# Right-wing media fearmongering taken to its logical end **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 24, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310 "2009-09-24T00:09:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/121 "2009-09-25T20:09:19Z")
> [@CyclopticXander](#): > > So basically you want to respond to this paranoia about the government becoming too intrusive by having the government revoke broadcast rights to certain conservatives. That’s really going to help. No, I want the public airwaves to be used in a manner that, at least by some reasonable measure, serves the public interest. > [@](#): > > Seriously, this would never ever work. Well, I confess to being an idealist. > [@](#): > > Even the example you gave isn’t something that could be definitively proven to be an incontrovertible fact. What commission can go in and objectively discover whether or not any members of ACORN were considering that kind of debauchery? Would you interview everyone involved about their motives? What would it _matter?_ I mean, suppose I wanted to start WWIII - does it mean I _can_?? ACORN’s intent is irrelevant here: the Census just isn’t handing over the keys to the joint to their 80,000 ‘partners.’ > [@](#): > > Are the conservatives going to be convinced by the results of your government fact review? No fucking way. Just because there’s no way of convincing a crazy person, doesn’t mean the crazy person has to be humored by the rest of society. Speaking of which, gotta run, pleasure talking with you. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/122 "2009-09-25T20:10:14Z")
Just so I understand: why is the American right-wing opposed to censuses? It’s done in pretty much every country. > [@Broomstick](#): > > You’re welcome. As a fieldworker in Gary, Indiana it did cause me significant concern as that was not a hypothetical question - we were explicitly told we probably WOULD witness illegal things and that, as government employees, we would be seen as threatening. Never mind the drug dealers: what if you witnessed a man keeping underage sexual slaves, or something of the sort? And you’re not allowed to inform the police because of confidentiality reasons (which I definitely understand and support). What do you do in such a case? I guess this is the sort of work that’s not for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/123 "2009-09-25T20:22:58Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > Just so I understand: why is the American right-wing opposed to censuses? It’s done in pretty much every country. It has to do with the way Congressional districts are apportioned. [Here’s a piece](http://www.politicususa.com/en/Bachmann-Census-Madness) that explains some of it, and the reasoning behind Michele Bachmann’s fearmongering in particular. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/124 "2009-09-25T20:24:49Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > That’s… weird. Of all the things to rebel against in the modern federal government, the census is actually one of the things that’s legal and constitutional. If you were going to make a statement, you could’ve picked a better one. Hey, it’s Kentucky. He probably got too close to a moonshine still. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/125 "2009-09-25T20:43:15Z")
I worked this area of the country back in 1990 as a census taker. It was sometimes very scary, and twice I had guns pointed at me and was ordered to “GIT!” dozens of times. Guess things got worse. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/126 "2009-09-25T21:02:31Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > Just so I understand: why is the American right-wing opposed to censuses? It’s done in pretty much every country. The extreme American right wing nucking futs, m’kay? They’re afraid someone is _looking at them_. The irony is, they’re also typically the ones wanting to regulate what people do in the bedroom - you know, _looking at people_ during private and intimate moments. > [@](#): > > Never mind the drug dealers: what if you witnessed a man keeping underage sexual slaves, or something of the sort? And you’re not allowed to inform the police because of confidentiality reasons (which I definitely understand and support). What do you do in such a case? I guess this is the sort of work that’s not for everyone. In that case you would inform your supervisor that said activity was going on. I’m not sure what mechanism there is for relaying that information, but I _do_ know there are liaisons with local law enforcement, politicians, and community groups to help facilitate the Census. There is also the catch that you can’t divulge information obtain _during Census work_. If you observe such goings on during your off hours or before or after your Census assignment you are, of course, permitted to act as any other concerned citizen. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/127 "2009-09-25T21:27:39Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > The extreme American right wing nucking futs, m’kay? They’re afraid someone is _looking at them_. The irony is, they’re also typically the ones wanting to regulate what people do in the bedroom - you know, _looking at people_ during private and intimate moments. This seems a good place to link to [this recent post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11594551&postcount=20), which seems to fit the bill pretty well. “You shouldn’t be watching me, because _I_ know _I’m_ okay. But we should be watching _you_, because _I_ don’t think you’re okay.” ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/128 "2009-09-26T02:29:18Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > It looks like the moonbat libs may (and I stress, _may_) have gotten themselves all riled up over nothing with this story. According to this blog (yes, I know…a blog. But in this case it appears to be affiliated with the Washington Post): > > _Kentucky state **police have not ruled out the possibility that the death was a suicide** or even that it was accidental, according to police spokesman Don Trosper._ > \* > Trosper said the **initial AP story** on the death **contains “flaws and errors.”** That means it’s possible that the AP’s claim, based on an anonymous source, that he had **the word “fed” scrawled on his chest could be false**.\* > > [http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/uncategorized/suicide-not-ruled-out-for-dead-census-worker-he-was-in-contact-with-the-ground/](http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/uncategorized/suicide-not-ruled-out-for-dead-census-worker-he-was-in-contact-with-the-ground/) [The guy who found the body has spoken, and it looks pretty bad.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090926/ap_on_re_us/us_census_worker_hanged) Hard to commit suicide when your arms and feet were bound and you were gagged. > [@](#): > > The scene left Weaver without a doubt how Sparkman died. > > “He was murdered,” he said. “There’s no doubt.” ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/129 "2009-09-26T02:33:55Z")
