Census

[saggs]

Because it's interesting.... and I'm sure it's useful to someone.

That kind of information is very useful to folks into social studies and anthropology, stuff like that.  But they have their own research means of acquiring it.  And why does the government care.  Aren't they supposed to treat all citizens as equal regardless of race, color or creed?

[batch]

"its a federal crime for the census bureau to share any of the information you provide....... they can only generalize it into their statistics...... so no need to worry bout that"

its a federal crime for individuals to do so, but not a crime for the gov. itself to use that data.

incorrect sir...... the census bureau is allowed to generalize statistics and provide that information to the President......it may not give personally identifying information to anyone....... not a single person employed by the bureau nor the bureau as an agency itself is allowed to share any personally identifying information with any other person or agency ...... not the police, IRS, FBI, CIA, DHS, NOBODY........ this is a Federal crime punishable by up to 5 years in prison and $5000 fine...... the President himself is not even allowed to see personally identifying information........ NOBODY

re: Title 13..Chapter 7..Subchapter I > 214 of the US Code (thats the law)

Your personally identifying information is kept private for 72 years at which time it is released to the National Archives .... it is made public after this period for genealogical purposes (as prescribed by law)

[skernsk]

When was the last census?  Was there concern on filling it out then or simply because there is concern of the Socialist takover?  The last census I had was very general.  How many people, sex of people, age (not birthdates), employed/unemployed, etc. 

[AWwrgwy]

That kind of information is very useful to folks into social studies and anthropology, stuff like that.  But they have their own research means of acquiring it.  And why does the government care.  Aren't they supposed to treat all citizens as equal regardless of race, color or creed?

What does the Cencus have to do with how the government treats anyone?


wrongway

(forgot,IN)

[minke]

400,000 Brits filled their census forms religion section as Jedi. So many in fact that officials have now included Jedi on the list as an official religion.

I did that, so did 8 of my friends

[Motherland]

When was the last census?  Was there concern on filling it out then or simply because there is concern of the Socialist takover?  The last census I had was very general.  How many people, sex of people, age (not birthdates), employed/unemployed, etc. 

Censuses are conducted every 10 years.
Looking at Maverick's Post there haven't been many questions added in the last century...

[saggs]

What does the Cencus have to do with how the government treats anyone?


wrongway

(forgot,IN)

My point exactly, the census is to determine representation, and allocation of federal money.  What does race, color, or anything else have to do with how they do that? WHY do they need to ask those kinds of questions?

[skernsk]

Again its a demographics thing. 

Do they ask how many guns you own? 

Are you a member of acorn?

Yikes, put on the tinoil hat ...

[Kermit de frog]

Again its a demographics thing. 

Do they ask how many guns you own? 

Are you a member of acorn?

Yikes, put on the tinoil hat ...

You keep your blinders on...

[Denholm]

My optimistic thoughts suggest questions regarding race are attempts to rearrange associations of the term, "minority." My pessimistic thoughts formulate a completely different possibility.

[Motherland]

My optimistic thoughts suggest questions regarding race are attempts to rearrange associations of the term, "minority." My pessimistic thoughts formulate a completely different possibility.

I love reading about the distribution of ethnic/ethnoreligious groups and religions etc. so.... 

[CAP1]

It asks an aweful lot of very personal and detailed questions that I believe is not of the gov's bussiness.. yet it states its mandated by law to fill in.

So.. I could just fill in a bunch of BS or refuse to answer those specific questions.


Been trying to find info on what is truly mandated to answer to and what isnt. Ideas?

all the ads i see say there's only 10 questions........

[CAP1]

Im certainly not a legal scholar but I believe from what Ive read the only thing youre legally obligated to do is confirm the number of people living at that addy......... however that remains to be determined in a court of law..... since nobody has even been fined since the 1960 census for failure to comply... and in 1960 only 2 people were fined $100 each.........

one thing you can definitely count on though...... if you do not fill it out and return it.... there will be a knock on your door at some point........ the census bureau is mandated to make a house visit to any address that does not complete the form

I personally have never filled one out and I dont plan on doing it this year........ every time they came to my house I refused to answer questions other than confirming how many people live in the home

not even so much as my name.......... and no Im not a conspiracy theorists or anything........ I just refuse to give any info to the govt.........

its a federal crime for the census bureau to share any of the information you provide....... they can only generalize it into their statistics...... so no need to worry bout that

heheheheh..they can knock on my door all they want. they'll get one of three things.

