Census~required by law??

[snowy76]

Just to respond to folks who haven't received a form: if you get your mail via PO box only, it's my understanding you should not expect to receive a form. Forms are sent to residences, ie physical locations that can be found on a map. It's one of the flaws in the system but one that sometimes cannot be avoided.

 

[snowy76]

Another thing I noticed: I have copies of old census forms that I got online working on my family tree. In prior years, people were typically asked for their full names, ages, race, marital status, years married, number of children living AND deceased, income, occupation, birthplace, and parents' birthplaces.

I, for one, am not laughing at anyone's skepticism. But it seems misplaced to me this year, when I compare this new form to old ones. Plus, IMO on the list of things to worry about in this world, this falls under "don't sweat the small stuff."

 

[mking624]

I filled mine in and sent it back and had no problem doing it. But choosing to give your personal info on a credit card app or a message board is NOT the same thing as being told you have to do so under penalty of the law. I'm not getting involved in the argument itself, but your comparison has holes.

And I don't understand the need to laugh at people for their beliefs. I just don't get it at all.

I found it amusing he's getting worked up when he not only is getting his information wrong about what the census is allowed and not allowed to ask, but he's also doing the very thing on this particular site that he's getting angry at the census about. If you're going to be up in arms about what people should be allowed to know about you, you should be consistent about it, and you should definitely have back up for saying the things you do. In this case, he didn't. If you believe something, you need to follow through on it. If you don't find it amusing, that's your opinion of it. I did. I'm not a horrible, evil person for it...thanks.

 

[disney1990]

Another thing I noticed: I have copies of old census forms that I got online working on my family tree. In prior years, people were typically asked for their full names, ages, race, marital status, years married, number of children living AND deceased, income, occupation, birthplace, and parents' birthplaces.

I, for one, am not laughing at anyone's skepticism. But it seems misplaced to me this year, when I compare this new form to old ones. Plus, IMO on the list of things to worry about in this world, this falls under "don't sweat the small stuff."

It seems that people on the DIS Board sweat everything. Every subject is dissected to its smallest parts and then people try to dissect it further.

People freely put so much more information on Facebook accounts and give it out to apply for credit cards.

To me the census is no big deal.

 

[freckles and boo]

Another thing I noticed: I have copies of old census forms that I got online working on my family tree. In prior years, people were typically asked for their full names, ages, race, marital status, years married, number of children living AND deceased, income, occupation, birthplace, and parents' birthplaces.

I, for one, am not laughing at anyone's skepticism. But it seems misplaced to me this year, when I compare this new form to old ones. Plus, IMO on the list of things to worry about in this world, this falls under "don't sweat the small stuff."

Census information has been invaluable for geneology. It is part of our collective history as a nation. It is important sociologically. Of course there is a chance that the information can be abused but in my opinion not filling out the census is shooting your community in the foot. Our representation is based on those numbers. Federal contributions to communities are based on those numbers. The paranoia is a symptom of something much uglier that is going on in the country. I think it has little to do with the census.

 

[npmommie]

Census is mandated by the Constitution.


If you don't fill it out and send back , you may be put on a "list" to be held at airline security on any flights into Orlando.

Actually, the constitution does not only give Congress the right to count people. There was a court case about this back in 1870. The courts decided that Congress could collect other statistics because the constitution does not prohibit it. So, whether you agree with it or not, the courts have decided that it is constitutional. As a result of this decision, Congress came up with title 13 of the U.S. code. This is the law that the U.S. census operates under.

from title 13
(a) The Secretary shall, in the year 1980 and every 10 years thereafter, take a decennial census of population as of the first day of April of such year, which date shall be known as the “decennial census date”, in such form and content as he may determine, including the use of sampling procedures and special surveys. In connection with any such census, the Secretary is authorized to obtain such other census information as necessary.
(b) The tabulation of total population by States under subsection (a) of this section as required for the apportionment of Representatives in Congress among the several States shall be completed within 9 months after the census date and reported by the Secretary to the President of the United States.

link to the rest of it
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode13/usc_sec_13_00000141----000-.html

 

[CandyMandy]

If you have already sent in a completed census form you pitch the second one out (or recycle it).

