Send a Message to the Census

[Hammerhead]

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NDAzNTgyZTM4NGRiMzUxNDk2MzljMDBlMDdlYTQxMzU=

"John: I haven't gotten my letter from the Census Bureau yet asking me to make sure I fill out the questionnaire. But when I do fill it out, I'll use it to send a message."

"Fully one-quarter of the space on this year's form is taken up with questions of race and ethnicity, which are clearly illegitimate and none of the government's business (despite the New York Times' assurances to the contrary on today's editorial page). So until we succeed in building the needed wall of separation between race and state, I have a proposal. Question 9 on the census form asks "What is Person 1's race?" (and so on, for other members of the household). My initial impulse was simply to misidentify my race so as to throw a monkey wrench into the statistics; I had fun doing this on the personal-information form my college required every semester, where I was a Puerto Rican Muslim one semester, and a Samoan Buddhist the next. But lying in this constitutionally mandated process is wrong. Really — don't do it."

"Instead, we should answer Question 9 by checking the last option — "Some other race" — and writing in "American." It's a truthful answer but at the same time is a way for ordinary citizens to express their rejection of unconstitutional racial classification schemes. In fact, "American" was the plurality ancestry selection for respondents to the 2000 census in four states and several hundred counties."

"So remember: Question 9 — "Some other race" — "American". Pass it on."

[Todd]

i got my reminder letter in the mail today. Cant wait to get it so i can put in all sorts of goofy shit.

[jkhonea]

Not to mention the usual waste of money by the government. "Here's the letter to tell you you'll be getting another letter to fill out."

HEY DUMBASSES, QUIT WASTING MONEY SENDING US LETTERS TELLING US WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING LETTERS!

This is as moronic as when we got letters telling us were were going to be getting another envelope with the stimulus checks.

Seriously, what ****ing brain surgeons.

[Karl Hungus]

I'm answering Appalachian American.

[petrel800]

Or you could just write in the number of people in the household and then not answer any other questions. That is the only thing the consitution calls for. That social engineering question crap is garbage.

[Carbon Can Kat]

Or you could just write in the number of people in the household and then not answer any other questions. That is the only thing the consitution calls for. That social engineering question crap is garbage.

That is what I intend to do.

[Karl Hungus]

By the time this data becomes publicly viewable in 2082 everyone will be pretty much the same race as Tiger Woods.

[Butthead]

got my letter before the letter yesterday. what a bunch of f'n idiots. and don't forget the stupid super bowl ads.

[winmutt]

Where is my crayon?

[TarzanMan]

Why do you guys dislike the census so much?

[Dan43]

Why do you guys dislike the census so much?Because they are asking questions on the census that go beyound the Consitutional intent of the census.

[Karl Hungus]

They're asking the same questions they always do. Who lives in this house and how are they related.

[impalanar]

They're asking the same questions they always do. Who lives in this house and how are they related.

And are they hispanic and what is their race and what is your phone number and do you have a second home. Just because they always ask the same questions does not make them relevant nor constitutional.

As a side note, the fine is less for not filling out the census form than it is for giving misinformation on the census form.

[Karl Hungus]

I want to know how many Hispanics there are. And where they are.

[impalanar]

I want to know how many Hispanics there are. And where they are.

I imagine, the ones you want to know about will not be filling out a census form.

[MrBlah]

I'm spanish, french, irish, norwegian, wife is british/dutch, will I actually get in trouble putting down other, american ?

Spanish is one option, as is "white". I do not think they should even be asking race, it should not make any difference at all what race a person is

[Karl Hungus]

According to the web site they've been asking about race since 1790. That was the first census btw.

[impalanar]

According to the web site they've been asking about race since 1790. That was the first census btw.

Does not make it relevant or constitutional.

[impalanar]

I'm spanish, french, irish, norwegian, wife is british/dutch, will I actually get in trouble putting down other, american ?

Spanish is one option, as is "white". I do not think they should even be asking race, it should not make any difference at all what race a person is

I agree. During the last census, I put down "Other - Danish American." If I decide to do the census this year I will probably go with "Other - American." They can have my home phone number, it is not actually hooked up to a phone.

[Dan43]

I will tell them how many people live in my house. The rest of it will remain blank.

[Karl Hungus]

Does not make it relevant or constitutional.

