Government-Hating, Census-Abstaining Conservatives Only Hurting Themselves

The anti-government conservatives so angry at the government that they are refusing to fill out the Census are only hurting themselves.

Key example: While Texas is counting on the 2010 Census to deliver four new congressional districts, as of Friday afternoon, just 27% of Texas households had filled in and returned their census forms — well below the national average of 34%.

Polls show that Democrats are more likely to complete Census forms because they view it as “very important” to the country.  The poor showing in Texas is most prominent in the most Republican counties.

Texas is counting on the 2010 Census to deliver four new congressional districts, four new Electoral College votes in presidential elections, and millions of dollars in additional federal aid. But, as some elected officials are starting to worry, Uncle Sam can’t deliver anything to the rapidly growing Sun Belt state unless Texas residents deliver their forms back to the government.

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But Texas can only get those seats, and the congressional clout that comes with it, if Texans stand up to be counted. Any conservative revolt would only reduce the representation in conservative areas of the state, such as rural Texas and the outer rings of suburbs surrounding its largest cities…

What’s more, an under-count in Texas could cost the state more than just representation.

For every Texan missed, the state will lose an estimated $12,000 over the next decade in federal funding for transportation, agriculture, health, education, and housing, said Frances Deviney, director of Texas Kids Count, a nonpartisan group in Austin.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.