The possibilities of course are almost endless, but each group fears that its money and political influence will decline if the numbers do. For this reason the Census has become a primary source of America's regressive identity politics. The irony is that the broader body politic is moving away from rigid racial classifications even as the civic and political leadership digs in its heels, unable to free themselves of the monetary incentives of divisive racial categories. This needs to change. The Constitution requires a decennial count of the people for the express purpose of apportioning seats in Congress.
Racial classifications are, indeed, a legitimate interest for demographers and anthropologists.
And a large body of law depends on us having such information available. But tight reins should be kept on those who would exploit and manipulate Census data for political ends. The anti-sampling decision looks like a good place to start.