Reminder: Fill out your Census... or be fined.

[IndyColtsFan]

Honestly you've been asked these types of questions a number of times for employment, tax, and other applications. Any info I fill out is something the government already knows.

Right...then why are they wasting my time asking for it?

As I mentioned earlier, I have no problem with the Census. I filled it out and mailed it back, no problem. I think most people complaining about the "Census" are actually referring to the American Community Survey, which is something I won't complete either.

 

[zebano]

Here's what's fun for me this year.
1. they say fill it out and mail it back as soon as you get it
2. then on the form, it says that they're required to count every living person living in the USA on April 1, 2010
3. I'm pretty sure I'll be closing on my house (currently unoccupied, not receiving mail) before the 1st of April
4. they have no way for you to fill out a change of address information on their form

Okay.......so if I fill it out for my current address (apartment), but I move before April 1st, am I truly giving correct information? Or do I ignore this form, with my old address, so that they'll send someone out to interview the next person who will live in this apartment? And what happens if I send this in and someone comes to my new address, because no one answered the survey they probably sent there?? :hmm:

This whole thing is very disorganized! They should just postpone it another 10 years, until they get this thing figured out!!

Oh yeah, and for an entity that, while capable of fining you for not giving them your information (even though they claim they won't), isn't it peculiar that, with the exception of the "United States Census 2010" on the envelope, the largest font they used was for "YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW"??? Maybe just a way to get the lower forms of intelligence to fill out the form??

Heh I've got a similar problem. We're expecting on April 15. However twins are often born early. Unless you can see into the future, I have no idea if 4 or 6 people will be living here on April 1.

 

[Jeff7]

The hell? Is this what people are getting all in a fuss about with respect to "invasion of privacy"? I just got my Census form.
10 questions, which really consisted of:
- # of people in household
- Age
- Phone number
- Ownership status of residence
- Race
- Penis size


Where's the invasion of privacy? Geez. Every job application I've ever filled out has been considerably more "invasive" than that.

 

[Ronstang]

I was filling mine out last night. WTF? They ask what your race is? And they even have a special section for Spanish people....

You do realize they are simply fishing for info to see if they can get away with ramming through amnesty for illegal aliens after they are done with health care? It also has to do with them handing out more special deals for minorities just like in the crimulus package. Why is race important again? I have heard for decades from liberals that we are all the same and race shouldn't matter.

They will get how many people are in this house....that is all.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I don't see the big deal with having to do it, but on the other hand, I don't get why the goverment even has to do it. They have every bit of your info from the day you were born, including finger print and DNA sample. Why do they have to keep asking for information?

This reminds me of this hilarious french dude that wrote a letter about the passports, I need to find it...

Ha, found it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY8IwiH3L6o

 

[ShawnD1]

You do realize they are simply fishing for info to see if they can get away with ramming through amnesty for illegal aliens after they are done with health care? It also has to do with them handing out more special deals for minorities just like in the crimulus package. Why is race important again? I have heard for decades from liberals that we are all the same and race shouldn't matter..

This is actually true to some extent. Politicians base a lot of plans on what they think the majority of people want. If the census says 80% of people in Detroit are black, a guy can run for mayor with the campaign of "kill whitey" and pull off a win. If the census shows only 5% of people in a part of Texas are non-white (mexican wink wink) then a politician can pass very anti-mexican policies without a problem.

Probably the worst thing you could do with the census is to identify yourself as being a minority you strongly do not like and inflate the numbers (20 mexicans live in this here house). Best thing is to truthfully answer what race you really are and how many people really live in that house.

 

[bobsmith1492]

I wrote in "American" for race. Will I get arrested? :$

 

[ShawnD1]

I wrote in "American" for race. Will I get arrested? :$

How dare you refuse to group people by the color of their skin!

I'm almost embarrassed that any form asks what race you are. Is there any way to justify having that box without sounding like a racist?
"I just want to know how many coloreds live here! I ain't racist or nothin!"

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Man the internet will get up in arms about anything wont it? I don't get why filling out how many people live in a house and mailing it back are suck a big deal.

I'm going to assume you're being sarcastic but in the event you're not, are you that stupid?

 

[MustISO]

I have no problem with them doing a census but there's no reason they need some of this information.

 

[Modelworks]

American community survey = not filling out, got lost in the mail I guess.
The regular census form I am okay with.

 

[lupi]

haven't opened them yet, but got a big letter a day after a smaller one.

 

[protocol167]

Now you tell me this. Threw mines away thinking it just a survey. Oh wells just say I lost it in the mail.. Think im going to jail and gonna get locked up now.

 

[piasabird]

Past Census documents are used by people researching their family history. It is a very good resource. I would encourage people to fill it out. I found the Race questions kind of irrelevent. More relevent would be a question identifying immigrants and their country of origin like they have done in the past. Race is only a way of targeting racism or favoritism.

What was really stupid was the age question. Just put down the date of birth. Computers can figure out the age.

 

[mugs]

I just can't understand those people who fight the census. Fighting it only costs our country (and us taxpayers) money. Fighting it gains you nothing and harms our ability to address the countries issues. Plus, it takes only ~2 minutes per person.

The only question that could negatively affect the census filler is the one question that is required by the constitution: how many people live there. That question can negatively affect a person if it boosts the population in a state that opposes that person politically.

But, there will always be the stubborn conspiracy-theory idiots who will fight on.

This.

The people who post on Anandtech never cease to disappoint me.

 

[KeithP]

""Representation and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers ... . The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."
-- Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution of the United States"

Based on this, part of the reason for the census has to do with elected representation. Since only legal citizens of the United States can vote, the census should only be counting legal US citizens. Of course, that is not what our current census does.

Therefore the census, as it currently stands, is clearly operating in an unconstitutional fashion. There can be no dispute of this.

Since it is unconstitutional, you should feel no obligation to take part.

That being said by completed census goes in the mail tomorrow.

-KeithP

 

[zinfamous]

You do realize they are simply fishing for info to see if they can get away with ramming through amnesty for illegal aliens after they are done with health care? It also has to do with them handing out more special deals for minorities just like in the crimulus package. Why is race important again? I have heard for decades from liberals that we are all the same and race shouldn't matter.

They will get how many people are in this house....that is all.

lol.


you're such a fucking tool.


fuck...I almost bolded your whole post...but what's the point in that?

 

[zinfamous]

I don't see the big deal with having to do it, but on the other hand, I don't get why the goverment even has to do it. They have every bit of your info from the day you were born, including finger print and DNA sample. Why do they have to keep asking for information?

This reminds me of this hilarious french dude that wrote a letter about the passports, I need to find it...

Ha, found it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY8IwiH3L6o

The gov't doesn't have your DNA sample, numbnuts.

stop watching TV. go outside. I'm tired of explaining this simple shit to you.