The Census is one of the more totalitarian aspects of the government

Profiling of Middle Eastern Americans What happened was that the department of National Security asked for the numbers of Middle Eastern Americans who lived in certain zip codes specifically in some cases zip codes where there were over 1000 of them. While it is correct that the government did ask for this general demographic information about Middle Eastern Americans, this wasn't really detailed individual information and only looked at where most of these people were located [1]. This kind of general information already exists publicly although in a less detailed and accurate format. For example the image sited here shows percent middle eastern populations by county [2]. This information was most likely used to know which airports would be the most likely to be hit by possible local middle eastern terrorist groups or to know where to focus anti-terrorism efforts in the United States. If I was concerned about that threat, I would do exactly the same thing. This whole thing seems like much ado about nothing. Putting people into concentration camps has never been a very popular idea since WWII and would never gain any real popular support. Also keep in mind that as I stated in the last round, collection of data is only a tool that can be used for effective governing or for totalitarianism. It is not in its nature totalitarian just like an oven by its nature is not made to burn a house down. It only does this when it is misused. Is the Census fine totalitarian for asking for information not specified in the Constitution? The reason why the census asks for more information is because the government does more than it did before. Today we have agencies that regulate food and health. We have programs to help elderly, disabled, and poor Americans. For these programs to run efficiently, we need good data about the people being served by these programs. We have a fine for not providing this information because we need a good sampling of the American people and very high quality results cannot be attained when people can decide to opt in or out of the poll. Americans with certain demographics may be more likely to opt in or out. For example, maybe younger Americans would be less likely to take the survey if it was voluntary, skewing the results resulting in a less effective government. People are always complaining about government inefficiency and without the kind of accurate census data we have today it would be even less efficient. Asking people to fill out a little survey is not totalitarian as this word means some action where the state has a huge amount of authority over the lives of its citizens. Asking people to fill out a little form once in a while doesn't seem very totalitarian. Also, keep in mind that Pro was going to argue that this was not only totalitarian but that it is one of the more totalitarian things the government has done. Given some of the things that this government does as I mentioned in the last round, these questionnaires don't even compare. How totalitarian is the census compared to the extensive email monitoring our government has, or the video cameras that monitor citizens in public every day? The Census fine amount Even your own source states: "Section 3571 states that The $5,000.00 fine referenced in section 3571 is a post conviction fine that only applies to an individual who has been charged and convicted of a criminal infraction as defined in section 3559. Unless an individual has been charged and convicted of some criminal offense connected to the Census and the crime is classified as an infraction, this $5,000.00 fine does not apply. " [3] So the $5,000 fine is only for a criminal infraction charge connected with the Census in which an individual has been charged and convicted. Even if it was that high, it is imperative that information collected be accurate. Bad sampling can easily result in erroneous data. Also, filling out a census form will not do any harm to you and is not very difficult. I don't see why this is a problem at all. Benefits of the Census as a distraction to ask more information on the census My opponent is arguing that the government created programs like Medicare and Social Security so that it could ask more questions on the census. First off this was only presented as a claim and was never substantiated. So for all intents and purposes this is only an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory. These are programs that cost hundreds of billions of dollars every year and seem like an excessive effort for asking all these questions. The government could have tried justifying more information on the census in the name of national security. Keep in mind that the government already has extensive personal and financial information about Americans through income tax forms so how can a few census questions really help the government exert a lot of control over the populace? Creating these government programs to extend census forms is far too much effort for so few results. It is more likely that the government created these programs because they were popular, the people would more likely support politicians who gave them free money, or because these programs do some actual good for this nation. If I were a politician, these reasons, not the census, would make more sense when creating welfare or social security. Genocide because of Census data In our nation today, if there was a roundup there would be a lot of constraints because of the liberal mindset of most Americans. Torture and abuse would not be tolerated. Also "a new forms of torture and abuse" does not count as genocide. 1: . http://www.nytimes.com... 2: . http://upload.wikimedia.org... 3: . http://www.lewrockwell.com...