The fundamental problem is that almost no one (outside of us data junkies) recognizes that data are infrastructure. Everyone expects the information to be there when needed, but gives no thought to how the data come into being--just like taking those sewers and roads for granted. Patty Becker At 01:56 PM 07/13/2006, you wrote: There sure are some statements in the announcement that should give us pause for consideration: "Noting that the Census Bureau is vulnerable to cuts to fund other popular programs, Rep. Wolf said, There is not a lobby downtown for the Census Bureau." "We are talking about funding cops, the war on drugs, homeland security, or $72 million more for the Bureau of the Census, Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) offered. To me that is a no-brainer: We fund Byrne grants, which every law enforcement official in America is pleading for. Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) called the choice a matter of priorities. Right now, we need more help on the streets with crime than we do in the Census Bureau." "The bureau said it would put off aligning the TIGER digital mapping system with GPS coordinates in all counties, a project currently scheduled for completion in 2008. New initiatives to reduce undercounts and overcounts in the 2010 census also would be compromised." Now that's a tough choice: should moneys be used to focus on fighting crime by fighting crime wherever you currently see it, or should moneys be used to improve the underlying databases that will help Organizations more efficiently deal with crime and dozens of other important topics of national and local immediate AND longer-range interest? Somebody sure needs to do a "truly comprehensive" long-term Cost/Benefit analysis of federal programs. Fundamentally, the problem seems to be that "data collection for multiple purposes" is just not a particularly exciting (or popular) topic, and there are very few vocal champions whom people are listening to--but that doesn't make it any less important to society. =============================== Patricia C. (Patty) Becker 248/354-6520 APB Associates/SEMCC FAX 248/354-6645 28300 Franklin Rd Home 248/355-2428 Southfield, MI 48034 pbecker(a)umich.edu