Is it not about being paranoid for me, but a matter of principle. If we don't hold the government to a literal interpretation of the Constitution, which is to restrain government authority, but go with any liberal interpretation that suits our government at the time, then we might as well toss the Bill of Rights and accept whatever the government demands of us. I can see it coming: We might as well have chips inserted so they can just scan us--after all, they have all the info anyway and it may be for our own good with identify theft and all. Yes, the government will ALWAYS will have a very good reason for usurping rights and overstepping its authority. Our forefathers knew that and were quite specific in wording to prevent it. By the way, some of those stats to which you referred, DaLynn, in regards to real estate values and sales are collected from county records, and should not be on the census. There has been no provision in the Constitution for the information to be surrendered by an individual to the federal government; that is not to say that the state or county cannot collect statistical data.
And the day it comes to chips, I'll storm the capitol with the rest of you. And you're right - not all of the info I listed is gathered in this census. Only a very small portion of it, like how many people in the county have families including 1.2 children or whatever :lol: (Where do you think that stat came from??) and how many are single men.... Isn't that the kind of info you'd want to know moving into an area? And about the county gathering it - who is to say the county doesn't just hand it over to the feds? I think that's a moot point. Really. Name, age, birthday, and race. We give tons more info to the insurance companies, and IMHO those guys are far worse than the census feds.
I'm not arguing anything here, simply explaining my point of view on this. 1) Yeah, the gov already has all the info asked on the Census, so why should I have to give it to them again? 2) Our names & birthdates don't have anything to do with local demographics 3) Not only does race not matter, but they don't have enough options. I don't personally know anyone who is pure-blood anything, yet they don't have options for mixed races. I claim all of my heritage, which makes me a really big mutt. There is no check box for really big mutt. 4) We don't have a home phone, just cells. I don't give my cell number out to just anyone. 5) While many of you have said that this is all info that you give out without a second thought, that's you, not everyone. I don't give out my kids names or birthdates. I don't give out my cell #. Just because some people don't willing give out personal info when it isn't necessary, that doesn't mean they are paranoid or that they should be insulted for not giving out that info to everyone who asks. Some of us are more private than others; there's nothing wrong with that. If all it was asking was how many people live here, how many are minors/adults, and even age, I'd have no problem answering. I can see how that info would be relevant. Plus, that is all info that I've answered on various surveys. Names & birthdates are another story. I don't use my kids real names here, on my blog, Facebook, etc. I'm cautious of what info I give out & rather protective of our privacy. That could be because I had an ex stalk me. It could be because I had another ex hire a P.I. to find me. It could be because my stepdad worked for the Dept. of Corrections & we had to be very careful about identifiable info getting out. Most likely, it's all of those things combined with the fact that I've always been a private person.
Perhaps, but it would be the more proper and impersonal method to compile much of the information. Still, I sincerely doubt if the county knows if I have a loan on my house or not and I don't know why that needs to be known to the federal government nor can I understand what it has to do with enumeration (just to pick out one of the many things I don't think is necessary).
Not necessary maybe, but helpful in certain circumstances, which aren't exactly uncommon. As I said, I've used this information multiple times to aid us in moving. And I agree that maybe names aren't necessary for this sort of thing, but like was mentioned, it helps compile those fun "popular names" lists which so many of us enjoy. I don't particularly care how popular my kids' names are, but I know a lot of people really prefer either a common name, or a unique one, and I'm sure that information is accessed on a regular basis by thousands of Americans. Moreso than the demographics. Anyway, obviously there are lots of folks here who disagree with me, I'm just making the point that I don't see it as that big of a deal and gladly answer because I know that it is used to compile information which I have in the past and will continue to find helpful in making some major decisions for my family.
On a completely different look at this. I heard someone say they were actually disappointed in not being able to fill out the census. They were wondering what future generations doing geneology would do, not being able to find them as they have been very successful discovering much about their ancestors through census reports. as far as the debate goes, I don't see what the big deal is in filling it out.
I filled ours out tonight. It had just a few questions. I really don't get the opposition to the census. Using a social security number, the government can find out just about whatever it wants anyway.
