One Plus One Equal Three?

Will the 2010 Census be the biggest Quid Pro Quo in the history of the United States?

In 2010 the U.S. will conduct the next census, just as it has done since 1790.  The original census was conducted by U.S. Marshalls.

In 1902, Congress established the Census Bureau as a permanent Federal agency.

By law enacted on October 5, 1978, census records are sealed for 72 years.
Article I, Section 2 of the US Constitution states: "The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of the-years, in such manner as they shall by law direct."

The Congress, by law directed that: "The Secretary of Commerce shall perform the functions and duties imposed upon him by this title, and may issue such rules and regulations as he deems necessary to carry out such functions and duties, and may delegate the performance of such functions and duties and the authority to issue such rules and regulations to such officers and employees of the Department of Commerce as he may designate." 

The way I interpret it the Director of the Census must, by law, be within the Department of Commerce and under the direction of the Secretary of Commerce, who then reports to the President.  Is there something I'm not understanding?  What am I missing here?  I believe it is straightforward.

It is a simple process.  The Bureau of the Census under the direction of the Secretary of Commerce counts every living person in the United States, reports its totals to the Secretary to establish the accurate count for election and Congressional districts. Then locks up the results for 72-years. Based on the count Congressional Districts may be re-proportioned.

However, a wrong or manipulated count could lead to gerrymandering. Now for the first time in the history of the U.S. the administration plans to bypass the Commerce Department and have the Census Bureau report directly to the White House.  This is in direct violation of the law and may be unconstitutional.

The director of the Census Bureau will report directly to the White House and not the Secretary of Commerce, according to a senior White House official. The decision came after black and Hispanic leaders raised questions about Commerce Secretary Nominee Judd Gregg's commitment to funding the census.
 
The real question now is who will conduct the count.  Will it be the Census Bureau or will it be the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (A.C.O.R.N.).  If it is A.C.O.R.N. will the count be as accurate as their handling of voter registration.  Will we see names and addresses taken from the telephone directories or newspaper obituary columns as we did during the election?   Will Mr. & Mrs. Mickey Mouse be counted in Orlando along with their cousins Donald and Daisy and their dog Pluto?

However, the questions remain.

Will gerrymandering be the operative word in the 2012 election?

Will this be the biggest Quid Pro Quo in political history? Will one plus one equal three.

And, that is my opinion.

Michael Solomon

Author of "Where Did My America Go?"

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