I just got the census form, and I don''t like it

[HopeDream]

In the US can you do your census online?

Last time I filled it out up here in Canada we just did it online.

We have one every 5 years so it''s not that big a deal, and I''ve never heard of anyone coming to knock on someone''s door - how big brother!

 

[CDNinNYC]

Date: 3/16/2010 11:56:15 AM
Author: MissMina
I just filled mine out and did find some of the language rather odd.

I''m finding the language confusing too. DH and I have ''Latino'' origins that are not Spanish-speaking so I''m not sure where to classify us.

Are we supposed to even fill out this census as non-US citizens?

 

[katamari]

As someone who very frequently works with Census data, I feel compelled to mention that it would be completely impossible to identify an individual or household from the data--especially since egregiously false comments have been implied about how the data is handled. The Census Bureau takes great lengths to make sure this is possible. A person's address is never included in the data. Anyone collecting or working with the data must sign affidavits and there are extensive checks by the Census Bureau to make sure that the computer and network the data is hosted on is completely secure. Most importantly, though, is that people who work with Census data are concerned with aggregate problems and would never even be interested with identifying individuals or individual data.

I get very upset to read that people do not believe Census data is necessary or cost worthy. It very much is both. A government cannot create policy to effectively and meaningfully govern a body it does not demographically understand. There will be such extreme overhauls to programs and policies because of the census that I find it extremely wasteful fiscally that we do not collect the information more often. By not giving proper information, it could lead to potentially solvable problems going ignored or improperly addressed.

As a citizen, I also see a huge undermining to democracy happening if people are not properly counted. Particularly with the House of Representatives, the foundation of one-person-one-voice is hugely associated with a proper count of the people.

ETA: To lighten my post up a bit, I figured I would include this hilarious http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XtuPvwBa2U about the 90 Census.

 

[katamari]

Date: 3/16/2010 2:06:04 PM
Author: CDNinNYC

Date: 3/16/2010 11:56:15 AM

Author: MissMina

I just filled mine out and did find some of the language rather odd.

I''m finding the language confusing too. DH and I have ''Latino'' origins that are not Spanish-speaking so I''m not sure where to classify us.

Are we supposed to even fill out this census as non-US citizens?

Yes, anyone living in the U.S. should fill it out, citizen or not.

And, there is a lot of contention and debate about language used in the Census. Many of my graduate school colleagues work for the Census and are part of the debates about what language to use and what groups to count. It is very political, and it is always changing. For instance, Hispanic is an ethnicity and not a race, so even Hispanics and Latinos that racially identify as such are not given the option to do so.

The questions about where you sleep are there to try to estimate cohabitation. Largely because, like you point out MissMina, there is no language for people in committed partnerships who are unmarried. The Census is trying to establish the difference between roommates and romantic partners without being able to do so (largely because of lobbying on whether or not to try to document same-sex domestic partners).

 

[tradergirl]

I registered my protest against big government by putting the form into the shredder. If they send any of their trolls to my door, said trolls will be able to ask my bulldogs any question they want. Watch out for the teeth.

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 3/16/2010 2:17:03 PM
Author: tradergirl
I registered my protest against big government by putting the form into the shredder. If they send any of their trolls to my door, said trolls will be able to ask my bulldogs any question they want. Watch out for the teeth.

I think a more meaningful form of protest would be refusing to pay taxes. Have you tried that one yet?

 

[CDNinNYC]

Date: 3/16/2010 2:13:52 PM
Author: katamari

Yes, anyone living in the U.S. should fill it out, citizen or not.

And, there is a lot of contention and debate about language used in the Census. Many of my graduate school colleagues work for the Census and are part of the debates about what language to use and what groups to count. It is very political, and it is always changing. For instance, Hispanic is an ethnicity and not a race, so even Hispanics and Latinos that racially identify as such are not given the option to do so.

Thanks katamari.

 

[LadyBlue]

Date: 3/16/2010 2:34:20 PM
Author: CDNinNYC

Date: 3/16/2010 2:13:52 PM
Author: katamari

Yes, anyone living in the U.S. should fill it out, citizen or not.

And, there is a lot of contention and debate about language used in the Census. Many of my graduate school colleagues work for the Census and are part of the debates about what language to use and what groups to count. It is very political, and it is always changing. For instance, Hispanic is an ethnicity and not a race, so even Hispanics and Latinos that racially identify as such are not given the option to do so.

Thanks katamari.

This is really confusing, I was born in Mexico. So my DH was trying to find a race for me. He selected Native American

. I did not identify myself in that race. But i really did not know what to answer

 

[Smurfysmiles]

If you hate big government so much, why do you not move somewhere that makes you more happier?
And those of us who don''t mind big government will stay and happily fill out our census...

 

[monarch64]

Date: 3/16/2010 2:19:12 PM
Author: thing2of2

Date: 3/16/2010 2:17:03 PM
Author: tradergirl
I registered my protest against big government by putting the form into the shredder. If they send any of their trolls to my door, said trolls will be able to ask my bulldogs any question they want. Watch out for the teeth.

