One more census rant...

[kaytieeldr]

I have yet to receive a census I guess I could call, but i haven't. I know that there has been a census worker at my house as they left a note on my door. I am by myself most of the time and live in the boonies, so even if a census worker came to my house, they wouldn't be coming in or getting any answers as I am not letting a stranger in my house when I am by myself and no I am not a paranoid person.

In 2000, I don't remember if I didn't get a census form or if I just never sent it in. Anyway, I DO remember answering the census taker's questions on a Saturday evening through a double-bolted steel door! Just talk LOUD! As far as I know, you don't need to open the door - and you definitely don't need to let anyone in your house. You can talk outside on the porch or front step, or in the hallway in a condo/apartment. Bring your cell or cordless phone out with you if you want, for added security.

 

[SandrA9810]

I'm far from paranoid or safety concerned. Let's see, I've flown to BFE no where Canada (where the town/city is named after a fictitious character from a book), and out to the other side of the US to meet people I've talked to on the internet. And several people in my local area from the net.

So talking to some one outside my door is the last concern on my mind. I ran face to face into a man standing in my apartment at 11 at night. With my dog shivering behind my legs.

So having some one there with proof of ID from the government, I think is fairly safe to talk to. I guess princessbree doesn't order pizza delivery.

 

[disney1990]

Nothing illegal about what the OP did. She simply served as the proxy for the information. This is what Census workers are instructed to do. I Census workers that I have used Maintenance Workers, Apartment Rental Offices and Mail Carriers to get the information and they have all been happy to provide them with their names, addresses & telephone numbers, when I asked.

The Census workers all have instructions to keep going to an address until they get the information on the form. As of right now, in our area they have been told they can't get a proxy until they have visit the home six times -- as various times of the day.

Don't kill the messenger, the Census workers are only trying to do their job; failure to do exactly as they have been instructed (which includes reading the form exactly as it is written) will lead to them being terminated and nobody wants to be terminated from a Federal Government job because they will never be able to work for the Federal Government again.

Most Census workers that I know are just people that have lost their previous jobs and just need to work. Census jobs came along and they took them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I was going to mention earlier that I had doubts that the census worker had any legal training. So the worker told her to write her name on the back, big deal. Just b/c someone tells you something doesn't make it so, doeesn't make it right and certainly doesn't make it legal.

Oh. I don't see anywhere that the OP said she wrote or signed her name anywhere on anything. Go read her original post. She put on the back of the form that she completed it. Apparently there's an area on the official form used by the enumerators that has a section for any proxy to complete - not sign. It would seem that no extensive legal training would be required. Complete training in all aspects of the job and the form would be provided, including what they can and can't do.

Since a proxy section exists as part of the enumerator's form, any person completing the census form on behalf of another and completing this section is acting entirely within the law.

Anyone who has an issue with the census, its forms, its policies, its practices, etc., should address the goverment. Lay off the OP.

 

[Purseval]

Most Census workers that I know are just people that have lost their previous jobs and just need to work. Census jobs came along and they took them.

That's why the people who refuse are doing their patriotic duty not only to keep the nosy government in its place but provide jobs to census workers. All of those return trips are money in your pocket. If you're still employed thank a non-complier

 

[npmommie]

That's why the people who refuse are doing their patriotic duty not only to keep the nosy government in its place but provide jobs to census workers. All of those return trips are money in your pocket. If you're still employed thank a non-complier

 

[erincon23]

I agree with this statement. My husband did not want me to fill it out, but I did anyway, and now I kind of regret it. Especially the part about race. We have a hispanic last name, but I said that we are all (we have an 11 year old DD) "white." My DH's parents were born in Cuba. I wish I would have put hispanic for my DH and my DD (or left that part blank). I am being told by friends that it was dumb on my part, due to possible minority benefits for school for DD, and for the business my DH owns. Anyone have an opinion about this?.

The information you filled in about your race will not affect you individually, either for your DD's scholarship opportunities or for your husband's business. Individual information can't be distributed or available to ANYONE for decades. It's information-gathering on a large scale, not a personal scale. Don't worry about it affecting anything.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Acting as the head of household is fraud if she isn't, which she isn't, at least not at her aunt's house she isn't.

Responding to a census enumerator's questions as proxy for someone whose information one knows is in NO way 'acting as head of household'.

 

[bumbershoot]

As for the race part, one of my room mates is half Korean and half White, and I just told them that and he marked it down, no other problems. She doesn't identify her self with just one race, she leans towards her Korean side, but she's not full Korean. I don't think she should pick one or the other and if its not clear on the form, then there should be an extra box to mark for those of mixed descents.

