Federal Census Sampling

I agree with your Aug. 13 editorial, “Showdown in Census Feud,” but it did not go far enough in emphasizing the importance of an accurate census count to Los Angeles. Ensuring a fair census count is the most important civil rights issue before us today. As a result of being undercounted 10 years ago, Los Angeles has lost more than $100 million in state and federal funds. The funds that were lost would provide critical services such as health care and children’s services among others.

The impact of an inaccurate census falls disproportionately on the backs of minority communities, new immigrants and the economically disadvantaged--groups that are concentrated in big cities such as Los Angeles. These groups--as Newt Gingrich has clearly recognized--tend to vote for Democrats, and for that reason he is choosing to sacrifice the rights of the residents of our city for the sake of partisan politics.

Statistical sampling--a process endorsed by the General Accounting Office--will ensure that the census is accurate.

To ensure that sampling is part of the next census, I filed suit on behalf of the residents of Los Angeles in federal court to derail Gingrich’s efforts to have the sampling process thrown out. Possibly because he was afraid that we will prevail in court, the speaker has now tried to kill sampling through the back door by denying the census funds if sampling is included. Fairness and accuracy--not partisan politics--should be the ultimate goal of the census.

JAMES K. HAHN

L.A. City Attorney

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How does one know if there are under- or over-counts? Statistics, of course. The errors are manufactured; they compare the statistical sample with the actual count! Mark Twain said that there are lies, damn lies and statistics. No wonder it is the party of Clinton that wants to trade actual numbers for either.

Next, will we see them make this nonissue prominent for voting? “Let’s see, I think that statistically Mr. Busse would vote for. . . .” Just another thing the government can do for me to make my life easier. Saves paper too! Anyone who buys into imaginary counting is either stupid, over-educated for his intelligence, or both!

JIM BUSSE

Rancho Palos Verdes