Patriot Act doesn't override confidentiality in Census, Justice Department says

[alp227]

Source: Ed O'Keefe, The Washington Post

Provisions of the USA Patriot Act that pertain to the gathering and sharing of information do not override federal confidentiality laws when it comes to the U.S. Census, the Justice Department said this week.

The clarification by government lawyers came at the request of minority lawmakers, who were seeking to allay the fears of constituents about the first national head count since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

In a letter sent Wednesday to the leaders of the congressional Asian Pacific, black and Hispanic caucuses, Assistant Attorney General Ronald H. Weich said that federal census laws trump the Patriot Act and will bar local, state or other federal agencies from obtaining information compiled by the count.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/04/AR2010030404867.html?nav=rss_politics

[Journeyman]

1. So they can review my library use, bug my computer without warrant. . .

and check through the books for my business for no reason other than suspicion I've sold something to someone swarthy, but the confidentially of my racial identification, the number of toilets I have indoors, and the lies I'm going to tell about my living arrangements are sacrosanct?

I suspect not.

[BP2]

2. Considering how the Patriot Act was recently renewed for one year, and could be strengthened by the

Pukes later, this is of little reassurance if/when the Pukes regain power in the near or distant future, wanting retribution on their political enemies. No amount or reassurance could ever make me trust a Puke in power. They change the rules as they see fit.

Don't get me wrong, I support the Census. However, this inspires little confidence that the Pukes couldn't use Census data to round up and intern citizens because they think a nationality or religion is linked to terrorism. :puke:

[Tunkamerica]

3. But does the Justice Dept. saying something really mean anything?

didn't the same lawyers say that torture was legal?

and even more importantly aren't they still maintaining that the Patriot Act is constitutional? I care little for Govt lawyers promises that the info is secret. Secret until they need it, or want it, or it accidentally ends up somewhere it's not supposed to be.

[DCKit]

12. They're telegraphing their intent to use the census to spy on U.S. citizens. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Mr Weich is at the DOJ and the DOJ says torture lawyers are

innocent. So Weich's word is the word of one who defends torture. His Department is corrupt and paid for, Holder is in bed with the Yoos and Bybees, so trust them if you wish.
Personally I think the Census will fail this time as you can not have a Police State that sends out such prying questions. To do that, people have to trust the government a bit. At this point, few do. To do so you have to trust Cheney and Yoo, as well as Obama and Holder and Gonzo. Do you know anyone who trusts all of those people?
Really, no position in life could be more morally questionable than being in the US DOJ. Did Weich approve of torturing kids in front of their parents, or only parents in front of their kids?

[ShortnFiery]

5. ...

Stop, you're cracking me up! :rofl:

[Toots]

6. Bull fucking shit

The Patriot Act overrides our US Constitution. If it can do that it can do any fucking thing it wants....

[Zorra]

8. Yep. I'm not buying it either. Under the Patriot Act, the census is confidential until

the corporations/government arbitrarily decide that it isn't.

[spotbird]

9. Exactly,

the claim is nonsense. They really think we're stupid.

I'll fill out the census, with the understanding that it is not private.

[Javaman]

7. See it works like this...

since the census has a direct effect on districting, aka politicians gaining or losing territory, it can't be fucked with.

So in summation, politicians are special, the rest of us can go fuck off. :)

Have a nice day, nothing to see here, it's just more of the 2 class system the politicians and the rest of us.

[Cronus Protagonist]

10. I always make "mistakes" on my census forms

In fact, last time I forgot to mail it in. Silly me.

[No Elephants]

11. Unfortunately, failing to mail it in has adverse consequences for your community.

You have to pick your poison.

Speedy renewal of the Patriot Act by a Democratic Congress for a Democratic Executive Branch while health care languishes.

Change.

[DCKit]

13. Mine's going to be doubly interesting this year. n/t

[lunatica]

14. Weighing the pros and cons

the pros win. But I'm biased because I passed the census test and they will be getting in touch with me for the training.

I feel like I'm doing something good for my country.