What US Census Bureau Region do you represent?

[NonServiam]

I am really surprised at the poll numbers so far. I would never figure that the south would have such a large snus following. I know the south is big on tobacco, but I always figured the south would be more traditional and less likely to try "some of that foreign made tobaccy". I would have guessed that snus would be more of a Yankee thing (no offense northerners).

[sgreger1]

I'm not sure what the big deal is with the census. Any illusion of privacy is just that, an illusion. Your name is on the mortgage or the renters agreement, your bank history shows when you pay they bill and where you live, your credit report shows your residences, and your phone number is publicly available. All of this can be found with a simple google search. If the gov really wanted to watch you, they have even cooler equipment, so not filling out your census or ommitting certain information does not accomplish any type of privacy.


I think the census is important because it is important to know how many people are in the country, as well as how many people are in each district. This helps them decide how to break up the budget, i.e. places with more kids gets more money for school. I really don't see any kind of government conspiracy behind it and I fully support it.


They don't ask for anything personal other than your name, race, number of people in household, and maybe phone number (I don't even think they asked me for that). And race is optional. So I mean they're not asking for medical record or statistics on your internet porn usage or anything. Just getting a headcount, which does serve a vital purpose to the county, city, state, and nation.


Can someone explain to me what the beef is with the census? My dad is like that too, he thinks he is giving up some privaledged information by telling the gov where he lives, yet they already know.

[NonServiam]

I've thought about that as well. I think it's because it's one of the few ways that we as Americans feel like we can fight back or speak our mind about our disapproval of the government's intrusion into our personal lives.

You are right, we are not providing any more information in the census packet then we do to anyone else. Hell, the first time you visit a doctor you have to fill out a 7 page "about me". But even those irritate me. I've seen the incompetence of some of these doc's secretaries, and I sure as hell don't trust them with my social security number. I give them the last 4 digits. They can figure it out from there!

Sure there is other ways to feel like you're "stickin' it to da man", but those will usually get you in more trouble. Yeah, it's against the law to not complete your census (or so the envelope says), but they're not going to enforce it. They'll just keep you bugging you about it until you submit.

For me, it's just a matter of trying to stay off the grid. Like I've said before, a public search engine will show nothing for me. Type my address into mapquest or google earth and you will get nothing. I spoke to my postmaster the other day and she said that the address assigned to my property doesn't even exist and she has no idea why such an illogical series of numbers was even conceived by the county. We only get our mail because the carrier is familiar with us. Unfortunately they'll probably be correcting that problem soon.

Edit: Apparently I'm not off the grid as much as I think I am. The bearded lady from the census bureau found me just fine. I'm probably off the grid just enough to really confuse the pizza delivery guy!

[sgreger1]

I've thought about that as well. I think it's because it's one of the few ways that we as Americans feel like we can fight back or speak our mind about our disapproval of the government's intrusion into our personal lives.

You are right, we are not providing any more information in the census packet then we do to anyone else. Hell, the first time you visit a doctor you have to fill out a 7 page "about me". But even those irritate me. I've seen the incompetence of some of these doc's secretaries, and I sure as hell don't trust them with my social security number. I give them the last 4 digits. They can figure it out from there!

Sure there is other ways to feel like you're "stickin' it to da man", but those will usually get you in more trouble. Yeah, it's against the law to not complete your census (or so the envelope says), but they're not going to enforce it. They'll just keep you bugging you about it until you submit.

For me, it's just a matter of trying to stay off the grid. Like I've said before, a public search engine will show nothing for me. Type my address into mapquest or google earth and you will get nothing. I spoke to my postmaster the other day and she said that the address assigned to my property doesn't even exist and she has no idea why such an illogical series of numbers was even conceived by the county. We only get our mail because the carrier is familiar with us. Unfortunately they'll probably be correcting that problem soon.

I can see it as a way to protest but it seems like one of the worst ways. If your whole district doesn't do it, they will get less money for public projects like roads and schools, public transportation etc. So it really only hurts your community as a whole. I don't know if anyone here has any knowledge of the Intel field or even knows someone who is a private investigator, but all the information you feel is private is openly available for a VERY small price. Any joe can get everything, including your social security number, mothers maiden name etc. If the gov wanted it they wouldn't go through the trouble of mailing you a census form, they would just look it up on the computer. Your library card provides more info than the census form does.

[NonServiam]

I can see it as a way to protest but it seems like one of the worst ways. If your whole district doesn't do it, they will get less money for public projects like roads and schools, public transportation etc. So it really only hurts your community as a whole. I don't know if anyone here has any knowledge of the Intel field or even knows someone who is a private investigator, but all the information you feel is private is openly available for a VERY small price. Any joe can get everything, including your social security number, mothers maiden name etc. If the gov wanted it they wouldn't go through the trouble of mailing you a census form, they would just look it up on the computer. Your library card provides more info than the census form does.

As much as I hate to admit it, yes...the census is there to help in the proper allocation of gov't funds/projects (or so they say...du, du, dun). Perhaps, I can find another way to stick it to da man. Like not paying my state taxes on snus purchased online.....oh wait, they've just recently taken care of that problem. Nevermind

[sgreger1]

As much as I hate to admit it, yes...the census is there to help in the proper allocation of gov't funds/projects (or so they say...du, du, dun). Perhaps, I can find another way to stick it to da man. Like not paying my state taxes on snus purchased online.....oh wait, they've just recently taken care of that problem. Nevermind

Resistance is futile! Nay, resistance is verboten!

I always thought a good form of protest would be to write in a rediculous candidate in all major elections. Like elmo. We should start a movement for the upcoming elections as well as those in 2010, lets all pencil in whoever wins this years special olympics and get him/her elected. Everyone can enjoy a good laugh after a few years when people realize a certified retard has ran the country better than our ivy league elites did.

[NonServiam]

I always thought a good form of protest would be to write in a rediculous candidate in all major elections. Like elmo.

I don't know about Elmo, but I would vote for The Count. It would really lighten up the nat'l debt.
" 1...ha ha ha" "2....ha ha ha"

[CoderGuy]

I'm not sure what the big deal is with the census. Any illusion of privacy is just that, an illusion. Your name is on the mortgage or the renters agreement, your bank history shows when you pay they bill and where you live, your credit report shows your residences, and your phone number is publicly available. All of this can be found with a simple google search. If the gov really wanted to watch you, they have even cooler equipment, so not filling out your census or ommitting certain information does not accomplish any type of privacy.


I think the census is important because it is important to know how many people are in the country, as well as how many people are in each district. This helps them decide how to break up the budget, i.e. places with more kids gets more money for school. I really don't see any kind of government conspiracy behind it and I fully support it.


They don't ask for anything personal other than your name, race, number of people in household, and maybe phone number (I don't even think they asked me for that). And race is optional. So I mean they're not asking for medical record or statistics on your internet porn usage or anything. Just getting a headcount, which does serve a vital purpose to the county, city, state, and nation.


Can someone explain to me what the beef is with the census? My dad is like that too, he thinks he is giving up some privaledged information by telling the gov where he lives, yet they already know.

Agreed. We provide much more personal information applying for a local credit card. You can to go any county assessor website and punch in an address and get the name of the owners, how much their house is assessed for, and the price they paid. There are numerous websites out there that for 49 bucks will let you get everything about a person including a background check. People are so goofy sometimes.

[sgreger1]

I don't know about Elmo, but I would vote for The Count. It would really lighten up the nat'l debt.
" 1...ha ha ha" "2....ha ha ha"

12 trillion, ha ha ha, 12 trillion and 1, ha ha ha, twelve trillion and 2, ha ha ha. (Until infinity)