Census 2010: They were at my house today

[that_someone_special]

We got our census form on Monday. Mailed it out Tuesday.

Today, Saturday, a man came to our door (condo) and buzzed everyone that was home and asked everyone to sign a form stating that we mailed ours back.

...

I know you are supposed to send it back, but they should give you more than 5 days huh?? I mean.. I just don''t get it.

Has this happened to anyone else? It just seems like such a waste.

 

[packrat]

Tax dollars at work eh? I''ve not heard of it happening before and it seems incredibly ridiculous!

 

[trillionaire]

seriously? I''m not signing anything. I mailed it, and if you trust the postal service, then sit and wait. If not, ask them to track it for you.

I wonder if that guy was even legit???

 

[iheartscience]

I would have sicced my bulldogs on him.

 

[noelwr]

what is the census used for? they don't do this where I live. maybe they get the information another way, but I don't ever remember being asked things like my religion, lineage or income (though income they can get from the tax office).

 

[ksinger]

Date: 3/20/2010 11:43:43 PM
Author:swedish bean
We got our census form on Monday. Mailed it out Tuesday.

Today, Saturday, a man came to our door (condo) and buzzed everyone that was home and asked everyone to sign a form stating that we mailed ours back.

...

I know you are supposed to send it back, but they should give you more than 5 days huh?? I mean.. I just don''t get it.

Has this happened to anyone else? It just seems like such a waste.

Did anyone ask for his credentials? I could be wrong but that is NOT passing the sniff-test at ALL.

 

[jewelz617]

I haven''t even gotten a census form yet. Hmph...

 

[somethingshiny]

I''d have asked to see some ID. That just sounds off to me.

noel~ Religion, (extended) lineage and income are not questions on the standard census form. The standard form asks how many, what age, and what (very general) race the household members are. There is a sampling done that incorporates a longer form with more demographic info. The info is used to distribute funds for hospitals, schools, roads etc. It''s also used to determine how many US Reps per state.

The census from years and years ago were long forms that are currently used to research genealogy. You could plausibly find out what your (well obviously not YOUR..) great great grandfather did for a living, how much he made, how many hours/week he worked. Those who study genealogy are disappointed that are current forms are so short.

 

[Tuckins1]

The census is used to determine the population, demographics, etc... This information is very important to our government because the amount of people living in a state determines how many seats they get in the house of representatives (part of our government) and it also will determine how much aid/ federal dollars will be allocated for various needs. Everyone in the country is obligated to participate- it's part of the constitution. I don't know how things like this are done in other countries.


Sorry for the double post!!

 

[Tuckins1]

Date: 3/21/2010 9:43:55 AM
Author: noelwr
what is the census used for? they don''t do this where I live. maybe they get the information another way, but I don''t ever remember being asked things like my religion, lineage or income (though income they can get from the tax office).

The census is used to determine the population, demographics, etc... This information is very important to our government because the amount of people living in a state determines how many seats they get in the house of representatives (part of our government) and it also will determine how much aid/ federal dollars will be allocated for various needs. Everyone in the country is obligated to participate- it''s part of the constitution. I don''t know how things like this are done in other countries.

 

[that_someone_special]

Fi did not ask for id- just signed it. It DOES seem off to me as well.

This is actually the second time they came out- the first was to confirm how many units are in our condo building.

Hmmm something really isn''t adding up...

 

[sparklyheart]

I know the government hired a bunch of people to go door-to-door for census stuff but I''m not exactly sure what they are doing. According to their website, the role of a census taker is :

[*]locating households,
[*]explaining the purpose of the census,
[*]conducting brief personal interviews, helping neighbors complete their 2010 Census questionnaire, and
[*]recording responses on paper forms.

It seems odd that he made y''all sign something saying you mailed it but maybe that is his proof that you did it.. And if you didn''t mail it in, maybe he would have asked you all the questions and filled it out for you?

I hope your FI read the page he signed to make sure he was signing to say he mailed it and not for something else...

 

[lilyfoot]

This definitely sounds fishy

 

[noelwr]

thanks for the explanation!

I guess I live in a small country and you are required to register living in your town when you move or someone is born. the government then sends this information to the tax office. if you don''t do this, you probably wouldn''t be entitled to subsidies (child care, health care, etc).

out of interest, why do they need to know your race?

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 3/22/2010 2:36:04 PM
Author: noelwr
thanks for the explanation!

I guess I live in a small country and you are required to register living in your town when you move or someone is born. the government then sends this information to the tax office. if you don''t do this, you probably wouldn''t be entitled to subsidies (child care, health care, etc).

out of interest, why do they need to know your race?

Just demographics. My husband does statistical sociological analysis and uses the Census data for a lot of his work, and it allows him to see if race/ethnicity has any kind of implication for criminological patterns, as well as looking for possible links between race/ethnicity and income levels, education, etc. One particular project he was working on was analyzing convenience store crime and one of the variables used was race/ethnicity.

Truly, I am not sure what the Census will do in another ten years when there are many more people of mixed race--melting pot people, who don''t identify with any one racial group more than any other. I don''t know that the question will continue to be relevant.

 

[katamari]

They allowed people to select more than one race starting in 2000, but researchers really don''t know what to do with it yet. A few of my grad professions study multi-racial identity, but the vast majority don''t use the variables effectively. I am guilty of this, sadly, but I also use Census and race data to look at financial trends.

 

[trillionaire]

I recieved a postcard today reminding me to send my census, which I have. Again, big waste of mail, but at least no one has come to my house...

 

[MissMina]

We got the postcard too. You would think they would maybe use them just for the stragglers who hadn''t returned the forms in a timely manner.
So that is three pieces of mail when one would have sufficed.I would expect that anyone working for the Census would be well credentialed.

 

[MissMina]

I just saw this on MSNBC

Imposter census takers
What if someone knocks on your door? Census workers will not make home visits until May 1. And then they will only go to homes where the census form has not been returned.

A real census taker has an ID badge. There’s a watermark of the Department of Commerce insignia on the front and their name and an expiration date on the back. They should also have a flier that tells you how to contact their supervisor. The people going door-to-door may have a bag and a handheld or notebook computer. Each of these items will have the Census Bureau insignia on it.

“Our people are trained to conduct their interview on your doorstep and not go into the house,” says Census Bureau spokesman Michael Cook. “They are also trained not to push. They are happy to make an appointment to come back.”

Census takers only ask for answers to the same 10 questions that are on the census form. If you are asked anything that seems inappropriate, such as Social Security numbers or financial information, you’re probably talking to an imposter. Tell them to leave and contact your local police department.
The 2010 Census asks

1. The number of people living in the residence
2. Any additional people that might be living there as of April 1, 2010
3. Whether the residence is owned or rented
4. Telephone number (in case the Census Bureau has follow-up questions)
5. Name
6. Sex
7. Age and date of birth
8. Whether of Hispanic origin
9. Race
10. Whether that person sometimes lives somewhere else

NOTE: You cannot fill out your form online.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

If there’s any doubt, check them out first by calling your regional census office.