I think a more meaningful form of protest would be refusing to pay taxes. Have you tried that one yet?

Yes, Thing, I think not paying taxes will get more notice than not filling out the census. And having bulldogs is a dead giveaway that there is at least one human bean inside the dwelling. I say if you really want to mess with the census just fill it out with creative answers.

I''ll fill it out and get it over with. The more people who mail in the completed form will ultimately save tax dollars--fewer census takers ( I mean trolls) will have to make house calls.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 3/16/2010 2:49:39 PM
Author: gaby06

Date: 3/16/2010 2:34:20 PM
Author: CDNinNYC

Date: 3/16/2010 2:13:52 PM
Author: katamari

Yes, anyone living in the U.S. should fill it out, citizen or not.

And, there is a lot of contention and debate about language used in the Census. Many of my graduate school colleagues work for the Census and are part of the debates about what language to use and what groups to count. It is very political, and it is always changing. For instance, Hispanic is an ethnicity and not a race, so even Hispanics and Latinos that racially identify as such are not given the option to do so.

Thanks katamari.

This is really confusing, I was born in Mexico. So my DH was trying to find a race for me. He selected Native American

. I did not identify myself in that race. But i really did not know what to answer

Mexico is on the continent of North America. So yes, you''re a native American in the government''s eyes.

 

[crown1]

Date: 3/16/2010 2:13:52 PM
Author: katamari

Date: 3/16/2010 2:06:04 PM

Author: CDNinNYC

Date: 3/16/2010 11:56:15 AM


Author: MissMina


I just filled mine out and did find some of the language rather odd.

I''m finding the language confusing too. DH and I have ''Latino'' origins that are not Spanish-speaking so I''m not sure where to classify us.

Are we supposed to even fill out this census as non-US citizens?

Yes, anyone living in the U.S. should fill it out, citizen or not.


And, there is a lot of contention and debate about language used in the Census. Many of my graduate school colleagues work for the Census and are part of the debates about what language to use and what groups to count. It is very political, and it is always changing. For instance, Hispanic is an ethnicity and not a race, so even Hispanics and Latinos that racially identify as such are not given the option to do so.


The questions about where you sleep are there to try to estimate cohabitation. Largely because, like you point out MissMina, there is no language for people in committed partnerships who are unmarried. The Census is trying to establish the difference between roommates and romantic partners without being able to do so (largely because of lobbying on whether or not to try to document same-sex domestic partners).

i just finished filling ours out. the form we received list unmarried partner. i would take that to be a romantic partner opposed to a room mate.

 

[LadyBlue]

Date: 3/16/2010 3:00:31 PM
Author: monarch64

Date: 3/16/2010 2:49:39 PM
Author: gaby06

Date: 3/16/2010 2:34:20 PM
Author: CDNinNYC

Date: 3/16/2010 2:13:52 PM
Author: katamari

Yes, anyone living in the U.S. should fill it out, citizen or not.

And, there is a lot of contention and debate about language used in the Census. Many of my graduate school colleagues work for the Census and are part of the debates about what language to use and what groups to count. It is very political, and it is always changing. For instance, Hispanic is an ethnicity and not a race, so even Hispanics and Latinos that racially identify as such are not given the option to do so.

Thanks katamari.

This is really confusing, I was born in Mexico. So my DH was trying to find a race for me. He selected Native American

. I did not identify myself in that race. But i really did not know what to answer

Mexico is on the continent of North America. So yes, you're a native American in the government's eyes.

Well, yes and no. I'm a mix of Spanish and Aztecas = Mestizo.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

To whomever asked about doing it online. This question was posed to the Census Bureau recently and their answer was that they were concerned about invasion of privacy and hackers retrieving the data. I find this really funny considering the IRS has an online system to securely allow us to submit our tax forms each year, not to mention all of the other secure databases full of personal information. I''m not saying these systems are unbreakable, I''m just pointing out again that the information provided on the census is definitely not as personal as information in our health or financial records.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

And if there''s any concern about the government making judgments on assumptions made by census data (i.e., same-sex households/relationships), may I remind you that that''s considered discrimination and is against the law. Not to mention I highly doubt a liberal administration like the current one in the US would stand for it.

 

[swimmer]

Date: 3/16/2010 2:17:03 PM
Author: tradergirl
I registered my protest against big government by putting the form into the shredder. If they send any of their trolls to my door, said trolls will be able to ask my bulldogs any question they want. Watch out for the teeth.

Cool, then stop using the govt's water and sewer systems, the highways, don't count on cops, firefighters, mail delivery, or any public services, and pretty much any infrastructure like dogparks, health dept, sanitation dept, etc. The more people who feel like this just stop using these resources that you resent so much, the better the services will be for the rest of us who delight in our large representative government. Oh, and you owe the rest of us the $54 times however many times they stop by your house because you shredded your census. Hopefully you didn't want Congressional representation either, you just shot your chance at getting it.

ETA: I love you new ring TG, EricaGrace are just amazing!

 

[trillionaire]

just got mine and will be filling it out!

