Census

[DaNinja]

Re: Census

Yep. I just opened ours.
I'm answering question #1 and maybe a write-in for #9.

I guess I can expect a visit.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Census

EVERYONE gets the short form for 2010, no one has the invasive long form. Just some clarification.

Actually, they did send out the long form. My family had to fill it out around two months ago and I looked it up to make sure that it was genuine. We also did the standard form.

The "American" as a race thing is a great example of cutting off your nose to spite your face. When they're redistricting or parceling out $$$ for social programs, they consider race. Now, with a huge number of White Americans marking themselves as just "American," the data will be skewed. You'll just be lumped in as "other" and you'll lose your representation in the final set of statistics.

Phone number? That's just there in case there's an error on the form, so that they can fix it if they need to without having to send out a census worker (paid for with your tax $$) to get the answer corrected. Again, for those of you who refused to put the number down, thanks for nothing.

 

[Old Gray Hair]

Re: Census

Actually, they did send out the long form. My family had to fill it out around two months ago and I looked it up to make sure that it was genuine. We also did the standard form.

I don't know who started the "American" as a race thing, but it's a great example of cutting off your nose to spite your face. [Edit--it was Rush Limbaugh. Why am I not surprised?] When they're redistricting or parceling out $$$ for social programs, they consider race. Now, with a huge number of White Americans marking themselves as just "American," the data will be skewed. You'll just be lumped in as "other" and you'll lose your representation in the final set of statistics.

Phone number? That's just there in case there's an error on the form, so that they can fix it if they need to without having to send out a census worker (paid for with your tax $$) to get the answer corrected. Again, for those of you who refused to put the number down, thanks for nothing.

Your welcome! Im laughing so hard it hurts! Save me, please save me.

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: Census

On a side note can I put Human next to race? I find sticking people into categories offensive! My cousins are 1/2 "black and white" Cliffie is very dark and has black on his license, Michelle is very light and is listed as white on her license. What is the real deal here? how do they categorize themselves? I guess I will have to call Cliffie today and find out. We always laugh about this, as it is just sad.

I was told to put "American" next to race. American is not a race and it is not the job of the government to poll what races are where and what race you are. Its been more that 50 years since segregation ended and they still ask you race on your census. dont make sense to me.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Census

Your welcome! Im laughing so hard it hurts! Save me, please save me.

You've got a weird sense of humor. If you go the accepted route with the census, mailing in the forms, it costs all of $1.00 per household. If you refuse. it costs $56 for each family by forcing them to send a census worker out to collect the data. Protesting by wasting my tax dollars? That's not funny to me.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Census

I was told to put "American" next to race. American is not a race and it is not the job of the government to poll what races are where and what race you are. Its been more that 50 years since segregation ended and they still ask you race on your census. dont make sense to me.

I agree, we shouldn't focus so much on race. Problem is, the government still does. Refusing to be counted properly doesn't stop the government from focusing on race. It just gives them bad data to base their decisions on. Responding to something that doesn't make sense with something that makes less sense doesn't make sense at all.

Whoever "told" you to put "American" next to race is perhaps someone you shouldn't listen to.

 

[QC]

Re: Census

I am taking bets.....


This thread will be locked by 5 more posts!!

Well you lost that one Rick Fact is that it is close to over . . . Guys please try and keep the baiting posts out of this forum period. I am one who weathered the "bad ole days" here and although it was fun at times, we don't tolerate that type of posting anymore. The race stuff is always a ticket to disaster and I suggest that EVERY last one of you know when you have posted something that is intended to draw a reaction. I guess that would be all posts for all reasons, but I think you get my drift . . .

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Census

The thing that bothers me is the government already has ALL of my info.
I pay my taxes, they know where I live, how much $ I make, how many kids I have, etc.
Now, they spend more of my tax $ to count me again.

My thought exactly. I don't see how it can be accurate. What if I move to a different town and a family of four of a different race moves in?

 

[ezbtr]

Re: Census

filled mine out tonight, no mention of income

 

[StevNimrod]

Re: Census

Filling mine out today.

I think one of the issues is that people think the government leaders are stupid and government leaders think people are stupid. And perhaps another issue is that people, if given enough time to think, will find something to complain about.

I don't know that the Census is any more than a pleasantry; a way for people to feel engaged in the process. But it costs a lot of money so we complain. Then we introduce into the process inefficiencies, further increasing costs. But if in 2020 we're given a press release that the Government is doing it all electronically (and saving billions in the process) we're up in arms about how intrusive it is for the government to have the standing to harvest data that way. Which means that at the end of the day the real issue is simply that many people don't like government involvement in their lives. I think that's a bit of an oxymoron for a democracy.

Segmentation happens all the time. I guess "profiling" has gotten such a bad rap so let's call it "segmentation" so we have a new word for doing the same thing. People tend to like segmentation, as long as it's not done to them (i.e., it's fine for tracking terrorist cells, drug cartels, etc.).