Don't you think that the people who did the first census had a better grasp of that than you? I think someone was probably overseeing them. Probably Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison.

[Dan43]

Don't you think that the people who did the first census had a better grasp of that than you? I think someone was probably overseeing them. Probably Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison.I don't think the politicians and bureaucrats running the United States government for the last several decades even know who Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison were. Hell, I don't think any of them have even read the Constitution of the United States of America.

[Dan43]

According to the web site they've been asking about race since 1790. That was the first census btw.The original questions were:
Name of head of household
Number of persons in household
Number of Free White Males over the age of 16
Number of Free White Males under the age of 16
Number of Free White Females
Number of all other Free Persons (by sex and color)
Number of slaves

They have added questions about phone numbers, weather you own or rent and the relationship of the persons in the household. None of those are any business of the census. The justification of breaking the occupants out by race and sex was to ensure the security of the nation since only Free White Males were eligible for military service. Since that is no longer true, I don't believe that there still exists any Constitutionally valid reason for asking about race or sex.

[impalanar]

Don't you think that the people who did the first census had a better grasp of that than you? I think someone was probably overseeing them. Probably Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison.

I do, but at least the questions were relevant if not necessarily Constitutional.

[Dan43]

I do, but at least the questions were relevant if not necessarily Constitutional.In 1790 questions about race and sex would have been Consitutional. But the Constitution has been amended since 1790.

[impalanar]

In 1790 questions about race and sex would have been Consitutional. But the Constitution has been amended since 1790.

Rereading the clause, race would have been constitutional but not sex since women counted the same as men for the purposes the census was designed for.

[Karl Hungus]

I wonder when the word 'unconstitutional' was first used?

[Dan43]

Rereading the clause, race would have been constitutional but not sex since women counted the same as men for the purposes the census was designed for.sex would have still been fine, because at that time there was nothing in the Constitution about equality for the sexes or preventing discrimination based on sex.

[impalanar]

sex would have still been fine, because at that time there was nothing in the Constitution about equality for the sexes or preventing discrimination based on sex.

Yes, but sex was irrelevant to the purpose of the census.

[Phatmax]

I am THROUGHLY sickened by this 2010 Census and the ads and mailers.

All the TV ads and flyers, (I even got one from the City of Holly Springs), mention how the Census is "important" so that your locality "Gets what it deserves" in the way of Federal grants, etc.

The Flyer the city of Holly Springs sent out mentions the number. $1,500 in "grants" per person.

Excuse me? What the ****? So the Census is about getting your "fair share"????

So the Census is about how much MONEY your locality will get from the Feds? Wait one G*ddamn minute. Each PENNY of that $1500 comes NOT from the federal government but from the TAXPAYING CITIZENS. And considering that we as a country are running an ENORMOUS deficit and this will only INCREASE the amount of Federal Grants going out.... How in the hell is this sustainable or even RIGHT?

How about each person still with a JOB simply GIVE the city you live in $1500 EXTRA dollars from your bank account? That is what is happening ANYWAY, cut out the ****ing federal middle-man.

It looks like this 2010 Census is more about ENTITLEMENT SPENDING then anything else.

Race, sex, etc. should be secondary to this ABOMINATION.

Damn it I am pissed.

[wbeck257]

So, all you deficit hawks, how do you feel about this.

If you send your census back in the mail, it cost .gov about $0.50.
If you don't send it back because Glenn Beck says its the devil, it cost the .gov about $50.

So for all the crying about how much the .gov waste, you now become part of the problem.

[Troutman]

The government wants to control every part of your lives, well at least Barry does. The faster you complete your census flyer the faster Barry can own you.

[wbeck257]

:rofl:

[Phatmax]

So, all you deficit hawks, how do you feel about this.

If you send your census back in the mail, it cost .gov about $0.50.
If you don't send it back because Glenn Beck says its the devil, it cost the .gov about $50.

So for all the crying about how much the .gov waste, you now become part of the problem.


And, for the "Not really paying attention" award....

[patracy]

I'm going to answer the race question as:

Other: Certified Arsehole

[impalanar]

So, all you deficit hawks, how do you feel about this.

If you send your census back in the mail, it cost .gov about $0.50.
If you don't send it back because Glenn Beck says its the devil, it cost the .gov about $50.

