I am a man of science, so I understand the value of data collection, and how it can be used. However, is the Census really the best way to go about it in today's age?

And how about the questions about race... They go into great detail about what type of asian you are, all the way down to specific island groups, but you are black, you get lumped into "African American, Black, or Negro"
Whites are just white.

Hispanic isn't even a racial choice... they give you a list of different nationalities to choose from - including the nation of Puerto Rico - but they still are required to choose a race... and I'll tell you what, none of the hispanics I know consider themselves "white"

3/19/2010 11:56:02 AM

I was sad to only use up two spaces of the 12 allowed.

Honestly, this is just to see how many people live in your house and what race they are right? Thats all it asked.

^I agree on the classifications

3/19/2010 11:58:15 AM

Quote :

"Hispanic isn't even a racial choice... they give you a list of different nationalities to choose from - including the nation of Puerto Rico - but they still are required to choose a race... and I'll tell you what, none of the hispanics I know consider themselves "white""

For that matter, no one with an ambiguous racial background is going to choose "white" on any form. No one is proud of "white", and when it comes to filling out a form, the word doesn't do any good.

3/19/2010 12:07:28 PM

(Disclaimer: I work for a government study that collects this type of data)

That's how it's classified. Hispanic isn't considered a race. Neither is something like Arabic. Those are considered ethnic groups.

Really, this is something that a lot of groups have been complaining about for awhile, and these are just the government standards. It's the same reason that End of Grade tests and other things only have: White, Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American, Other.

3/19/2010 12:09:31 PM

That poor Duggar guy.

3/19/2010 12:29:41 PM

The Census violates my constitutional rights!!1

3/19/2010 12:31:23 PM

Other: Caucasian

3/19/2010 12:37:37 PM

The census should be figuring how many people live in each area, and that's about it, in my opinion.

3/19/2010 12:39:53 PM

It's important for a lot of things. It's just good to know what racial groups live in certain areas for a multitude of sociological reasons.

3/19/2010 12:42:03 PM

right, I enjoy hearing the people on 106.1 and Glen Beck bitching about the privacy issue, but I think it's lunacy.

The main problem I have is the fact that what the government considers or doesn't consider a racial group, the populace does not agree, and reporting errors are inevitable, raising serious doubts on the quality of data.

[Edited on March 19, 2010 at 12:54 PM. Reason : ]

3/19/2010 12:53:29 PM

Yeah, and I think that's stupid as well. But that's just how the Census Bureau defines it. It's one of those "We won't change it until someone really cares" sort of things.

3/19/2010 12:57:23 PM

Quote :

"It's just good to know what racial groups live in certain areas for a multitude of sociological reasons."

Whatever these reasons are they aren't worthy of the mandate of the census. The census is an element of democracy that facilitates equal representation. If you're interested in studying the effects of demographics on something, then go use a less reliable and less intrusively administered study.

3/19/2010 5:37:24 PM

I know tons and tons of hispanics that consider themselves white. Most of them are cuban, colombian and argentinian.

[Edited on March 19, 2010 at 5:39 PM. Reason : k]

3/19/2010 5:39:14 PM

Quote :

"Major changes The Census Bureau website states it will no longer use a long form for the 2010 Census.[3] In several previous censuses, one in six households received this long form, which asked for detailed social and economic information. The 2010 Census will use only a short form asking ten basic questions, including name, gender, age, date of birth, race, and homeownership status.[3] Detailed socioeconomic information collected during past censuses will continue to be collected through the American Community Survey.[4] The survey provides data about communities in the United States on a yearly basis rather than once every 10 years. A small percentage of the population on a rotating basis will receive the survey each year, and no household will receive it more than once every five years.[5]"

-wikipedia

3/19/2010 6:07:04 PM

what gives them the right or need to know if I own my own home, if I have a mortgage, etc?

3/19/2010 9:46:05 PM

Services, representation, and other decisions by the government (like whether or not to offer a home buyer tax credit) are better made when well informed... not to mention that the census is mandated by the constitution.

3/19/2010 9:51:18 PM

^Exactly. Stop whining, Best Buy probably has more information on you.

