In recent months, mayors in several large cities have lead widely publicized campaigns to increase the number of their citizens counted by the census, in the hope of increasing their share of federal aid and congressional representation. Such campaigns routinely appeal to ideals of civic duty, social responsibility, and the like. The odd thing is the degree to which local and national media play along with this nonsense, treating each such campaign as a noble and public-spirited cause.
Every extra head counted in New York means less money for Chicago.
If all of the politicians succeeded, by herculean efforts, in increasing their official populations by ten percent, the net effect would be zero, since the relative populations would be unchanged. It is tempting to put the media attitude down to cowardice and corruption, on the theory that no Chicago newspaper is eager to stick pins in Mayor Daley. Perhaps I just do not read enough papers.