I don't oppose it, I just don't see why they need to know info that has nothing to do with census. But everyone is different. I'm just a private person. I am so private that I have in the past, put those little magazine postcard subscriptions that you fill out and mail in, inside of an envelope. I did fill out the census but I left some info off. If someone knocks on my door, the first thing I will ask is if it's anonymous then why are you at my door asking for more information. Since when does anonymous ask you for first and last names of everyone in the household. To me, It doesn’t matter that they can get it anyway. That isn’t the point. My problem is they ask for info they don’t need and then they make I out to be something that it’s not .Don’t tell me it’s anonymous and then turn around and ask me for my first and last name.
Considering that our government now admits that the 1940 Census was used to find the Japanese Americans so they could be rounded up to be put into internment camps, I feel all that helpful statistical information is just a bit too handy to be used wrongly. On the other hand, if they are going to ask such questions, I would like to see them drop race--in fact, my racial backgrounds are rather distinct yet are completely ignored, so what's up with that?--and add a really revealing and rather important question about citizenship.
I haven't read all the posts yet, but I wanted to answer this.... I'm a member of a homeless action group. There is a growing movement across the US and Canada to prohibit people from living in their cars. Some cities say it's unsightly, others say it's for a person's own good because a car isn't an acceptable dwelling. On the upside, most homeless shelters allow the transient community to use the shelter address on such forms.
Interesting...didn't know that. I don't know...a car is better than the street. Also, a car may provide a means to get a job or go to school. I saw a documentary about a few teens who lived in their cars while going to high school. I'm not saying a car is a good dwelling place. I guess I just would feel sorry for someone to loose their car as well as their home. I don't like people living in their cars...but I know if all I had was a car..I wouldn't want to loose it. Okay..the homeless thing is making me sad...gotta go.
The question about citizenship would likely be useless unless the census was truly anonymous. Given that the code on the envelope (probably) is a track-back to the address (to identify which homes complied) and with names and birthdates, marking "no" to a citizenship question would be asking for an INS visit. Those who are not citizens but here legally would likely mark no because they have nothing to fear. But those who are not legal could easily mark "yes" without having to prove it, so as to no invoke the wrath of immigration.
When we live in a country where many people are removed from their homes by the government because their home doesn't have enough electricity or a refrigerator "for their own good," you can't expect them to see a car as ok.
As far as race....they did have a place to write in your race. I had to with my kids since they are bi-racial. I am NOT offended by that at all. It would take pages to list all the races and combination of races...so they just list the main ones. Makes sense to me. I have heard of people feeling bad about having to check "other" on their forms when they didn't fit what was there. Can we be more sensitive? lol. Who cares. Then again, I'm white so I have not experienced this...maybe there is a sting to it..who knows. My kids know to check bi-racial or other. In fact, they can check black or white for all I care. lol. Maybe I'm too casual regarding race...I don't know. Don't get me wrong I find racism disgusting...and I would be the first to be enraged by someone being oppressed based on race (or anything really). I still don't see the census as harmful. And this is coming from someone who hates the government. lol. I just don't see it as a big deal. Many things in our history have been used for evil. The bible has been used for evil...I still read it. So the census was used for rounding up the Japanese.....do I agree with that....NO..it sickens me. However, if the govt. was intent on rounding up the Japanese...they would have by some other means. Basically, all I am saying is that the census in and of itself is nothing. The govt. does NOT need the census to take our rights away or find us...or freeze our bank accounts. This was only the second census I have filled out in my adult life. You think they were blind to my existence all this time? Oh wait...I file taxes...that reveals far more than a census.
Amie..I read that...how horrible. I didn't know that went on. I knew houses were condemned...but I never thought about the impact.
And, as the article shows, sometimes when a home is condemned, it's not a structure issue. I.e. the woman use only used solar panels for electricity and didn't have a fridge. Her home was condemned for it.... But the house wasn't the problem at all.
When I was working at the welfare office, as of one month ago, there was a homeless man who lived in his car. He was allowed to park in the back of the welfare office during the night since he had no place to go. What was sad is the fact that he worked during the day and was on a housing list. The list is huge out here. Since he wasn't a drug addict and didn't have children, he was placed at the bottom of the list.:| During the summer and fall, it was fine but when winter came, I felt bad for him because we freeze in this part of the desert at night. Thankfully he stayed warm. We also have carpool parking lots where homeless people with cars are allowed to park, they just have to be out of there by morning because carpoolers need the parking.
