What's the point

[Irving]

Do you imagine that without the census data that businesses would not be able to ascertain local market statistics? It sounds like you're describing traits of free markets as evidence of disappearing free markets.

[wctriumph]

What I mean is that if business knows every detail about the financial condition of a particular area, they will adjust pricing to take advantage of the income in that area. Maybe free market but I see it as a way for corporations to bleed the populace by adjusting pricing to take as much money out of a persons pocket as possible. Higher prices for consumer goods create a lack of available or discretionary cash in any given area and this limits travel and creates a captive population.

I shop at a certain place, or two, generally that are not where I live. However, in my choice of habitation for low rent, the stores in my area cater to a more affluent population base and pricing is higher for many goods. I try to do my shopping all at once and I will travel to get lower prices but most people will not for convenience sake. So I guess that in the end, people will make their own choices and therefore we have a free market. But it is a market that is being manipulated through the information collected in the census.

It is not collected for the good of the people. How do I know that? Because the politicians say it is for our own good.