Unnecessary duplicate mailings.

More impressive government efficiency.

 

[freckles and boo]

Unnecessary duplicate mailings.

More impressive government efficiency.

Nope. In many cases it is a NECESSARY duplicate mailing because people can't be bothered to deal with it. And it is much more efficient to send a "reminder" second copy than to send a human being out.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I found it amusing he's getting worked up when he not only is getting his information wrong about what the census is allowed and not allowed to ask, but he's also doing the very thing on this particular site that he's getting angry at the census about. If you're going to be up in arms about what people should be allowed to know about you, you should be consistent about it, and you should definitely have back up for saying the things you do. In this case, he didn't. If you believe something, you need to follow through on it. If you don't find it amusing, that's your opinion of it. I did. I'm not a horrible, evil person for it...thanks.

Never said you were horrible or evil. I said I don't understand laughing at people's beliefs.

And again... If I choose to give my information to someone, that is entirely different from being told that I HAVE to. He doesn't have to participate in the Disboards under penalty of law. He chooses to because it's something that interests him. If the government told me that I had to sign up for the Dis and tell everyone my age, I'd have a problem with that.

And if someone interprets "counting" as simply having a number, then I can understand the hesitation.

It seems that people on the DIS Board sweat everything. Every subject is dissected to its smallest parts and then people try to dissect it further.

People freely put so much more information on Facebook accounts and give it out to apply for credit cards.

To me the census is no big deal.

That's because we all have different opinions on things, so it seems like every little thing gets dissected because Person A doesn't like one thing and Person B doesn't like another.

In addition to people sweating the small stuff, other people aren't willing to accept and acknowledge other people's concerns about things when it doesn't affect them.

 

[mking624]

Nope. In many cases it is a NECESSARY duplicate mailing because people can't be bothered to deal with it. And it is much more efficient to send a "reminder" second copy than to send a human being out.

I agree that a reminder second copy can definitely be necessary if you haven't already filled it out and mailed it back in. But several people I know filled it out and mailed it right away, only to get another copy (myself included). The website states that a worker may still be sent to your house to check on these duplicates. So it does seem rather unnecessary and inefficient that not only have they spent the money sending out duplicates to people who've already completed it (not those who haven't), but now they're spending the money to send out a worker to check on them.

 

[mking624]

Never said you were horrible or evil. I said I don't understand laughing at people's beliefs.

And again... If I choose to give my information to someone, that is entirely different from being told that I HAVE to. He doesn't have to participate in the Disboards under penalty of law. He chooses to because it's something that interests him. If the government told me that I had to sign up for the Dis and tell everyone my age, I'd have a problem with that.

And if someone interprets "counting" as simply having a number, then I can understand the hesitation.

My issue is that his reasons are not only faulty, but also wrong. If you're going to state a belief, at least know what you're talking about and don't just assume (because interpretation isn't always correct, and in this case history proves it)...and as I said, be consistent. But considering the inconsistency and lack of correct historical information about the census, it makes it appear like it's only a matter of "hmph! I'll show them!" My DS is only 13 months old and he acts the same way if he wants something his own way...I chuckle at him too. It's not as if the government doesn't or can't get this information anyway...birth certificates, DMVs, other public records...it's all there. In fact, I could get more information about a person from public records on my own than the census can from these generic questions....which is what is amusing to me. It's not a matter of laughing at someone's beliefs, but rather the common sense of it. And as I said in an earlier post, to each his own.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

The Census has run far beyond what the Constitution intended. The questions that are asked are not in the nature of what is mentioned in the Constitution.

The question it asks are personal, demographic questions which do not do anything related to what the Constitution says.

All the Constitution says is: 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.

That means they count all citizens every ten years. Nothing about race, home ownership, religion, etc. Where does the Constitution give them the right to ask us these questions? Why is the government so intent on collecting this information which it wasn't granted the right to ask for?

