Re: religion and the state down under

["Alan G. Isaac" <aisaac@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 17 May 2001, Bill Mitchell wrote:
> a small tampering with the population census will not achieve a
> regime shift.  but it will affect the robustness of the database
> upon which research is based. research on census data is often used
> to show that the policies that most harm the disadvantaged are
> misplaced. also in general I prefer data to be as pure as it can be.
> the census is our only chance to get a population rather than a
> sample. information is a prerequisite to freedom.  if we contaminate
> it thinking we are "getting back at something" then we probably just
> punch ourselves. like the rioters who burn their own neighbourhood
> down rather than the ruling class houses.

Bill,
I agree with your general point.  During the last US census,
conservative Republicans were discouraging full census responses
citing privacy concerns, but it seemed to be an effort to reduce
the documentation of poverty related measures.  However on this
specific (claiming a Jedi religion), I have to side with the
rebels.
Alan