The Green Party decided that it would oppose, then dropped the idea of a boycott of the 2011 census because of the involvement of US Arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin. As Libertarians there is absolutely no justification to hand over our personal Data to a centralised State for 'planning purposes'.
Ten Census lies from the ONS
The propaganda push for the 2011 census has begun. NO2ID opposes this census because it represents the worst features of database state, the insatiable desire for ever more information, and the presumption that official purposes override privacy.
Here are the ten worst lies you will be told in the coming weeks:
1. The Census is essential for government and business planning
On the contrary, it is worse than useless because it is expensive, inaccurate, and quickly out of date.2. Our Census data is trusted and respected worldwide
Even were this true, should we care? Most countries do have some sort of census, but would being respected at doing something essentially useless be worth more than £300 millio.3. It's a great source for genealogy
100 or 200 years ago there was little record of most people's lives, and old censuses may be the only documents available. It is ludicrous to assume the same will apply in 100 years time, and outrageous to suggest it justifies spending public money.4. It's 'good for employment', it provides jobs.
Temporary ones, Yet the money spent would otherwise be spent on something — probably something useful involving permanent jobs.5. Census data is confidential for 100 years.
Not any more. Census forms are kept from the public for 100 years. But EU legislation allows the 2011 census to be shared with all 27 member states, and the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 created powers to share the information with public bodies, and "approved researchers".6. The census results in high-quality information.
No one knows how many people lie in their return. The 2001 census is generally believed to have 'missed' around 900,000 men under 40.7. Everyone should be proud of playing their part in the census.
There is no reason to be proud of being tallied like cattle. There is every reason to oppose the waste and the intrusion. There is a long history of public resentment of the census.In the 1800s census officers had to be given police protection; in 1911 the suffragettes boycotted it in protest; and in the 50s TV publicity told people it wasn't "another bit of snooping"
8. Communities can use census statistics to help gain recognition.
Whether a group is "officially recognised" is a political decision, not the same as individuals being located and categorised. 390,127 people recorded their religion as Jedi in 2001; they have yet to be officially recognised. More seriously, the Board of Deputies says the census underestimates British Jews, precisely because some of that community are nervous of officials knowing where they live.9. Completing the census is straightforward, convenient and secure.
New questions are more intrusive than ever before, requiring details of employer's addresses, the details of any visitors to your house, and where they usually live. This is a direct danger to people who have sensitive occupations. The online version is a perfect cover for phishing attacks.10. Your personal information is protected
Security is only as good as the shortest route to breaking it. Thousands of people will be involved, large commercial contractors and government agencies will process it, and the law newly provides that the data may be accessed for a variety of reasons, not just for making a statistical summary.It cannot be guaranteed there won't be a security breach, or that data once captured will be used legitimately.
They cannot protect it; they shouldn't collect it.
H/T NO2ID
The Suffragettes boycotted the 1901 census, the Jedi knights became one of the fastest growing religions of all times in 2001. The State has no need to know my religious leanings, how many bedrooms I have and what my ethnic background is, I am sure they know this information already.
4 comments:
perhaps the LPUK, No2ID and Bigbrother Watch, amongst other libertarian leaning organistations could formulate a sort of block answer for people to put down to skew the whole thing ?
I think we need some fake tattoo lick on barcodes (forearm), so when they come a-knocking, we present it and say "scan here".
How about that for a campaign?
Remember after the last census when bin-bags containing completed census forms where found dumped in some alleyway in London? No way am I filling in a census form; the Government has no need to know where I work, how many bedrooms I have, or if I am in a civil partnership. The Government has to prove itself to ME; NOT the other way round!
Looking through the form, I was left wondering how I should put my Grandmother (who I live with and care for) down for in terms of past employment. Due to her age and mental state, she can't remember when she left her last job. I don't have the means to find out, but I'm sure the Department for Work and Pensions knows the details...
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