2010 Census stupidity
Posted by Mike Sylvester - 3/8/10 @ 11:28 pm - Filed Under National Politics
I got a letter at my house this evening from the US Department of Commerce. The text of this letter is below:
Dear Resident:
About one week from now you will receive a 2010 Census form in the mail. When yuo receive your form, please fill it out and mail it in promptly.
Your response is important . Results from the 2010 Census will be used to help each community get its fair share of government funds for highways, schools, health facilities, and many other programs you and your neighbors need. Without a complete, accurate census, your community may ot receive its fair share.
What a waste of taxpayer dollars. Why do they need to send me a “warning letter” telling me that I will get a form to fill out next week?
Mike
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15 Responses to “2010 Census stupidity”
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Mike,
I laughed when I opened mine yesterday. How many households are there in the U.S.? Multiply that times whatever the bulk mail rate is and maybe it can be called a stimulus check for the USPS?
Yeah, wasn’t Ed Begley Jr. reminder enough?
AWB,
Plus the cost of envelopes, paper, etc.
Mike
Just wait for the billboards, the ads on TV, etc. I actually saw some tape measures floating around with the 2010 census logo on it. What a waste.
And government run/controlled/sponsored/ health care will save trillions using the same methodology.
Gawd this country is sooooo farked…..
Perhaps the Census Bureau is just doing its part to help keep the Postal Service afloat.
Wow, thanks for the heads up on this. I didn’t even realize that there was a census this year because I always change the channel whenever Ed Begley Jr. appears.
I wonder if they’ll spend another billion bucks to send out thank you cards to everyone who replied.
They spent $85 million for the ‘warning’ letter.
Further, the whole pitch makes it sound like that if we comply with the Census, we’ll get our fair share of “the money”. So, if that’s the case, let’s all put down that there are 100 people living at our houses……then the money will really start pouring in…..
The rationale behind the warning letters was that if they increase compliance with the surveys that are being mailed out, then they would in fact save taxpayer money. Fewer census workers would have to be hired if more people fill out the forms that they are sent.
Here’s my attitude towards the matter: If you don’t fill out the form, you shouldn’t get counted. Period. If you can’t be bothered with a simple form, then the federal government doesn’t owe you any services.
“If you don’t fill out the form, you shouldn’t get counted. Period. If you can’t be bothered with a simple form, then the federal government doesn’t owe you any services.”
The problem with this thinking is that the benefits of the census are assigned to groups, not individuals. If certain people fail to exercise individual responsibility, others will pay a price for it.
The census hand delivered my the Census to me.
Anthony Wayne,
Think of it like voting. Clearly some segments of the population do not believe there are any benefits to voting or filling out a census form. Does the fact that I belong to the same group as you obligate me to vote the same way that you do? You may very well be subjected to the outcome of my decision, and vice versa. But adults do have legitimate disagreements on what benefits and harms their respective groups. Would it have been in a Japanese-American’s best interest to respond to the 1940 census?
So if you feel that it is in your group’s best interest to comply with the census, then the burden should be on you to see that they do.
Robert,
I doubt if most people who fail to fill out a census form are doing so with the actual intent of causing the entire state of Indiana to lose another Congressional delaegate, but that is what their inactions effectively end up doing.
I agree that such slackoffs are irresponsible and I shouldn’t be concerned if it only meant they would be harmed as a result. But the way the system works, there is actually strong logic to support a decision for us to spend time and money to get these people counted.
1. They deliver “your census form is coming” postcards to post office boxes. Nobody lives in my post office box. Yours?
2. The census formerly clearly states ….”living in your residence as of APRIL 1, 2010″. Today I got a postcard demanding that I fill out the form and send it back immediately. The postcard also reminds me (again) that “your response to the U.S. Census Bureau is required by law.”
OK…is there a penalty for stating on the census form that a person is living at a specific address on April 1 when, in fact, that person did not make it to April 1? Just asking.
Today is March 22. At my age, assuming that I’m going to be alive on April 1 is, at the least, hubris. As George Burns (and every other old fart) said, “At my age I don’t even buy green bananas.”
I suppose another round of postcards will be sent out on April 2 tweaking us again.
Is this endless stream of mail a money maker for the U. S. Postal Service (not a branch of the government) or is it yet another money loser, helping to contribute to that common 21st Century malady, reduced service at higher prices?
I’ve received 3 census forms total as of today, April 9, even though I filled out the first one promptly several weeks ago and sent it back. I tossed the other two. Maybe I should have filled them all out, but with contradictory info? Methinks the Census Bureau is incompetent, to say the least.