2010 Census....Penalties for not participating?

[makattak]

You realise that the Census helps determine how much representation you get in the House, and how a lot of tax money is spent and allocated, right?  It's also one of the few things our federal government does that it's directly mandated to do by the constitution (Article 1, Section 2 iirc)

This administration actually did away with the long form of the census.  To give you an idea of what the long form was under Bill Clinton, check this out:

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:S979SWnLKEEJ:www.census.gov/dmd/www/pdf/d-61b.pdf+long+form+census&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESj5iu-p6dCboAxvy78dhdbPm_TGXdeD-eDRs30r4CzEFc707daTcDMyqO5NkO7FRMrV_B-F6DrM8tez71bT_AkOmVEkVSum_dM-bX4-L1Vqqn95QRHU0eMmmxjclfIK7vnNVCdx&sig=AHIEtbRDp1znmZ9tuIVVdU78Gqqz0b-7Pw


Here's the ACTUAL text of the 2010 census questions for reference:
Personally, I don't have a problem with it.  There's far more information about me that the government gets, by law, that I have a far worse problem with than this.

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/ACS-1(info)(2010)%20Stateside%20English_web.pdf

I'm betting this is what people have a problem with. That's information I don't think the government should have and, if I get this form, will not provide.

[dogmush]

Mak, that one's voluntary do or don't as you see fit.

Personally I wouldn't either, it's pretty invasive.

I'd bet, however, that DU folks are scouring dumpsters for these thing so they can fill them out and send them in.  There's a scary thought for you.

[Tallpine]

Mak, that one's voluntary do or don't as you see fit.

Personally I wouldn't either, it's pretty invasive.

I'd bet, however, that DU folks are scouring dumpsters for these thing so they can fill them out and send them in.  There's a scary thought for you.

Wood burning stoves are handy

[Nitrogen]

Mak, that one's voluntary do or don't as you see fit.

Personally I wouldn't either, it's pretty invasive.

I'd bet, however, that DU folks are scouring dumpsters for these thing so they can fill them out and send them in.  There's a scary thought for you.

Thgat's why you provide your phone number, in case some very helpful individual attempts to send in a form with your address in it more than once.

[tyme]

9. What are you then?
65% oxygen
18% carbon
10% hydrogen
3% nitrogen
1.5% calcium
1.2% phosphorous
0.2% potassium
0.2% sulfer
0.2% chlorine
0.1% sodium
0.05% magnesium
3.8g iron
less than 0.05% each cobalt, copper, zinc, and iodine
less than 0.01% each selenium and flourine
(all percentages are by mass)

Seems like a bad idea, unless you want to get shipped off to a chemistry lab, killed, then your remains analyzed.

Seriously, 10 questions?  I was getting all prepared for a 2 minute hate and there's barely enough for a 30 second hate.

[TechMan]

We just got our letter in the mail notifying us that we will be getting the census next week and that we should fill it out and send it back as quickly as possible.

Ahh .gov wastes more money notifying me that they are sending something to me next week.   

[Boomhauer]

We just got our letter in the mail notifying us that we will be getting the census next week and that we should fill it out and send it back as quickly as possible.

Ahh .gov wastes more money notifying me that they are sending something to me next week.   

Hey, that's the way we roll...

[Tallpine]

We just got our letter in the mail notifying us that we will be getting the census next week and that we should fill it out and send it back as quickly as possible.

Ahh .gov wastes more money notifying me that they are sending something to me next week.   

Whoa!  Seems to me like the dot.gov/census is getting way ahead of itself 

They should have sent you a letter telling you that they will be sending you a letter telling you that you will be getting the census next week and that you should fill it out and send it back as quickly as possible. 

There they go - cutting corners again 

[roo_ster]

I will answer the number of humans who reside at my address.

I will also answer Question 9 as follows:


http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NDAzNTgyZTM4NGRiMzUxNDk2MzljMDBlMDdlYTQxMzU=

Sending a Message with the Census   [Mark Krikorian]

John: I haven't gotten my letter from the Census Bureau yet asking me to make sure I fill out the questionnaire. But when I do fill it out, I'll use it to send a message.

