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It happens every 10 years

Posted: Mar 17, 2010

Why do I find the census an invasion of privacy...

Why do I find the census almost non-relevant...

First of all, it will take me more than 10 minutes to complete because I have to call them to verify why they say not to include college students when they include as a category under each person if this person resides at college. If I'm not supposed to include them as living here, why would "in college housing" be an option to choose under person number whatever?

And makes no sense to me because my daughter graduates from college in another city in 2 months and will be returning. So... if she's counted in her college city, it will not be relevant because she will be living here soon. So what's the point of counting her there and not here? And for all intents and purposes, she could be living even somewhere else depending on job opportunities. I just don't get it.

Why do they need my name and phone number? I can understand demographics and age, but my name is none of their business.

As is if one of the people who live in my house is an "unmarried partner."

All info is confidential under privacy acts etc., and not available to public for 72 years, but what if I don't want my private residential info to be available AT ALL OR EVER??? And if it is confidential, why do I have to even give it?

IMO only number of people living here and age/race demographics are necessasry. Maybe not even race...

I know some may call me paranoid, but I prefer to be called private. I have nothing to hide, no live-in unmarried partners, etc., but Big Brother annoys me. Not to mention the fact that these days we live in a pretty transient world with loss of jobs everywhere and people who may not be living in a home tomorrow because of foreclosure, etc.

What is the point? ...maybe they should do the census every 2 years... in this economic environment... no... because then I'd go into Census Frenzy every 2 instead of 10.

;

I agree, so, are you going to fill in your name, - census 2010

[ In Reply To ..]
Tel # and birth date?

They state that they need the tel # in case "they do not understand an answer!"
I doubt that this is the reason.

I don't think so - census-challenged

[ In Reply To ..]
Don't know why, but I posted something that didn't show up.

Anyhow, I won't give my name on census. PO and IRS has all that anyhow.

In short, if they want to come to my door at the taxpayer's expense, so be it. I'm a taxpayer and I guess I'm pro-actively saying where my dollars are going.

The US Constitution provides for a census, but does not stipulate personal information.

Census info is for congressional delegation, but congressional district line-drawing has been a political dispute for some time where poplulation makes no difference, but I don't want to go there (politics) here.

I know the US Gov has a lot on its plate, but an updated form of census taking should be looked into.

I heard there is a fine - see message

[ In Reply To ..]
if you don't fill it in and send it in. I was thing of putting "me" and "him" under the names. LOL Also wanted to get out my crayons and draw pictures all over it and fill in those boxes that say "for official use only". Oh I could have so much fun with this. However, fear will get the better of me and I will be a good little doobie and fill in it. After all, they can get the info from DMV and IRS anyway. The phone number though? Not sure about that one. I will make sure I fill in everything very clear so they won't misunderstand anything. There is only me and DH here, so it's really a no-brainer for me. But really...they do not need my phone number if everything is straight up. I get enough soliciting calls through the day as it is.

HA!! Don't give me any ideas LOL - census-challenged

[ In Reply To ..]
Actually the fine is up to $5000, "but rarely enforced."

I LOVE the crayon idea... but they say only use black or blue pen. If my black and blue run out of ink (like who uses a pen anymore anyhow???), I might have no choice but to resort to my white ink. ;-)

it is stated that for every question not answered - fines

[ In Reply To ..]
a fine of $ 100.-- is levied, to a maximum of $ 5,000.--, but it is "rarely' enforced.

I have another question:
Assume I do not fill out the form and do not send it in.
Then, between May and July, so they state, they will send a census clerk to my door and I will have to give my answers in persom, and it might be possible that the questions will be more detailed.

Who on earth can FORCE me to even open my door??
This person will be a STRANGER to me and might even be an imposter or a thief, and I do not even have to open my door!

If I open my door I have, before letting him into my house, or answer his questions, first to verify that he is a legitimate census- taker clerk, ask for his badge etc....,and even this badge might be a fake.
We live in very dangerous times!

This census is voluntarily and they try to FORCE us to participate.

Don't they have other means to COUNT the residents?

I have my doubts, but, as I have nothing to hide and I certainly want to avoid to be "fined" or that a legit (or maybe not so legit) clerk knocks at my door between May till July, I will act like a "sheep," fill out all the questions, mail it and have peace of mind (at least I hope so, having done my "duties").

