Census 2000 ( A rant!)

G

Grayfox

New member
I just got my census form in the mail. To say the least I'm not pleased. This is much more than a headcount. These people are asking alot of totally unrelated personal questions.
Examples of questions:
11a. Does this person speak a language other than english in the home?
11c. How well does this person speak english?
21. LAST WEEK, did this person do ANY work for pay or profit?
22. At what location did this person work LAST WEEK?
23a. How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK?
24a. What time did this person usually leave home to go to work LAST WEEK?
24b.How many minutes did it usually take this person to get from home to work LAST WEEK?

Well, you get the idea. There are questions regarding ethnic origin, income, employment, military service, dicriptions of your home, homeowners insurance and more!
99% IS STUFF IS NONE OF THEIR DAMNED BUSINESS!

Just who the hell are these people to go butting their noses into my private life? What has any of this got to do with how many people live in this country?
THIS REALLY PISSES ME OFF!
I'l return their damned form with just the number of people in my home and nothing more! That is what the Constitution calls for and that's all they'll get!

I've already called my congress critters to express my anger! I strongly suggest you all do the same!

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:


[This message has been edited by Grayfox (edited March 13, 2000).]
 
Its funny, my form only asked about the number of residents, DOBs and thier ethinicity. Nothing else. I was actually rather surprised and pleased that there wasn't more.
 
There's two forms, a short one and a long one. We received the short form today. I'm very glad I received the short form--prevents stress on me. I actually kinda like filling out surveys (ok, call me wierd), but with my increased appreciation for privacy, I'd be pulled both ways.

Even on the short form, they request information not called for by the Constitution. I can really see the value in having a head count. Anything more is just providing paperwork fodder for some desk clerk. -- Denise
 
I have since found out that what I recieved is the LONG form.(Form D2) This thing is 40 pages long and askes 53 questions for "Person 1" in the home and 33 questions each for "Persons 2 thru 6". Many questions are sub-divided into parts A,B,C etc.
Six people per 1000 are supposed to recieve this while everyone else gets the "short form". I haven't seen it, but am told the short form only has 6 questions.

Interestingly, the staff members I talked to in all my Congressmens offices suggested that I simply leave any questions I did not want to answer blank. These same people were also very quick to point out that this Census is from the Dept. of Commerce and Congress has nothing to do with it. I, in return, pointed out to them that my represenatives are my voice in government and I fully expect them to speak up on my behalf. They took this remark very seriously.

I will return this form having answered question 1 only. "How many people were living in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2000?" This is all the Constitution requires and all the information I intend to give.

I am also sending this letter with the form:

March 13, 2000

Dear Census Bureau,
Here is my completed census form. In compliance with Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3, of
the Constitution of the United States of America, I have answered question number 1.
This is all the information which I am legally required to give and all the information which
I will give.
All other questions have been left blank as I consider them an un-necessary intrusion of my
privacy which you have no legal right to ask.
Please DO NOT have anyone call or come to my home as this would be a waste of your
time and mine.
I have contacted my Senators and Congressman in regard to this matter.

signed,
Resident
XXXXX St. (address deleted, but on the original)
Bartlett, Tn 38134

Note that I signed the letter "Resident". This is who the form was addressed to, so that is how I replied.

BTW: I intend to wait until the last possible moment to mail this in also. Let 'em wait.

OK, maybe I've gone overboard on this. But, dammit, it pissed me off!

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Politically, Fashionably and Aerodynamically Incorrect!
 
Grayfox - If I'm lucky enough to get the long form, the census officials will probably be surprised to find there are nine Somoans, each making in excess of $150,000 per year, who speak primarily Swahili, all living in my home without benifit of indoor plumbing.

No smileys.
 
I filled in very little of the short form - names and relationships only. They don't need my phone number, and it's none of their damn business if I own my house or rent.

I also filled in the race section by x-ing the "other" box and writing in "human". I recommend this course for all! I'm also emailing all my friends, encouraging them to do the same.

JimR
 
Well, lucky me. My mailbox was blessed with BOTH of the damn things today. (short form in one envelope, long form in another) Funny thing, though. The aint a shread of newspaper in the whole house to start a fire in the woodstove. It's really cold here at night :)

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The Bible is my lawbook. I turn the other cheek when applicable, and spend the rest of my days resisting evil at every front, until I have breathed my last breath.
 
My secretary says you'll be charged with a crime if you file either of said forms in the circular file (13) and get caught, though I seriously doubt it - anyone know?