Fully one-quarter of the space on this year's form is taken up with questions of race and ethnicity, which are clearly illegitimate and none of the government's business (despite the New York Times' assurances to the contrary on today's editorial page). So until we succeed in building the needed wall of separation between race and state, I have a proposal. Question 9 on the census form asks "What is Person 1's race?" (and so on, for other members of the household). My initial impulse was simply to misidentify my race so as to throw a monkey wrench into the statistics; I had fun doing this on the personal-information form my college required every semester, where I was a Puerto Rican Muslim one semester, and a Samoan Buddhist the next. But lying in this constitutionally mandated process is wrong. Really — don't do it.

Instead, we should answer Question 9 by checking the last option — "Some other race" — and writing in "American." It's a truthful answer but at the same time is a way for ordinary citizens to express their rejection of unconstitutional racial classification schemes. In fact, "American" was the plurality ancestry selection for respondents to the 2000 census in four states and several hundred counties.

So remember: Question 9 — "Some other race" — "American". Pass it on.

[Nick1911]

We just got our letter in the mail notifying us that we will be getting the census next week and that we should fill it out and send it back as quickly as possible.

Ahh .gov wastes more money notifying me that they are sending something to me next week.   

I just got mine.

Once I get the census, I'm seriously considering sending them a letter telling them to expect the census from me in about a week. 

I know I'm just waisting my own time, but it's funny to me. 

[Nitrogen]

We just got our letter in the mail notifying us that we will be getting the census next week and that we should fill it out and send it back as quickly as possible.

Ahh .gov wastes more money notifying me that they are sending something to me next week.   

There's actually a good reason for this.  The Dillman Survey Design method is a well researched method for doing these types of things: http://www.amazon.com/Mail-Telephone-Surveys-Design-Method/dp/0471215554

It's been researched and usually provides an 80% response rate to telephone/mail surveys.  The method includes a pre-notice letter.  It's one of those things that sounds like a waste until you study the methodologies involved.

EDIT:  Read this for a quick rundown on what the Dillman method is and how it works.  here is a study on it that I quickly found via google.

[HankB]

Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?

Asked since 1970. The data collected in this question are needed by federal agencies to monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as under the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State and local governments may use the data to help plan and administer bilingual programs for people of Hispanic origin.

Government ought not be doing this in the first place. Since they are, I see this as an excellent opportunity for downsizing the bureaucracy.

What is Person 1's race?

Asked since 1790. Race is key to implementing many federal laws and is needed to monitor compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State governments use the data to determine congressional, state and local voting districts. Race data are also used to assess fairness of employment practices, to monitor racial disparities in characteristics such as health and education and to plan and obtain funds for public services.

Government ought not be doing this, either. Either a person is an American . . . or they're not. Subdividing Americans on criteria such as skin color is odious. The only race that matters is the HUMAN race.

[charby]

Samsonite is my favorite race question answer.

So since I am Dark European, Native American and Hebrew what do I choose for a race?

[vaskidmark]

Samsonite is my favorite race question answer.

So since I am Dark European, Native American and Hebrew what do I choose for a race?

Black Latino Female Pacific Islander of Native Alaskan origin with multiple physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities who is a self-employed FMBO (Female Minority Business Owner) unmarried single parent head of household POOSSLQ (Person Of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters).

That ought to cover the spread.

stay safe.

skidmark

[charby]

Black Latino Female Pacific Islander of Native Alaskan origin with multiple physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities who is a self-employed FMBO (Female Minority Business Owner) unmarried single parent head of household POOSSLQ (Person Of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters).

That ought to cover the spread.

stay safe.

skidmark

I thought you were a dude.

[vaskidmark]

I thought you were a dude.

I am.  But why should that stop me from recommending a response for you to use.  Let the .feds figure it out.

Remember, you can be anything you put your mind to.  Even President of the USA.

stay safe.

skidmark

[PTK]

After reading up on exactly what questions there were on the census, including name/age/race/etc., I came across this gem from "Census.gov" (specifically, http://2010.census.gov/partners/pdf/ConstituentFAQ.pdf)

32. Is information shared with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Internal Revenue Service, courts, or the police?

