Who will benefit from AR-TPD “cost-savings”? |
Who will benefit from AR-TPD “cost-savings”?
Two or More: Mixed thoughts about the Census NAC
2013-03-24
Eric Hamako is one of 32 members of the Census Bureau’s National Advisory Committee (NAC) on Race, Ethnic, and Other Populations, 2012-2014. This blog is intended to 1) share updates and Eric’s perspectives on the NAC, 2) gather community perspectives, and 3) promote discussion about the Census Bureau as it relates to Multiracial people, the Two Or More Races (TOMR) population, and social justice.
Reflecting on the second NAC in-person meeting and a few brief discussions about the use of Administrative Records and Third Party Data (AR-TPD), I was reminded of an old saying, which I’ll paraphrase:
“There’s never been a time-saving device that’s created a minute of leisure.”**
My interpretation of that saying is this: Lots of technological advancements are advertised as doing menial work, so that we have more time for relaxing or doing more meaningful work. But that’s rarely what actually happens. For example, at my job, I have a computer and it’s frustratingly slow sometimes. In those moments, I think, “Gah! If only I had a faster computer, I could be done with this work faster!” And that’s true. But if I had a faster computer and finished my work faster, what would happen? Would my boss say, “You finished that right quick, guess you’re done for the day!”
Probably not…
Read the entire article here.
Tags: Eric Hamako, Two or More: Mixed thoughts about the Census NAC