While I sort of agree with you that they don't need information they are just going to sell, I don't see the big deal on race. I fill out my race on just about any form I fill out these days. My race is already well documented in numerous areas. So, if I didnt fill it out on the census, it could easily be found somewhere else.

 

[IDoDis]

Never said you were horrible or evil. I said I don't understand laughing at people's beliefs.

And again... If I choose to give my information to someone, that is entirely different from being told that I HAVE to. He doesn't have to participate in the Disboards under penalty of law. He chooses to because it's something that interests him. If the government told me that I had to sign up for the Dis and tell everyone my age, I'd have a problem with that.

Then you don't HAVE TO drive on public roads. You don't HAVE TO send your kids to a public school. You don't HAVE TO call a police officer if you have a problem, you don't HAVE TO take your kids to the park... I could go on, but won't.

Try visiting a country like Cambodia where they don't HAVE TO fill out a census form and ask yourself if you'd rather live like that.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

^ I already said that I filled mine out and sent it in and had no problem doing so. Your comments are misplaced. Especially the ones about my non-existant kids.

But just because I'm okay with something doesn't mean I should just automatically assume that someone else should be as well. The person who made the comments feels that the government is overstretching what they're allowed to do. That doesn't mean they are, and it doesn't mean they aren't. Being able to see another side of something isn't a bad thing. More people should try it.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Good Lord, please make sure you send your Census form in so a poor enumerator like me will not have to ask you these "personal" questions to your face. I pity the poor soul that might have to show up on a resistor's doorstep. We only make $13/hour, not enough to deal with something like that.

 

[IDoDis]

^ I already said that I filled mine out and sent it in and had no problem doing so. Your comments are misplaced. Especially the ones about my non-existant kids.

But just because I'm okay with something doesn't mean I should just automatically assume that someone else should be as well. The person who made the comments feels that the government is overstretching what they're allowed to do. That doesn't mean they are, and it doesn't mean they aren't. Being able to see another side of something isn't a bad thing. More people should try it.

I apologize for the misplaced comment. It appeared to be yours as it wasn't in quotes from someone else.

I agree it's good to be able to see two sides, but at the same time, there comes a time when people can get so ridiculous that enough is enough.

 

[MM27]

OP here, form is filled out and in the mail. Really, it was just an innocent question. You know how when you are little and someone says, "Don't do that, or else?" I was the kid that wanted to know "or else what?" I don't like empty threats. Doesn't mean I was resisting or protesting, or whatever else people thought. I just wanted to know if anyone knew what the penalty was.

 

[mhsjax]

It's a big deal because the Constitution only gives them the right to count people. I'm not willing to cede powers to the federal government which they don't actually have. I'll let them count me, but I won't answer personal questions. Why are they asking about my race when the purpose of the census is to count for representation?

The Census was used and relied upon for the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Had they not had this powerful information that they had no right to, they would have had a much tougher time committing such a dastardly and cowardice act.

My hubby filled out ours. but he did tell me that there were questions on there about the kids that he wouldn't answer, said it was none of their business and they didn't need that info to account for us. i would also add that he isn't one of theses people that refuse to give out info. But he did on this one, so it must have been pretty intrusive. I didn't get a look at it.

 

[IDoDis]

OP here, form is filled out and in the mail. Really, it was just an innocent question. You know how when you are little and someone says, "Don't do that, or else?" I was the kid that wanted to know "or else what?" I don't like empty threats. Doesn't mean I was resisting or protesting, or whatever else people thought. I just wanted to know if anyone knew what the penalty was.

That was understood, OP. The conversation just led to other things. Oh, and in case you never got your original question asked, there really is no penalty except for less money for your community for roads and things like that.

 

[IDoDis]

My hubby filled out ours. but he did tell me that there were questions on there about the kids that he wouldn't answer, said it was none of their business and they didn't need that info to account for us. i would also add that he isn't one of theses people that refuse to give out info. But he did on this one, so it must have been pretty intrusive. I didn't get a look at it.

I don't remember any intrusive questions about other household members at all. I filled it out and can't recall this. Can someone who has the form at home post what the intrusive questions are because I'm drawing a blank.