OCR Text |
Show Signpost Viewpoint Census or censor: FRICTION. We won't fill out the census but we'll Facebook our lives Recently, the United States business and she won't disclose it. Census Bureau blasted Americans Questions relating to household with advertisements on television, incomes and commuting times radio and tangible ad campaigns are intrusive, according to Sixth encouraging involvement with the District congresswoman Rep. 2010 Census. The excuses for not Michele Bachmann. becoming involved in reporting "These are very intricate key demographic information questions that are being asked of range fromillegal immigrants the American people, and I think it's or criminals concerned about time as a lawmaker that we come their information being divulged together and start looking out for to law enforcement all the way the American individual and their to,those who simply don't think privacy rights as well," she said. the government should be It is interesting that Americans given access to their personal complain about their privacy information. Oddly enough, rights only if they feel compelled there is a paradox when it by government agencies to reveal comes to divulging even more information, such as commuting personal details liberally on social times or household income, but networking sites. feel comfortable tweeting about the sweet new six-figure job they A Web site known as landed, or how much of a drag the Pleaserobme.com recently quit commute home is on the World posting Tweets and other status Wide Web via a social networking updates from social networking site or blog. sites after they felt they received sufficient exposure for their On the U.S. Census Bureau Web cause. The site highlighted oversite the concerns of respondents sharing and location awareness of are addressed, and it is even noted social networkers who freely post that after key legislation was r their current Global Positioning "passed in Title ^3 of the United System (GPS) coordinates and the States Code, per^)nal information exact time they left their home will not be disclosed for 72 years unattended. The purpose of and will not be shared with other Pleaserobme.com is, as stated on government agencies, such as the the site, "to raise some awareness courts or police, until 72 years later. on this issue and have people think , Filling out a 10-question census about how they use services like form takes 10 minutes or less and Foursquaredgrightkite, Google can provide multiple benefits to Buzz etc. Because all this site is, the community. According to the is a dressed up Twitter search U.S. Census Bureau, more than page. Everybody can get this vc -' < $400 billion is disseminated to information." locaj^tate and tribal governments based on census data. Benefits The U.S. Census Bureau attempts to resolve concerns about of returning this data include determining the number of seats privacy, but public attention from each state will have in the U.S. high-standing public officials and House of Representatives or the talk show hosts aren't helping the allocation of federal funds for Bureau's cause. community services, including "It is suspected, however, school lunch programs and senior that concerns about privacy and citizen centers. It would also confidentiality are gaining more contribute to costs associated with attention and may affect people's new construction for highways and willingness to cooperate with the hospitals. censuses and surveys the Census Bureau conducts," said a statement Are we willing to risk future on the U.S. Census Web site. funding for our local community Even government officials who or state based solely on the pride represent the public don't desire of when and where we decide to to fully disclose demographic disclose our information? National information. A Minnesota Census Day is April 1. Let's not be congresswoman recently told April fools by not obeying the law Minneapolis' Star Tribune that and filling out census forms. her personal information given to Comment on this column at her by the government is her own wsusignpost.com. ^ Frances Kelsey | Managing Editor Gina Barker lebauer litbr *" -EricJensen ,,. Editor KLviser ice Afanager • ShayLynne Clark 626-7121 626-7614 626-7655 626-7983 126-6358 626-7621 Allison Hess ^ > 626-8526 S59 Georgia Edwards 626-7974 moe 626-7624 -Vie Signpost is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during fall and spring semesters. Subscription is S18 a semester. First newspaper copy free, each additional copy $0.50. -The Signpost is a student publication, written, edited, and drafted by Weber State University students. Student fees fund the printing of this publication. Opinions or positions voiced are not necessarily endorsed by the university. The Signpost welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include name, address, telephone number, relationship to staff, and the writer's signature. -The Signpost reserves the right to edit for reasons of space and libel and also reserves the right to refuse to print any letter. Letters should not exceed 350 words. Bring letters to the editorial office in the Student Union 401, or mail to: The Signpost, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah 84408-2110. Attn: