacts American politics and citizens’ lives: gerrymandering, resource allocation, and labeling. We hope you enjoy the episode and gain a deeper understanding on the importance of being counted.
Donate to FairVote: www.fairvote.org
Questions? Comments? Email us! adoubletake02@gmail.com
Links!
www.vox.com/2017/5/11/15610908/…ureau-john-thompson
www.vox.com/2015/9/16/9337041/s…tal-poverty-measure
www.nytimes.com/2017/05/11/opinio…mestopic%2FCensus
www.nytimes.com/2017/05/10/opinio…mestopic%2FCensus
www.nytimes.com/2017/05/10/us/pol…pic%2FCensus&_r=0
www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2017…-than-you-think/
www.nytimes.com/1860/04/05/news/c…ml?pagewanted=all
www.birminghamtimes.com/2017/08/with-…ght-the-ship/
www.gao.gov/highrisk/2020_decen…ensus/why_did_study
www.rollingstone.com/politics/featu…o-fail-w492666
www.theroot.com/three-fifths-clau…rsists-1790895387
www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/20…-the-2020-census
www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/poli…se/?tid=a_inl
www.politico.com/agenda/story/201…20-census-000404
fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-ce…ace-in-america/
www.prb.org/Publications/Articl…inCensusTaking.aspx
www.brennancenter.org/blog/accountin…-census-clause