So for all the crying about how much the .gov waste, you now become part of the problem.

In 2000 I completed my census form within two days and sent it back. Over the course of the next two months, I had three Census workers come by and ask the same questions. So, tell me how sending in the form saves money? And, if it costs me $50 (Yes, I said me since it is my money) then I am OK with that.

[TarzanMan]

Honestly, I don't see what the big f*cking deal is. The census asks you a bunch of questions about who lives in your house and what your ethnicity is.

You voluntarily give more information than that to private parties when you open a bank account, get a credit card, or get a loan. The government doesn't need a census to find out the 'dirt' on you. My guess is that 3/4 of that info is somewhere in an IRS computer or on file with the DMV or State dept (if you have a passport). Do you vote? Add that to the list of departments storing your personal info.

Basically, the one database that is least likely to scrutinize you as an individual is the one that you decide to rally against. Way to stick it to the man. How dare the government try to get accurate information regarding the make-up and distribution of its populace. Its all a big trick... if you fill it out then they'll take your guns away (or something).

[Hammerhead]

Honestly, I don't see what the big f*cking deal is. The census asks you a bunch of questions about who lives in your house and what your ethnicity is.



Don't you want to live in a colorblind society?


BTW...I wonder how Barry answers the race question?

[Phatmax]

Don't you want to live in a colorblind society?


BTW...I wonder how Barry answers the race question?

This.

We CONSTANTLY are told how "everyone is the same" and there are NO differences between people. Then we have to go and document our differences and the government has "equal opportunity" commissions, offices etc., and affirmative action. WHICH ONE IS IT? Are minorities incapable of succeeding without massive government support (which is what the government is telling us with there actions) or if everyone is the same and has the same abilities, it just means you have to work hard to succeed, and RISK FAILURE.

FYI, for my ethnicity answers, with me being white, my wife black and our child both....

All three of us are AMERICAN.

I also LOVED the caveat that Hispanic is not a race......But what kind of Hispanic are you?

So if Hispanic is not a race....then why would they need any special acknowledgement for government programs.

[MrBlah]

if hispanic is not a race, why is white or black a race? maybe the choices should be white, black, yellow, brown ?

will I get in trouble if I put other, american ?

[Phatmax]

if hispanic is not a race, why is white or black a race? maybe the choices should be white, black, yellow, brown ?

will I get in trouble if I put other, american ?

I doubt it. I did, and I think MANY more are going to. If the Government comes knocking on thousands or tens of thousands of doors to force the issue, then I think there is merit to asking why it is so damned important if every American is supposed to have the same rights and be views as all equal by the government....
Unless the government is giving certain groups extra special treatment, then as Americans we have the right and power to say enough.

[willr1]

Absolutly, I just answered the number of people in my household and no other's in the past 10yrs and sent it on in

[Derrick]

I threw mine right in the garbage

[wbeck257]

I threw mine right in the garbage

Thanks for wasteing the taxpayers money.

[Phatmax]

I threw mine right in the garbage

uh oh..... We can't waterboard terrorists....but you Census deniers are fair game...

[wbeck257]

Good sidestep -- but, wether the Cenus is right, wrong, evil, or an abortion of your rights -- they are still going to spend the money, your money, my money, whatever, to come to your house and see why you couldn't send answers to 10 questions back.

[Hammerhead]

Thanks for wasteing the taxpayers money.

I think you should email the same thing to the White House.

[impalanar]

Good sidestep -- but, wether the Cenus is right, wrong, evil, or an abortion of your rights -- they are still going to spend the money, your money, my money, whatever, to come to your house and see why you couldn't send answers to 10 questions back.

They are probably going to come whether you fill out the form or not, so keep crying about it and that will make it better.

[Phatmax]

Good sidestep -- but, wether the Cenus is right, wrong, evil, or an abortion of your rights -- they are still going to spend the money, your money, my money, whatever, to come to your house and see why you couldn't send answers to 10 questions back.

Deep breath.... just making a joke...

[Phatmax]

They are probably going to come whether you fill out the form or not, so keep crying about it and that will make it better.

Then come after you for more tax money to pay for all the f*cking socialist schemes being developed counter to the wishes of the American people they are supposed to be counting.

I see that AMNESTY is coming, and Obama won't rule out using DEEM AND PASS for that....

