Census Sampling

Re your explanation of the census follow-up sampling controversy, Nov. 30: The stadium analogy can be criticized on the same grounds the federal government raised in refusing to adjust the 1990 census:

* The re-census would be marked by clerical and other errors from the first wrong name recorded in a notebook to the last misplaced digit entered into the computer.

* Those who’d been missed by the original census would be just as likely to be missed on the second go-around.

* The stadium rows chosen for reinspection may not be representative. A middle row is neither typical nor average.

* Additional sampling error due to the luck of the draw would make the post-census survey much less reliable or representative than the original census.

And what about the guys up on tightwad hill? Or those who left during the second quarter and went to watch hockey instead?

PHIL GOOD

Huntington Beach