I got the short form, and wrote down my name and phone number along with my ethnicity (Samoan, tee hee), but not sure if I want to return it. Main plus of returning it: the more people counted in the state, the higher the chance we won't get our federal house reps cut from 6 to 5, as is anticipated.

[This message has been edited by Futo Inu (edited March 13, 2000).]
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Futo Inu:
My secretary says you'll be charged with a crime if you file either of said forms in the circular file (13) and get caught, though I seriously doubt it - anyone know?

[This message has been edited by Futo Inu (edited March 13, 2000).][/quote]

I highly doubt the FBI will come to the door to make you fill out the form or answer the questions unless you threaten the census taker.

Once upon a time I refused to answer some Dept. of Agriculture survey. Someone called me later and told me I was required by law to complete the survey. I asked if he was coming with the FBI to make me fill out the form. He said no. I said goodbye. Nothing more heard.



[This message has been edited by bruels (edited March 13, 2000).]
 
Good one, Morgan :cool:

I got the long form. I'm going to think this over a bit.

My wife thinks I'm paranoid for disliking the questions ("It's not much different than a credit application, and they aren't asking about your guns"), but I gave her a 10 minute course on the Constitution and why violating my privacy in order to redistribute money that was ours in the first place sort of pisses me off, followed by a rant about how we had a duplicate federal agency for every state agency, and the federals are supposed to be subordinate to the state, but aren't.

Besides, does anyone out there REALLY believe that this information will remain confidential?

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NRA/GOA/SAF/USMC

"Is your church BATF approved?"
 
Grayfox,

Glad I'm not the only one who feels that the Feds are WAY out of line on this one.

Besides, how can I send something back that I never received in the first place... ;)


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...defend the 2nd., it protects us all.
No fate but what we make...
 
I now realize that I too got the long form.

I am waiting with lip-smacking anticipation of NOT filling it out, other than the count of people in my home. I further wait with lip-smacking anticipation that knock on my door, and the look on the face of the census taker as I open it while wearing my pistol on my hip.

Think I'll have to answer any questions?

(Yes, I KNOW the census takers are just part-time "regular" folks, so I'll take it easy.)

;)
 
WELL, the feds have to have SOMETHING to put in your file at their buero of intimidation. Vest vollowingk orders von Fuerer. Please excuse my German. I picked it up watching Hogan's Heroes reruns.

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"But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." -Jesus Christ (Luke 22:36, see John 3:15-18)
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Does this person speak a language other than english in the home?[/quote]

Hey, just thought of something. In our home we teach our children sign language before they can talk. When they can move their mouth to say what they wish to say, they drop the sign language. They certainly don't become proficient at ASL, but can communicate somewhat. So do we "speak" a language other than English? And just how well must we "speak" a language before we can put it on this intrusive form?

We just began learning Latin a couple of weeks ago. So do we speak Latin? We do speak it in the home--not at the range. ;)

An acquaintance on a Classical Christian Education e-mail loop is currently teaching her children Hebrew, Latin, Spanish and Greek --at the same time. (I get tired just thinking about it, but she's doing it!) So what would she put down?

Yes, it's none of the gov'ts business. -- Denise
 
It's certainly going to be interesting, assuming we get the truth from the media, to see how many people will refuse to answer more than is required by the Constitution on the census. Any guesses as to what the non-compliance rate will be for the short and long forms? I certainly hope the rate is higher than ever before. It's not often that we, the people, get to stick a finger directly into the eye of Government, so let's savor it.
DAL

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Reading "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal," by Ayn Rand, should be required of every politician and in every high school.
GOA, JPFO, PPFC, CSSA, LP, NRA
 
Hey Greyfox, I live just inside of Memphis. I see from your post that you reside in Bartlett. I got that #*?7*%^$^2!!! long form too. My wife (bless her little black heart) had already filled out and shipped off our reply. (she didn't even let me get to have any fun) She said she was so po'ed that she wrote them a nice letter with just the occupents gender, name and race. I guess they are really interested in Shelby County, huh?

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"peace, love, joy, and happiness..."
 
Got my form, too, and I'll be danged if my race ain't NATIVE TEXAN! You gotta love a government that let's you be all you can be.
 
Well, I've got my form, guess it must be the short one (Form D-1, at the bottom of the page.) I've filled out question #1, and that's all I'm going to put in. That's what the thing is for, right, to find out how many people are here? 3. That's everything they need to know.

Hmmm, maybe I will run a magnet over the barcode on the form. ;)
 
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