At what point do the Obama supporters acknowledge that what is happening RIGHT NOW is bad and it is the current president and current Congress CAUSING THE PROBLEMS and circumventing the Constitution and ignoring what the Citizens want?

[SpeedGeek]

This.

We CONSTANTLY are told how "everyone is the same" and there are NO differences between people. Then we have to go and document our differences and the government has "equal opportunity" commissions, offices etc., and affirmative action. WHICH ONE IS IT? Are minorities incapable of succeeding without massive government support (which is what the government is telling us with there actions) or if everyone is the same and has the same abilities, it just means you have to work hard to succeed, and RISK FAILURE.

FYI, for my ethnicity answers, with me being white, my wife black and our child both....

All three of us are AMERICAN.

I also LOVED the caveat that Hispanic is not a race......But what kind of Hispanic are you?

So if Hispanic is not a race....then why would they need any special acknowledgement for government programs.


Yes and no,...

I don't have a problem with them asking how many people are in a household at a given address. ASking ages, sex - again, no problem. The race stuff I think is BS, but again, I understand why they do it, but agree that if we're supposed to all be equal why should it matter?

Here are some of the reasons:

1) they ask the demographic questions to help with doing voting redistricting. If they see that there are concentrations of predominantly black individuals or hispanics in a region, they will try to district such that those people will get a district of their own, and thus have a greater likelihood of putting a black or hispanic,etc into office representing their interests (rather than having them be drown out by other groups.) And note, the same is done with whites...

At least that's the claim. Again though, if we're all supposed to be equal, this sort of thing should go down the crapper and it should just be done by population and some sort of geographic structure. The current districting maps are a GD mess with districts not even geographically contiguous in some places! So because my neighborhood has a lot of blacks, hispanics and asians in it, suddenly my voice no longer counts? I can't get a white rep because I'm lumped into a district but the next neighborhood over that might have newer higher end houses and is mostly white is in another?

2) The part you're getting upset about Phat - think of it this way - when the Gov figures out where they're going to allocate funding (don't think NEW grants, think existing stuff like infrastructure projects like road building or water treatment, etc) they need to know where the people are concentrated so they know to spend more in those locations. I DO agree with your issue with how local govs present it ("Get more from the Feds!", nevermind that WE are giving them the money).

But think about it this way - If you're shelling out $5K in taxes to the Gov.... you're going to pay that regardless. Would you rather see that $5K spent where you live, or go to some other part of the country benefiting some other group that you'll never be able to take advantage of?

Growing up in upstate NY (Syracuse and Utica area) we used to HATE how our taxes would get bumped up year after year, and 90% of the money would get spent on stuff related to NYC and we'd get squat. Why? Because the population in NYC is more than the rest of the state.

The census helps them figure out where they need to spend the money (again, same lump of money one way or another..)

Anyhow, I already filled mine out... answered all of it... I don't really give a crap. I WANT them to know that I'm WHITE dammit!

[impalanar]

Yes and no,...

I don't have a problem with them asking how many people are in a household at a given address. ASking ages, sex - again, no problem. The race stuff I think is BS, but again, I understand why they do it, but agree that if we're supposed to all be equal why should it matter?

Here are some of the reasons:

1) they ask the demographic questions to help with doing voting redistricting. If they see that there are concentrations of predominantly black individuals or hispanics in a region, they will try to district such that those people will get a district of their own, and thus have a greater likelihood of putting a black or hispanic,etc into office representing their interests (rather than having them be drown out by other groups.) And note, the same is done with whites...

At least that's the claim. Again though, if we're all supposed to be equal, this sort of thing should go down the crapper and it should just be done by population and some sort of geographic structure. The current districting maps are a GD mess with districts not even geographically contiguous in some places! So because my neighborhood has a lot of blacks, hispanics and asians in it, suddenly my voice no longer counts? I can't get a white rep because I'm lumped into a district but the next neighborhood over that might have newer higher end houses and is mostly white is in another?

2) The part you're getting upset about Phat - think of it this way - when the Gov figures out where they're going to allocate funding (don't think NEW grants, think existing stuff like infrastructure projects like road building or water treatment, etc) they need to know where the people are concentrated so they know to spend more in those locations. I DO agree with your issue with how local govs present it ("Get more from the Feds!", nevermind that WE are giving them the money).