DH is the same, and he simply checked Korean and Caucasian/White, just like it says to do if you identify with more than one. Very easy! Did the same for DS b/c even though he's a quarter Korean and does NOT look it, if you ask him "what" he is, he says Korean first.

part of her issue with the census, is it doesn't have a spot for american caucasion (sp??)...

Gah! Is that truly how she identifies herself? American Caucasian? Cringing at her right now.

 

[PrincessBree]

I'm far from paranoid or safety concerned. Let's see, I've flown to BFE no where Canada (where the town/city is named after a fictitious character from a book), and out to the other side of the US to meet people I've talked to on the internet. And several people in my local area from the net.

So talking to some one outside my door is the last concern on my mind. I ran face to face into a man standing in my apartment at 11 at night. With my dog shivering behind my legs.

So having some one there with proof of ID from the government, I think is fairly safe to talk to. I guess princessbree doesn't order pizza delivery.

Actually no I don't since no one delivers pizza to where I live I also don't live in an apartment or condo, nor have any neighbors around.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I think I am in love with Purseval.

 

[Magic Mom]

I must have missed something in the OP's post that said she "signed" the back. There isn't even a spot for anyone to sign except for the enumerator. Unless different areas of the country have different forms. And, as far as I know, the enumerator should have filled in all the info and just used Sandra's name in the proxy section.

I didn't fill mine out (because I got two in the mail and didn't know which to send back, so I didn't) so an enumerator came and he filled it out. I didn't have to write anything. I also know a census worker and she says they fill out the info.

 

[crashbb]

I'm far from paranoid or safety concerned. Let's see, I've flown to BFE no where Canada (where the town/city is named after a fictitious character from a book), and out to the other side of the US to meet people I've talked to on the internet. And several people in my local area from the net.

What city in Canada is named after a fictitious character in a book?

 

[claudia]

In 2000, I don't remember if I didn't get a census form or if I just never sent it in. Anyway, I DO remember answering the census taker's questions on a Saturday evening through a double-bolted steel door! Just talk LOUD! As far as I know, you don't need to open the door - and you definitely don't need to let anyone in your house. You can talk outside on the porch or front step, or in the hallway in a condo/apartment. Bring your cell or cordless phone out with you if you want, for added security.

As an enumerator I can tell you that we are just as cautious about coming into a home, and I am always relieved when I don't receive an invitation to come in. I am very happy to conduct an interview through a closed door and have done so several times. I think is is very smart to take precautions to protect yourself....and it goes both ways....you don't know me and I don't know you. When I do leave a notice I always give my phone number and let the person know that I will be happy to conduct a phone interview at their convenience. My thought is to be smart and do what you feel comfortable with....

 

[claudia]

Gah! Is that truly how she identifies herself? American Caucasian? Cringing at her right now.

but isn't it her right to identify as she wants???

 

[HHSTigerFan]

OP, I believe you already know what you did was wrong. I do hope your aunt finds out what you did and looks at ways to press charges against you, I know I would. You didn't tell your aunt that you made decisions on her behalf, and I'm certain that you didn't tell the census worker that you have not been granted legal permission in a court of law to act on your aunt's behalf. You only told half of the truth, that a census worker came to the door... you lied by omission.

Wow, know the law before coming to a forum and looking like a fool...

 

[moburg]

DH is the same, and he simply checked Korean and Caucasian/White, just like it says to do if you identify with more than one. Very easy! Did the same for DS b/c even though he's a quarter Korean and does NOT look it, if you ask him "what" he is, he says Korean first.



Gah! Is that truly how she identifies herself? American Caucasian? Cringing at her right now.

Is Caucasian something to be ashamed of? Does "American Caucasian" make it worse?

 

[Scurvy]

Is Caucasian something to be ashamed of? Does "American Caucasian" make it worse?

I'm not getting that, either. If she's Caucasian, and American, and that's what she feels like she is, then what better way to identify herself?

OP, I get why you did what you did, but if I were your aunt I'd be unhappy with you. I don't get why people don't fill out the census but she obviously felt strongly about it. It might have been the right thing to do from a Census perpective, but I don't think it was the nicest thing to do from a family perspective.

 

[snapppyd]

DH is the same, and he simply checked Korean and Caucasian/White, just like it says to do if you identify with more than one. Very easy! Did the same for DS b/c even though he's a quarter Korean and does NOT look it, if you ask him "what" he is, he says Korean first.



Gah! Is that truly how she identifies herself? American Caucasian? Cringing at her right now.

Why??? If you are white and you were born in the USA why wouldn't you identify yourself as such?

 

[Luv2Scrap]

Can't we all just have a magical day???