There is something that would really interest me:
What is hidden on this Bar code above our address that has to be inserted in a way that is peeps through the envelope, instead of our address?

The mysterious barcode... - seriously...sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Gimme a break here...sheesh! Paranoia big destroyer, remember? You people act like they're wanting a sample of your DNA and your first born child for Pete's sake...Yes, I'm sure this Census is actually a huge conspiracy to brainwash everyone in some way...geeze louise I've never seen such Paranoid Penelopes in my whole life...

I have to agree with that. sm - deb

[ In Reply To ..]
The census form is probably the least invasive piece of paper I have ever filled out in my life. If you're so terrified of a stranger coming to your door, fill the danged thing in and mail it! Geez! You are SO overreacting!

THAT'S WHAT I SAID IN MY POST - can you read?

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Oh my word, she was just agreeing with you. - Good grief. NM

[ In Reply To ..]
NM

No, she agreed with"seriously" who had a hysterical fit reading my post - fines, can you read?

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

what's wrong with you? What a hysterical post, CALM DOWN - what the heck!

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Interesting video about this - just me

[ In Reply To ..]
I love Judge Napolitano and he is talking to Professor Williams about this. I didn't realize there were different variations of the census. It's an interesting watch, and if you don't like Fox am sorry, just thought this was interesting, so please bear with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=matl8i9kc7w

This is absolutely hysterical - just me2

[ In Reply To ..]
I have been busting up laughing at all these responses. They are quite funny.

http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message789069/pg2

Census - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Wow...it seems that you're putting a lot of effort into being afraid of filling out your Census...a lot more effort than it actually takes to complete it. It's asking for name, age, sex, and race...nothing that they can't find out for themselves if they wanted to. I don't see what the hysteria is all about. It's a simple form asking simple questions...geeze!

Exactly! - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
What a bunch of paranoid biddies! I've done a lot of family history searching which involves looking at many different censuses over many, many years, and they answered a whole heck of a lot more questions back then than is required now. Where were you born? Where were your parents born? Occupation? Stuff like that. If you don't want to be counted go ahead and stick your head in the sand - it's your community that is going to lose out.

Paranoid biddies good one - census-challenged

[ In Reply To ..]
You actually made my point. I don't want someone searching my history at any point in time. I'm not a paranoid biddie, but I am a very private biddie. I don't facebook, etc., and barely email for that matter. I don't have a problem with people who do, I just don't want anything about my life, as clean as it is, to be accessible to anyone ever. What is wrong with that?

As for my community losing out, it will lose out anyhow because my daughter will not be counted even though she returns from college 8 weeks after April 1. The directions state not to count college students. I just wonder how many thousands of graduating seniors will not be counted in their home town communities.

so what did y'all do in 2000? - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Did none of you answer the census in 2000, in 1990, in 1980, etc.??? Or is just this particular census that you have a problem with?

Actually, I'd rather all the ignorant fools who are so paranoid about this *not* get counted - why should they/their community get any benefits when they are too narrowminded to participate?

If someone wants to look up my information 72 YEARS FROM NOW - who cares?!

Did you even read ANY of my posts? - census-challenged

[ In Reply To ..]
And why all the name calling? Seems a little over-the-top and unfriendly to me. Most of the posts responding to those who might have a problem with the census are derogatory and rude.

I'll restate my concerns, just for you.

1. I don't mind being counted, I just don't want to provide personal information that is no one's business, not even in 72 years. And who cares? Me. Do you realize that even though our opinions and concerns and cares are different, I am STILL a human and breathe the same air as you? If my desire is to disappear off the face of the Internet when I die, why does that bother you? And why should I not have the right to do so?

2. I am VERY concerned about my community counting everyone which is why I find it completely absurd that college students who are graduating in a city/town other than the home town to which they will return in less than 2 months WILL NOT be counted in their home town community, because the instructions state DO NOT count college student even if they are returning. Can you at least sympathize with that aspect, since you are so concerned about everyone being counted?

I really find "ignorant fools" a little harsh. To me anyone who is either ignorant or a fool is someone who responds with nothing other than name calling without even trying to understand another's viewpoint in a respectful manner, present company excluded, of course.

Almost forgot to answer your question. I had the long form in 2000. You can imagine my reaction to that! ;-) But I recall filling it out, probably after a few tall ones (JUST A JOKE, okay?) Somehow the other years escape my memory... I like to remember happy things.

Enjoy your weekend :-)

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