Frances Kelsey. E-mail thesignpost@weber.edu A bit of common sense Some big government perspective Gina Barker • Signpost columnist Health care legislation has passed. It wasn't bipartisan, and a lot of House members went home angry on a big issue, but it happened. Since Monday morning, 13 states, including Utah, filed a lawsuit against the health care bill in hopes that the courts will find the bill unconstitutional. They're fighting big government. But every time the argument against big government arises, obvious flaws are continually ignored! The American military is the largest in the world, with interests (and bases) around the globe. Spending just under $700 billion on the military every year, the United States alone accounts for nearly half of all global spending on military forces. That's huge government. If the argument against big government regarding health care should be considered valid, then cutbacks to military programs should also be on protestors' agenda. After all, it carries power and clout that surpasses any other government-funded program several times over. Americans may have gotten used to a military that stretches from Tokyo to IXirkey, but that doesn't mean it's not big government. Conservative values often _pair up with military support, where liberal values tend to pair up with social programs. We don't see many conservatives protesting the military because conservatives see value in it. Our nation is protected, we serve other nations, we bring freedom; these arguments are all still supporting a government program, and not just in America but in countries around the world. President Barack Obama greets the audience after speaking about the health care reform bill, Tuesday, March 23, 2010, in Washington. There shouldn't be any picking or choosing what constitutes "OK big government." Are we supposed to accept that big military is OK, and that nothing else should receive significant funding? Simple reform stirs fears of a hostile take-over of health care, that people will lose all rights to choose what kind of coverage they want. If there is a fear of what health care reform means and a slippery slope that leads to some communist ideology, where is the fear of our big military? Where is the outrage on military spending affecting the deficit? Health care reform hits a nerve because it is personal. People want to know their doctor is still their doctor, and reform won't change that. This reform will not tell Americans what to do, how to be treated or how to be healthy. That's not the bill. There needs to be a division between what is reasonable and what is not. It is reasonable not to agree with health care legislation. It is not reasonable to say the government will begin to kill off seniors or claim we are now a socialist society for having social programs. Legislators should not be attacked as "baby killers" for passing a bill. This health care law is a social; service meant to provide millions^ in' this country with affordable insurance. There are few out there" that would argue the system in place, doesn't work for many Americans, tA 19-year-old recovering from" leukemia shouldn't have to worry*' that once their parents' coverage is up, their pre-existing condition would make it impossible to find a decent plan. Families in California shouldn't have to worry about the next big hike on insurance prices. A person shouldn't be tied to a bad job because of a decent health care package. We can do better than that. Reform might just be the first big step in the right direction, but that doesn't mean we have to view any reform as big, bad government. Health care reform was needed, in whatever capacity it happened. Maybe it's time to see how government can work for us; That is the point at the end of the day, and that's the point of this bill. Government is for us and not the other way around, but it has to be for all of us. Comment on this column at wsusignpost.com. Online Comments: In response to 'Right Again: The ethical question of Kevin Gam': Michael, you should check your Utah laws a bit more. Under Utah code 76-5a-3 (Sexual exploitation of a minor) it is a second-degree felony to have a minor sexually gratify a person 10 years or older (non-intercourse included.) Those are the facts, and I hope that helps you realize that he did commit an illegal act. - Brandon Keller posted on 3/22/10 © 9:52 p.m. For those that point a finger at the woman, she was a "child." He was a married man old enough to know better. He was also her employer and ^prmer Sunday school teacher. If he had been caught he would be on a sexoffenders list. He would have not become the majority leader of a state legislature. This paragon of virtue also had a DUI coverup going for him, as the pack stands together to protect their own. No wonder he thought he could get away with his mistakes. And who would stand up for her? Certainly not the author of this one-sided editorial. She was screwed whether he touched her or not. He is NOW paying for his youthful "indiscretion." She has been paying for it since the day it happened 25 years ago. - Caril Jennings posted on 3/32/10 @ 10:24 a.m. Letters to the editor are edited for formatting, libel and language onl)C • - ' . - . ' . ; t • • ' |