For some it is in doubt. He was hung, had Fed on his chest and duct taped his own feet and hands. The only conclusion possible was that it was a very determined suicide. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/130 "2009-09-26T03:05:32Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > It looks like the moonbat libs may (and I stress, _may_) have gotten themselves all riled up over nothing with this story. According to this blog (yes, I know…a blog. But in this case it appears to be affiliated with the Washington Post): > > _Kentucky state **police have not ruled out the possibility that the death was a suicide** or even that it was accidental, according to police spokesman Don Trosper._ > \* > Trosper said the **initial AP story** on the death **contains “flaws and errors.”** That means it’s possible that the AP’s claim, based on an anonymous source, that he had **the word “fed” scrawled on his chest could be false**.\* > > [http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/uncategorized/suicide-not-ruled-out-for-dead-census-worker-he-was-in-contact-with-the-ground/](http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/uncategorized/suicide-not-ruled-out-for-dead-census-worker-he-was-in-contact-with-the-ground/) [Coroner Confirms “Fed” Written On Sparkman’s Chest](http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/coroner_confirms_fed_written_on_sparkmans_chest.php) Looks like us “moonbat libs” were right about something. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/131 "2009-09-26T03:07:03Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Interview with Neiwert.](http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/140578) Interesting. Thing is, if there is any merit to the idea that eliminationism will make the leap from entertainment to reality in America, it’s proponents are deluded regarding their chances for success. I have brains enough to make ‘Never start a shooting-war’ one of my primary precepts. And eliminationism would never take hold in my neighborhood. If it broke out elsewhere, it’d be destroyed. Don’t kid yourself. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/132 "2009-09-26T04:13:00Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > Just so I understand: why is the American right-wing opposed to censuses? It’s done in pretty much every country. Any number of reasons come to mind. First of all, bringing your whole family to your oldest ancestor’s home town is a bitch, especially during the holidays. And if another baby Jesus gets borned, you just _know_ he’d be the AntiChrist. Can’t be havin’ with that. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/133 "2009-09-26T04:22:17Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > It’s not really the speculating that bugs me. It’s the fact that every single one of the right wing knuckledraggers on this forum will come to or back to this thread to claim that “SEE! You accuse us of X!” They’ll pull it up even _years_ from now in order to say how biased and kneejerk teh libruls are. Uh, isn’t this a 180 from your stance in the hysterical rightwing shadow government thread in GD? ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/134 "2009-09-26T04:32:45Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > By the way - Census workers who observe illegal activity while performing their duties are actually NOT allowed to report those activities. We were specifically told to just get the hell away and report to our Census supervisors, but NOT to report it ourselves. The penalty for revealing information you obtain while performing Census duties is $250,000 + jail time. Do you have a cite for that? If you saw a child rape in progress, and reported it, you’d face $250,000 plus jail time? I seriously doubt the that law is written the way you think it is. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/135 "2009-09-26T04:56:39Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Interesting. Thing is, if there is any merit to the idea that eliminationism will make the leap from entertainment to reality in America, it’s proponents are deluded regarding their chances for success. I have brains enough to make ‘Never start a shooting-war’ one of my primary precepts. And eliminationism would never take hold in my neighborhood. If it broke out elsewhere, it’d be destroyed. Don’t kid yourself. > **[The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monsters_Are_Due_on_Maple_Street)** > > "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" is the 22nd episode in the first season of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. The episode was written by Rod Serling, the creator-narrator of the series. It originally aired on March 4, 1960, on CBS. In 2009, TIME named it one of the ten best Twilight Zone episodes. > Maple Street, U.S.A., late summer. A tree-lined little world of front porch gliders, barbecues, the laughter of children, and the bell of an ice cream vendor. At the ... ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/136 "2009-09-26T05:12:32Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > Do you have a cite for that? If you saw a child rape in progress, and reported it, you’d face $250,000 plus jail time? I seriously doubt the that law is written the way you think it is. It is. Title 13 of the United States Code specifically prohibits disclosure of personally identifiable information, which includes address. [Here is the relevant cite](http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode13/usc_sec_13_00000009----000-.html). The Census Bureau takes that pretty seriously. That being said, I am reasonably sure the government would decline to prosecute a census worker for reporting an emergent situation, such as an assault in progress, or a house fire. I can find out for sure and re-post. Non-emergent situations, such as seeing evidence of drugs in a house, would likely result in the worker being prosecuted. We’re census workers, not a branch of law enforcement. I’d give a cite, but I can’t cite a judgment call. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/137 "2009-09-26T05:21:52Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > Just so I understand: why is the American right-wing opposed to censuses? It’s done in pretty much every country. You’d be surprised. I’ve posted some of the things I heard upthread. A lot of it really is wingnuttery; these people really don’t understand that if the gubmint wants them, the gubmint already knows where they are. Hell, I’ve seen the 2010 questionnaire, and Americans are required to give more personal information on their tax return forms, yet that doesn’t occur to these people. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/138 "2009-09-26T06:39:29Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Interesting. Thing is, if there is any merit to the idea that eliminationism will make the leap from entertainment to reality in America, it’s proponents are deluded regarding their chances for success. Of course they are. The danger is not a RW revolution, the danger is the damage that might be done by the likes of Timothy McVeigh. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/139 "2009-09-26T10:58:16Z")
But these guys don’t want to do their taxes either! Geez. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310/140 "2009-09-26T11:18:35Z")
Maybe they don’t want to do their taxes, but Uncle Sam has ways of making them comply if they don’t. Any way you slice it, a lot of the anti-Census sentiment is simply people repeating what they hear from the right-wing echo chamber. Most of the time, it’s mildly amusing. It’s sad that someone took it a little too seriously. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-media-fearmongering-taken-to-its-logical-end/511310.md?page=8)