But think about it this way - If you're shelling out $5K in taxes to the Gov.... you're going to pay that regardless. Would you rather see that $5K spent where you live, or go to some other part of the country benefiting some other group that you'll never be able to take advantage of?

Growing up in upstate NY (Syracuse and Utica area) we used to HATE how our taxes would get bumped up year after year, and 90% of the money would get spent on stuff related to NYC and we'd get squat. Why? Because the population in NYC is more than the rest of the state.

The census helps them figure out where they need to spend the money (again, same lump of money one way or another..)

Anyhow, I already filled mine out... answered all of it... I don't really give a crap. I WANT them to know that I'm WHITE dammit!

In response:

1. This is called Gerrymandering, while not illegal, is also not right. Also not a function of the census.

2. He is upset that they are asking more than the requisite "How many people live here?" Which is all that is required for your lengthy explanation.

[derhntr76]

I am THROUGHLY sickened by this 2010 Census and the ads and mailers.

All the TV ads and flyers, (I even got one from the City of Holly Springs), mention how the Census is "important" so that your locality "Gets what it deserves" in the way of Federal grants, etc.

The Flyer the city of Holly Springs sent out mentions the number. $1,500 in "grants" per person.

Excuse me? What the ****? So the Census is about getting your "fair share"????

So the Census is about how much MONEY your locality will get from the Feds? Wait one G*ddamn minute. Each PENNY of that $1500 comes NOT from the federal government but from the TAXPAYING CITIZENS. And considering that we as a country are running an ENORMOUS deficit and this will only INCREASE the amount of Federal Grants going out.... How in the hell is this sustainable or even RIGHT?

How about each person still with a JOB simply GIVE the city you live in $1500 EXTRA dollars from your bank account? That is what is happening ANYWAY, cut out the ****ing federal middle-man.

It looks like this 2010 Census is more about ENTITLEMENT SPENDING then anything else.

Race, sex, etc. should be secondary to this ABOMINATION.

Damn it I am pissed.
Save your anger for the election. It will come in handy. We are putting number of people, age, and American. If they want anything else, look it up. They already have all your data.

[SpeedGeek]

Yeah, seriously, I mean, it IS tax season... Shouldn't those be the only ones that count, those of us who are PAYING for all this shit???

[TarzanMan]

Don't you want to live in a colorblind society?
Don't misconstrue the issue of race. There are plenty of reasons why it makes sense to record race along with other characteristics when collecting demographic data. Even a cursory glance at history makes it clear why it is relevant. Women and men are also supposed to be equal in the eyes of the law... would you also suggest that its a waste of time to record the ratio of women to men in the country?
What about recording your eye color or hair color when you go to the doctor's office and get a physical?

If the country were colorblind, then the fact that they still do ask for race on the census wouldn't register on anyone's radar. Do blonds or gingers get up in arms when they see a checkbox asking their hair color? Just another in a (as you put it) long series of nosy questions that the bean counters want to make graphs and diagrams with.


BTW...I wonder how Barry answers the race question?
However he wants, but that is largely besides the point. 9 times out of 10, how the rest of the world sees your 'race' has more of an effect than how your own perspective on it.

[MrBlah]

I got another letter today, reminding me to fill out the census

at what point do we start saying one race or another, my great grandparents are spanish, does that make me spanish? On the other side they are irish, so am I irish?

[Karl Hungus]

I got another letter today, reminding me to fill out the census

at what point do we start saying one race or another, my great grandparents are spanish, does that make me spanish? On the other side they are irish, so am I irish?

That was the question I found odd. Spanish, Irish, Chinese... those aren't races. They're nationalities or ancestries. But if the Census bureau wants to collect that information (it's really your preference what to answer) it doesn't bother me.

[KTM Rider]

sex and age within the household is all that is needed to comply with the requirements of what the census is designed to do. they can come to my house if they want to. just as i do with anyone else who knocks on the door that i dont know or dont want to talk to when i see them on the security camera, i will ignore them too.

[Gamecock]

sex and age within the household is all that is needed to comply with the requirements of what the census is designed to do. they can come to my house if they want to. just as i do with anyone else who knocks on the door that i dont know or dont want to talk to when i see them on the security camera, i will ignore them too.

# of people and sex is all they got from me. If they ask me about it, my 5-year old filled it out for us.