Don't allow census sampling to count

Very quietly and far in the shadows of the national spotlight, $185 billion in federal money for social programs will be divided this coming week based on numbers from the 2000 census. The Democratic party - at the request of minorities and inner-city residents - is working behind the scenes to urge the census bureau to change their mind and allow sampling numbers instead of the actual population count to divide this money.

Rural America will take it on the chin if this politically-motivated move is permitted. But unfortunately we non-city residents stand by quietly and allow the urban interest to pick our pockets because of their stupidity and lack of participation in the census. We should be outraged that the national Democrat party abandons their roots in rural America to woo support from their new national base in the inner-cities.

The census bureau and a host of national organizations have consistently said the actual headcount in the 2000 census was the most accurate in history. On the basis of those numbers, the federal government distributes billions in social services money. But minorities have often ignored the census requests and therefore represent an undercount. Now the Democrats want to send more money to the cities despite this lack of participation. How ridiculous!

By Wednesday, the census bureau will make their final decision on the federal money flow. If those who chose not to participate in the census are rewarded with more money, our system will have failed miserably. Since when do we reward irresponsibility?

I have faith that the census bureau will stick with their original decision and use the accurate and actual count. But rest assured, the lobbying from urban interests will be intense in the coming days. We rural residents need to keep this in mind come election time. I can't help but wonder what Sen. Jean Carnahan's position is on this issue. Is she swallowing her party line and advocating the sampling or is she representing the interests of Missouri and supporting the actual count?

Like the voting fiasco last November, we have begun to accept the notion that some in our society have difficulty following simple instructions. Yet to turn around and reward that population with additional federal dollars seems to send the wrong message. All Americans should be held to the same standard. To allow census sampling is wrong.