zinfamous
No Lifer
- Jul 12, 2006
- 111,855
- 31,345
- 146
Anubis
No Lifer
I sent mine in. But whats with all the extra mailings? Did someone in DC owe a favor to his buddy who owns a print shop?
To date I have received:
1) Letter telling me I will be getting a census and why I should fill it out and send it in
2) Census
3) Postcard telling me I should have received my census by now and to remember to fill it out and send it in
4) ANOTHER postcard telling me if I havent already sent in my census, I should do so now and if I need any help filling it out, I can call a number where they provide instructions in English AND Spanish.
WTF is with the three extra mailings? How much BS extra money is this costing the taxpayers? Not to mention the waste of paper/resources. Really pissed me off.
To date I have received:
1) Letter telling me I will be getting a census and why I should fill it out and send it in
2) Census
3) Postcard telling me I should have received my census by now and to remember to fill it out and send it in
4) ANOTHER postcard telling me if I havent already sent in my census, I should do so now and if I need any help filling it out, I can call a number where they provide instructions in English AND Spanish.
WTF is with the three extra mailings? How much BS extra money is this costing the taxpayers? Not to mention the waste of paper/resources. Really pissed me off.
Anubis
No Lifer
Thats just the cost of postage. Add the cost of paper/printing/etc and its insane..
Even if they got a discount on the postage, it still doesnt make sense.
I don't understand why we have to fill out the census. Between birth records, social security, taxes, etc..., how the hell could they NOT already know how many people there are and where they live? Not to mention the fact that they know where to send the damn thing, so they already know where you live.
Why can't they fill in the gaps based on taxes (# dependents, etc...)? If someone is in the country illegally or doesn't pay their taxes, they sure as hell aren't going to fill out the damn census.
Also, why can't they use voting registrations? If the point of the census is to get the # of representatives correct, why even include people who aren't registered to vote?
Why can't they fill in the gaps based on taxes (# dependents, etc...)? If someone is in the country illegally or doesn't pay their taxes, they sure as hell aren't going to fill out the damn census.
Also, why can't they use voting registrations? If the point of the census is to get the # of representatives correct, why even include people who aren't registered to vote?
dullard
Elite Member
- May 21, 2001
- 26,026
- 4,652
- 126
You know that whole stupid constitution thing. Why do we even bother having amendments or the right to bear arms? What is that whole congressional powers thing? If we have a president, why not have him do the other duties? I mean, if you have a voice box, you can talk or say anything you want (in jail).
In reality, there are people who don't have proper birth records (including legal Americans). There are people who moved here after being born (including legal Americans). There are people without social security numbers (including legal Americans). There are people who don't have to file taxes (including legal Americans). There are people who live in places that they didn't live before (ie they DON'T know where you are).
If you are a 20 year old married full time college student, you probably don't have an income, you aren't a dependent, and probably don't file taxes. Yet, you can legally vote. Why would this person "certainly not fill out the census"?
There is a lot more to the census than just voter registrations. It also includes so many things such as federal payments to states (which depend on population). From the constitution, taxes shall be apportioned among states "according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons".
Regarding the actual census, the constitution says it shall be done "within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they [Congress] shall by Law direct." So, if congress directs by law to ask a question about the number of nude magazines in your house, the constitution demands that you answer it. Several supreme court rulings have held up that broad interpretation, heck the first census had many questions.
Just fill out the damn thing in full, it can't harm you (there are now many laws and protections in place that weren't there before). Save the taxpayers the cost of going to your home and asking for the answers again and again.
Last edited:
yup. took me all of 10 seconds to complete and I was going to the mailbox to drop off netflix anyways.
RadiclDreamer
Diamond Member
- Aug 8, 2004
- 8,622
- 40
- 91
I thought this was stupid too, but I saw an interview with the head of the Census Bureau on the Daily Show. He said that sending out these reminders actually ends up saving millions of dollars by increasing the response rate by a significant percentage. Increasing the response rate means they don't have to hire as many census takers to go out and knock on doors, so they save tons of money on paying those census takers.
Linflas
Lifer
- Jan 30, 2001
- 15,395
- 78
- 91
Neither is Filipino, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese etc yet if they are valid "race" selections then American is as well.
AstroManLuca
Lifer
- Jun 24, 2004
- 15,628
- 5
- 81
I think the race thing was also because there was confusion regarding whether "Hispanic" is considered a race or a nationality. Seems that self-identified Hispanics are split on the issue. Some consider themselves white, others don't.
As for my census form, I filled it out just a couple days after I got it and sent it in right away. It was very short. All they really seemed to care about was our address and who was living there.
As for my census form, I filled it out just a couple days after I got it and sent it in right away. It was very short. All they really seemed to care about was our address and who was living there.
mugs
Lifer
- Apr 29, 2003
- 48,920
- 46
- 91
I don't understand why people get so uptight about being asked their race. How else are they going to know which people count as one person, which people count as 3/5 of a person, and which people should be excluded entirely?
I know the constitution actually says non-free, non-Indian people count as 3/5
zinfamous
No Lifer
- Jul 12, 2006
- 111,855
- 31,345
- 146
Yep, I was wondering about this too. How much fricking money was spent in mailing all of this useless crap?
zinfamous
No Lifer
- Jul 12, 2006
- 111,855
- 31,345
- 146
people move rather frequently. even if it's within state, it's important for district-by-district population. the entire point is to determine the proper number of House representatives for each state, iirc--that is the only real reason, right?
zinfamous
No Lifer
- Jul 12, 2006
- 111,855
- 31,345
- 146
voter registration as age limitations. as such, you can't get an accurate number of population, people per household.
Also, regardless of whether or not someone votes, representatives are chosen (supposedly) to represent those that live in their district. voters and non-voters alike are allowed to attend public hearings, send letters, speak with their representatives.
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