1) no answer, as i'll prolly not be home,
2) no answer, as if i AM home, i'm either asleep, or flying
3) no answer, cause although i'm out, mom may be up here....she never answers the door though, unless she's expecting someone.

[CAP1]

Questions on the form, from the census web site.
Ten questions most of which I can see them wanting to know for demographics purposes I do not agree that the census needs my DOB, if I own or rent or are squatting and my phone number.

It seems to me if you are Hispanic then question 9 is superfluous.

Since I figure this is going to get locked shortly (political) IN

 The Questions on the Form (Text Version)

1. How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?
We ask this question to help get an accurate count of the number of people in the household on Census Day, April 1, 2010. The answer should be based on the guidelines in the 'Start here' section. We use the information to ensure response accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information.

2. Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Question 1?
Asked since 1880. We ask this question to help identify people who may have been excluded in the count provided in Question 1. We use the information to ensure response accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information.

3. Is this house, apartment, or mobile home: owned with mortgage, owned without mortgage, rented, occupied without rent?
Asked since 1890. Homeownership rates serve as an indicator of the nation's economy. The data are also used to administer housing programs and to inform planning decisions.

4. What is your telephone number?
We ask for a phone number in case we need to contact a respondent when a form is returned with incomplete or missing information.

5.  Please provide information for each person living here. Start with a person here who owns or rents this house, apartment, or mobile home. If the owner or renter lives somewhere else, start with any adult living here. This will be Person 1. What is Person 1's name?
Listing the name of each person in the household helps the respondent to include all members, particularly in large households where a respondent may forget who was counted and who was not. Also, names are needed if additional information about an individual must be obtained to complete the census form. Federal law protects the confidentiality of personal information, including names.

6.  What is Person 1's sex?
Asked since 1790. Census data about sex are important because many federal programs must differentiate between males and females for funding, implementing and evaluating their programs. For instance, laws promoting equal employment opportunity for women require census data on sex. Also, sociologists, economists, and other researchers who analyze social and economic trends use the data.

7.  What is Person 1's age and Date of Birth?
Asked since 1800. Federal, state, and local governments need data about age to interpret most social and economic characteristics, such as forecasting the number of people eligible for Social Security or Medicare benefits. The data are widely used in planning and evaluating government programs and policies that provide funds or services for children, working-age adults, women of childbearing age, or the older population.

8.  Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?
Asked since 1970. The data collected in this question are needed by federal agencies to monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as under the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State and local governments may use the data to help plan and administer bilingual programs for people of Hispanic origin.

9.  What is Person 1's race?
Asked since 1790. Race is key to implementing many federal laws and is needed to monitor compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State governments use the data to determine congressional, state and local voting districts. Race data are also used to assess fairness of employment practices, to monitor racial disparities in characteristics such as health and education and to plan and obtain funds for public services.

10.  Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?
This is another question we ask in order to ensure response accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information.

ya know? i may just be paranoid, but beyond who lives here, they don't need anything else......

[CAP1]

incorrect sir...... the census bureau is allowed to generalize statistics and provide that information to the President......it may not give personally identifying information to anyone....... not a single person employed by the bureau nor the bureau as an agency itself is allowed to share any personally identifying information with any other person or agency ...... not the police, IRS, FBI, CIA, DHS, NOBODY........ this is a Federal crime punishable by up to 5 years in prison and $5000 fine...... the President himself is not even allowed to see personally identifying information........ NOBODY

re: Title 13..Chapter 7..Subchapter I > 214 of the US Code (thats the law)

Your personally identifying information is kept private for 72 years at which time it is released to the National Archives .... it is made public after this period for genealogical purposes (as prescribed by law)

and much like everything else in life, you don't think there's any work arounds for that?