Originally Posted by
TheDeathKnight
Because we live in a country that has a government. And laws. And that government does in fact *try* to make things better for the people who live here. Our government supplies us with police, schools, fire departments, unemployment, and theoretically, subsidized health insurance. Now yes, that information could be used for good, or for evil.
Let's say they get a good census list of all the illegal immigrants in CA. They could use that info to come up with better services for illegals, or to make it clear how bad the problem is, or they could use that info to deport people. You can't know for sure what the government will do. So I understand why people get paranoid. But my main point is this: You can either work with the system, which includes complaining about what does not work. Or you can reject the system, and go live someplace else. I just wish people who dislike things about America would work to make those things better, and participate, by voting, being politically active, etc.
I get a little frustrated that all the "free thinkers" I know who live on the extremes of society, are the ones who don't vote. But old conservative grandmas come out in droves to vote. Just because some people have bad experiences with cops, or with paying taxes, or with wars, they get this anti-government attitude. Just because the current government is doing stupid shit right now, doesn't mean it has to be that way forever. Things can change.
And yes, if you see things changing for the worse, and you see people getting rounded up for concentration camps, then you can start hiding in the woods, and not trusting the government. But until then, I think it's overkill of paranoia to think the government has only bad intentions.
Like I mentioned, one thing they already learned from the census, is how many people are now living in homes with multiple people, due to the economy. So that's useful info to help the government realize that people are suffering. So that they do something about it. If they see on the census that 25% of people over age 30 are back living at home with their parents, that says something about the economy. I made up that statistic, but that's the general idea. Or if the census shows that 25% of hispanic immigrants are making over $100k per year or something like that, then they might realize that they aren't all just gardeners and dish-washers, and the government might start catering to minorities.
And my comment about Iraq and Viet Nam, was just about the idea that if things ever did get really bad, like Nazi bad, or Iraq bad in America, that if you are a vocal anti-government person, who hides, you will be targeted. If you are a helpful and productive American, you will slip under the radar. My point being that you can't fight the US government toe to toe. You will lose.
But if you want to live off the grid, or you hate America, or hate the government, then why not just go live elsewhere? Like if I was living in Iraq, and hated it, I would probably leave. And yes, America is not bad at all, in comparison. So my point is that people should try to work *with* the government, to make America better, rather than hating it and not participating in things like the census, etc.
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