I did think it a little OTT that the front said: ''YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW''...

I mean, what are they going to do if I don''t fill it out? (aside from send a litany of hardworking members of the community, who undoubtedly need the money to my door...)

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Date: 3/16/2010 3:57:34 PM
Author: swimmer

Date: 3/16/2010 2:17:03 PM

Author: tradergirl

I registered my protest against big government by putting the form into the shredder. If they send any of their trolls to my door, said trolls will be able to ask my bulldogs any question they want. Watch out for the teeth.

Oh, and you owe the rest of us the $54 times however many times they stop by your house because you shredded your census./QUOTE]

Heck yeah, I could use that extra money!

 

[Diamond*Dana]

I have no problem filling it out when we get it, but I am not going to put my phone number.

 

[somethingshiny]

Many of you have stated that you''re not going to share your phone number. You do realize it''s ONLY used in case they can''t read your questionnaire, right? It''s not like they''re telemarketing, it''s just there to save the money it would cost to have someone come knock on your door to see if you are a male or female.

I honestly don''t see why this is such a big deal. You want all the perks of a governed society but find fault with the simplest of ways to benefit the entire nation.

 

[princesss]

Date: 3/16/2010 5:12:54 PM
Author: somethingshiny
Many of you have stated that you''re not going to share your phone number. You do realize it''s ONLY used in case they can''t read your questionnaire, right? It''s not like they''re telemarketing, it''s just there to save the money it would cost to have someone come knock on your door to see if you are a male or female.

I honestly don''t see why this is such a big deal. You want all the perks of a governed society but find fault with the simplest of ways to benefit the entire nation.

Hopefully BF put his phone number down, then! He filled it out and his handwriting is atrocious, so I have no doubt we''ll be getting a call.

 

[HollyS]

Post deleted.

I don't want to get into this discussion, after having thought about it.

 

[y2kitty]

Date: 3/16/2010 2:17:03 PM
Author: tradergirl
I registered my protest against big government by putting the form into the shredder. If they send any of their trolls to my door, said trolls will be able to ask my bulldogs any question they want. Watch out for the teeth.

I respect your right to put the form into the shredder. But calling Census workers trolls and implying your dogs will attack them is wrong imo. They are just people who wanted jobs and took available ones with the Census. And I am sure when your dogs are impounded and put down for attacking they will look back fondly on their owner.

 

[jewelz617]

Am I the only one who thought maybe Tradegirl was just being sarcastic?

 

[trillionaire]

Date: 3/16/2010 6:05:46 PM
Author: PinkAsscher678
Am I the only one who thought maybe Tradegirl was just being sarcastic?

+1.

 

[Tuckins1]

I don''t really care about any of it accept my phone number... Do we have to give a cell phone number? We have no home phone...

 

[WishfulThinking]

Date: 3/16/2010 3:24:01 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
And if there''s any concern about the government making judgments on assumptions made by census data (i.e., same-sex households/relationships), may I remind you that that''s considered discrimination and is against the law. Not to mention I highly doubt a liberal administration like the current one in the US would stand for it.

Slightly off topic, but of course I have to add my 2 cents here--
Not to imply in any way that I believe census data will be mishandled or viewed individually rather than on the aggregate, but because the above is factually incorrect I felt it should be responded to. If someone were to get ahold of data implicating someone as being in a same-sex romantic relationship the repercussions could be pretty severe. Contrary to the above, it is not considered discrimination to discriminate based on sexual orientation. In 29 states being gay or lesbian is NOT protected against discrimination, and in 38 states those who are transgender do not have discrimination protections. If you are an LGBT serviceperson and you respond indicating that you are in a same-sex relationship you could feasibly lose your job under DADT [doubt this would happen because, again, no one is really considering the individual responses]. However, for the rest of us who don''t really care about privacy and are excited to be participating [geeks! ] it''s interesting to note that the data for same-sex couples [including number of couples who consider themselves married--the census doesn''t mandate responding based on legal marital status, so these numbers will be highly inflated from the legal numbers] will be counted by the Williams Institute at UCLA. Kind of cool.

Of course no one cares a whit about the individual level information, but I thought I would just throw that out there so that no one is confused: if the information were to become available at the individual level I doubt that would make *anyone* especially happy.

 

[kenny]

In this day and age of terrorism paranoia and the 'patriot act' I'm sure the big guys will not be shy about demanding access to census data.
Privacy promises are hollow.

They accessed census data in the 1940s to imprison American citizens of Japanese descent. Link

 

[gardengloves]

Just got ours in the mail. Intrusive information, but federal law to fill out and file, so we will comply, but disturbing

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 3/16/2010 8:28:55 PM
Author: gardengloves
Just got ours in the mail. Intrusive information, but federal law to fill out and file, so we will comply, but disturbing

What do you consider intrusive and disturbing about it? Just curious. I just filled mine out and it was pretty basic and inoffensive.

ETA if I were in a minority group I might feel differently, but as a white person in a heterosexual marriage I guess I just don't think I have much to be worried about.