Thread: A headsup on the 2010 census that I could have done without.

You can be assured that all the various sub-groups, districts, and states are watching closely and will seize on any thing suggesting they were under counted. The census folks will want to show that they are thorough.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

So in my mailbox this day was a letter from the gov telling me that I will be receiving my 2010 census next week and reminding me of how important it is that I fill it out and send it in. I voted for the current administration and, given the same choices, would do so again. So I'm reluctant to criticize them as they get more than enough already but this is so ridiculous I cannot help myself. The expenditure of mailing every address in the USA to tell them something they already know is bizarre IMO.

Ridiculous yes,wasting more of our money, All that has to be answered is number of people residing at your address. leave rest blank if you choose.

Originally Posted by paco

Ridiculous yes,but as you said you put them in.
Al that has to be answered is number of people residing at your address. leave rest blank if you choose.

As long as I don't have to list how many hones I have I guess I can deal with it.

On a serious note on the topic...

What really bothers me is not only the excessive spending on the pre-census mailings (production, employee time in mailing, postage, etc.), but the enormous advertising budget for this census.

I'm very familiar with the costs of direct mailing, radio advertising, broadcast television, and cable and satellite television. I am a thoroughly disgusted by the amount of spending on "advertising" this census. I am aware that some of the ads are considered non-profit, and therefore required by individual stations for FCC compliance, but most of the ads we are seeing are paid for (at an enormous price). The sheer disregard for the cost of this project is astounding.

Originally Posted by JimR

Concern for the safety of their employees is usually admirable, except in the cases where you don't like the employer, is that it? Fair enough.

Oh, wait, that isn't fair AT ALL.

How did you twist the letter Jimmy got into "concern for the safety of their employees"?
How did you twist Scotts ( honedright ) post into "lack of concern"?

What gets me is how probing the information is. Here in the UK they dont just want your address, its how many people are in the house, their religion, their ethnic background, their sexual orientation, salary levels, how many cars etc...

How is this any of this relevant for the government to know? Apart from the fact that they can use it to hammer people with yet more taxes and regulation? Its basically a form of spying.

Besides which, I dont trust the government with this data. How many times now have we heard about someone leaving a laptop on a train or bus, or losing files full of peoples confidential information? And then theres the chance of someone in an organisation stealing the data and selling it on.

Oh, and if you refuse to fill in the census you get a £1000 fine.

Originally Posted by JMS

How did you twist the letter Jimmy got into "concern for the safety of their employees"?
How did you twist Scotts ( honedright ) post into "lack of concern"?

Mark, the reason the government is sending people letters is to inform them of the coming census workers, to prevent dangerous confusion. Census work is a dangerous job, going door to door and asking people questions is a good way to get shot in certain parts of the US. Say, where I grew up. Also, if people don't know the census is coming, there's a good opportunity for scammers to put on their "Hey, look, I'm a census taker" hat on and get people's information.

Why do YOU think they're doing it? For fun?

As for Scott, I wasn't talking about HIS lack of concern, I was talking about his cynicism automatically discounting anything the government does, including taking care that their employees are safe.

Originally Posted by mrmaroon

Everyone make sure to put down your religion as jedi! Jedi census phenomenon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Or Pastafarian:

Flying Spaghetti Monster - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by Stubear

How is this any of this relevant for the government to know? Apart from the fact that they can use it to hammer people with yet more taxes and regulation? Its basically a form of spying.

Here in the states, the government already knows everything about me and my family. The census is like an honesty test of sorts, if you answer wrongly then you are threatened with fines for not filling it out correctly.

Why else am I being requested to provide information I already have? Why can't the census bureau call up the IRS and get the same info I just sent them a month ago? It's silly

Originally Posted by JimR

As for Scott, I wasn't talking about HIS lack of concern, I was talking about his cynicism automatically discounting anything the government does, including taking care that their employees are safe.

If you truly believe that the purpose for that letter (we received one too) is to assure safety for government employees (census gatherers), how sincere is the concern of the government for the safety of it's employees?

Really..... a letter in the mail?