There are still quite a few items of "legal fiction" floating around, depending on personal preference. For instance, if I were to walk into court and argue, accurately, that judge A (who prior to election was a dog catcher) is less suited to hear my patent case than judge B (who prior to election had a distinguished career as a professor at MIT) my argument would fail. While judge B may actually be better suited for my technology case, in the eyes of the law all judges are created equal. Some people follow the Constitution to the letter; others argue that you must consider the spirit of a document written when the population of the entire US was less than half the population of LA County currently. Pretty smart legal minds have devoted their entire lives to the intricacies of the Constitution, and they disagree. Law school curriculum includes Consitutional Law, and brings intense debate.

But in the end it generally doesn't come down to the merits of the arguments, it comes down to what we all feel comfortable with irrespective of the logic. And that's perfectly fine, provided it's a two way street and I'm free to enjoy my Coke, you enjoy your Pepsi, and we at least agree that we're both being as healthy as we possibly can be by drinking cola.

 

[witenite0560]

Re: Census

I don't see how marking "Other" and writing in "American" is in any way violating the law. It's more accurate information as I see it. Besides, when Congress starts following the law to the letter, so will I. Otherwise, intent works for them and works for me, too.

 

[skargo]

Re: Census

I don't see how marking "Other" and writing in "American" is in any way violating the law. It's more accurate information as I see it. Besides, when Congress starts following the law to the letter, so will I. Otherwise, intent works for them and works for me, too.

x2, why should we even care, when we have an unconstitutional government, who acts illegally on our behalf. I can't believe people take up for them, in this situation, when they are destroying this country.

 

[StevNimrod]

Re: Census

I don't see how marking "Other" and writing in "American" is in any way violating the law. It's more accurate information as I see it. Besides, when Congress starts following the law to the letter, so will I. Otherwise, intent works for them and works for me, too.

I'll leave the forbidden word out of it, and simply refer to "Question 9". Question 9 has been on the Census since 1790. This isn't new. At all.

It's hard when everyone is so emotionally charged to determine what is being done in good faith and what is being done in an attempt to be a smart aleck. Does it pass the straight face test? I'm interested in how, exactly, broadening the scope in this case makes the data more accurate.

Whoever wants to be the test case for a Congressional display of muscle flexing can be my guest. Unless you're a F500 or special interest, you'll lose. Even if you are, you only stand a slight chance.

Here's my personal experience doing something "not illegal" and getting into legal trouble over it.

A few years ago I was given a parking ticket, a little after 7:00 a.m. for parking on a side of the street that was "No Parking" for a few hours, starting 7:00 a.m. The no parking is to prevent people from clogging up a lane getting into downtown during rush hour. The day in question was a holiday. and there was no inbound traffic this morning. I paid the ticket and on the memo line I wrote "bulls**t ticket #xxxx" (I forget the ticket number) and wrote the ticket out more than the required amount.

Got called into court for "failure to pay proper amount". For OVERPAYING! And while I'm standing before the bench the judge gives me what-for about the language on the ticket. End of the day the memo line is for the author of the check so I was not directing the remarks AT the court. "Simply exercising my First Amendment right to free speech". He was trying to bait me into saying something that would put me in contempt; failed. Said he went to law school with a few of our partners and asked what I thought they'd think about this; failed again. I talked to them while the whole thing was brewing; apparently he holds them in higher regard than they hold him. Left that part out, but told him "they probably have bigger fish to fry".

Point being, the court invoked the "failure to pay proper amount" simply to bring me in about the foul language. I made my point, that the ticket was BS; and they made their point, that sorta thing is going to cost you a couple hundred.

 

[StevNimrod]

Re: Census

x2, why should we even care, when we have an unconstitutional government, who acts illegally on our behalf. I can't believe people take up for them, in this situation, when they are destroying this country.

I couldn't agree more! We're a democracy when they need our vote.

The government has been "unconstitutional" for years. The flavor of unconstitutional simply changes depending on the party in power. I'm interested in hearing the part about acting illegally though.

It's unfortunate that we complain, then say we don't care, then say they are destroying this country. Lest we forget that this country was founded on the backs of men who actively stood against oppresive government. When they did it, they did it smartly.

 

[skargo]

Re: Census

I couldn't agree more! We're a democracy when they need our vote.

The government has been "unconstitutional" for years. The flavor of unconstitutional simply changes depending on the party in power. I'm interested in hearing the part about acting illegally though.

It's unfortunate that we complain, then say we don't care, then say they are destroying this country. Lest we forget that this country was founded on the backs of men who actively stood against oppresive government. When they did it, they did it smartly.

Amen. I feel that we will soon see the citizens exercising their 2nd Amendment rights, for what it was intended for.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Census

RIP Census thread....... se you again in 10 years

Closed