No, individual census records are not shared with anyone, including government agencies or private organizations. It is against the law for the Census Bureau to give personally identifiable information about an individual to any other individual or agency until 72 years after it is collected for the decennial census. After 72 years, the individual census records are sent to the National Archives where they are made public primarily for genealogical research.

My B.S. alarm went off pretty hard. Thoughts?

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

Government ought not be doing this, either. Either a person is an American . . . or they're not. Subdividing Americans on criteria such as skin color is odious. The only race that matters is the HUMAN race.

The drawing up of congressional and other districts is very important to the preservation of your party as the majority party. Various minorities favor republicans or democrats heavily. By manipulating the district lines, you can minimize the power of these minorities, or increase them.

[kgbsquirrel]

After reading up on exactly what questions there were on the census, including name/age/race/etc., I came across this gem from "Census.gov" (specifically, http://2010.census.gov/partners/pdf/ConstituentFAQ.pdf)

32. Is information shared with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Internal Revenue Service, courts, or the police?

No, individual census records are not shared with anyone, including government agencies or private organizations. It is against the law for the Census Bureau to give personally identifiable information about an individual to any other individual or agency until 72 years after it is collected for the decennial census. After 72 years, the individual census records are sent to the National Archives where they are made public primarily for genealogical research.

My B.S. alarm went off pretty hard. Thoughts?

Heh, wasn't that pretty much my exact same response to you? I'd say this claim reeks heavily of shenanigans.

[Nick1911]

Welcome to APS, kgbsquirrel.  Are you actually a squirrel that worked in the KGB? 

If you haven't yet, please take a sec to review the rules stickied at the top of this forum.  (No, you haven't broken any.    But, Ignorantia juris non excusat!)

[Tallpine]

Ignorantia juris non excusat

Cha robh fios agam 

[Snowdog]

9. What are you then?
65% oxygen
18% carbon
10% hydrogen
3% nitrogen
1.5% calcium
1.2% phosphorous
0.2% potassium
0.2% sulfer
0.2% chlorine
0.1% sodium
0.05% magnesium
3.8g iron
less than 0.05% each cobalt, copper, zinc, and iodine
less than 0.01% each selenium and flourine
(all percentages are by mass)

 LMAO!     

Personally, my wife and I are going to fill ours out accurately in an easy-to-read manner and promptly send ours back.  I haven't any issues with the questions they're asking and it's sure as heck nothing new. 
Now, if there comes a day where there are new questions such as about my firearms, religion, political standing and the like, then they can stick it.

[PTK]

I just don't much like answering questions like these. I suppose I'm just weird, but... if they wanted to know where I am, who I am, etc., they already know. It's not that. I just don't like answering things like that. I don't know how to put it into words correctly. 

[Tallpine]

I just don't much like answering questions like these. I suppose I'm just weird, but... if they wanted to know where I am, who I am, etc., they already know. It's not that. I just don't like answering things like that. I don't know how to put it into words correctly. 

Agree.   

If you don't want to register your guns, why would you want to register yourself?

The age of computer databases makes it worse.  Back in 1850, you couldn't just type in my great grandaddy "Pine's" name and come up with address and GPS coordinates in 10 seconds.  It's handy now to do geneological research, but I don't see that purpose mentioned in the Constitution.

And yes they could find out who I am through other means like the county tax records.  In fact, they could do the entire census through research and statistical analysis, cheaper and probably more accurately.

Besides, I'm guessing that they're still going to miss some sheepherders, and some folks living in RVs full time with only a PMB for an address (not a bad idea, actually... ).

I told the guy truthfully that no one lives in the houses behind us, that it's just a hunting camp.  He took my word for it, but there could be a horde of aliens from Vega living up there for all anyone knows 

[BridgeRunner]

And yes they could find out who I am through other means like the county tax records.  In fact, they could do the entire census through research and statistical analysis, cheaper and probably more accurately.

And the argument against that is that it would not be constitutional.