3/19/2010 9:52:41 PM

I can't be sent to jail for not filling out my toaster warranty

3/19/2010 9:53:51 PM

Oh god, your rights!

3/19/2010 9:55:28 PM

Oh god, your lack of a point!

3/19/2010 9:58:02 PM

Quote :

"not to mention that the census is mandated by the constitution."

An enumeration of the people is mandated, who owns what houses and what color they are is not. Though I understand the purpose of the other questions, making it a crime to not answer them is I think a bit much.

3/19/2010 10:57:08 PM

Quote :

"Best Buy probably has more information on you."

It's pathetic how easily some give it up to the go'vt. Grow a pair and stand up to tyranny once in a while. Jeez.. it's embarrassing.

3/20/2010 12:50:04 AM

Quote :

"Though I understand the purpose of the other questions, making it a crime to not answer them is I think a bit much."

Is it a crime to turn it in with a number on it and nothing else?

3/20/2010 1:26:34 AM

^ Good question.

And really, I seriously doubt the government is going to come in and arrest you if you don't turn in the form. Worst that will happen is they send some poor college student to your house to harass you

3/20/2010 2:10:09 AM

is it against the law?

has anyone ever been convicted of not filling out a census form?

what is the actual statute?

lmgtfm:

Quote :

"10. Do I have to respond to the 2010 Census? Yes, your participation in the 2010 Census is vital and required by law. Title 13 section 221 of the United States Code requires your response. Title 13 also requires that the Census Bureau keep respondents’ answers confidential and uses them only for tabulations that do not reveal any personal data about individuals or households. 11. What happens if I don’t respond? Although the law makes it a crime not to answer the decennial census, the American Community Survey and other mandatory censuses, and authorizes the courts to impose a fine of up to $5,000 for failure to respond, the Census Bureau views this approach as a last resort. Rather than emphasizing or seeking the imposition of penalties, we encourage response by explaining the importance of the questions we ask and how the information benefits the community."

[Edited on March 20, 2010 at 2:12 AM. Reason : .]

3/20/2010 2:10:27 AM

Quote :

"Grow a pair and stand up to tyranny once in a while."

Tyranny? Really?

It's in the goddamned US constitution. As far as appropriate functions of government go, it's pretty cut and dry.

...for as much as many conservatives whine about the government ignoring the constitution (which it does), they can't seem to see the irony in opposing the census. You should be worried if they decide to start eyeballing it and drawing districts however they please, not worried when they're actually doing their jobs somewhat properly for once.

[Edited on March 20, 2010 at 2:25 AM. Reason : .]

3/20/2010 2:22:12 AM

^Nail on the head.

The U.S. Constitution, as originally written and without amendment, calls for a census. Jesus. Just write your fucking name, age, and race, and move on.

3/20/2010 3:55:58 AM

Or lie. They'll never know!

3/20/2010 8:32:54 AM

As far as I understand it, the race section is to be answered according to however one feels at that particular moment.

So, if I happen to identify with hispanic or black people, I can say that I am a person of color - right?

It would be funny if a lot of people skewed the numbers in this way. SURPRISE ATTACK GERYMANDERS!!!

3/20/2010 9:17:22 AM

Quote :

"It's in the goddamned US constitution."

Right..so fill in how many people live in your house, sign it and move on.

Let big business and politicians get their race and mortgage demographics from somewhere else.

3/20/2010 10:47:25 AM

Yeah, force the government to spend money on something unnecessary because you're such a huge tool!

3/20/2010 11:11:39 AM

Sequence of events:

1. I refuse to fill out the census because

2. I oppose government tyranny and waste in all it's forms so

3. The government doesn't get good census data and

3. The lack of proper demographic knowledge causes poor use of government funds and resources and because of this

4. I complain about the government not being effective/tyrannical/etc.

Kill yourself.

3/20/2010 11:21:27 AM

Also, the secretary of commerce mentioned on the daily show last night that for every 1% of people who fill out the census, the government saves $25,000,000 in expenses to collect that information.

So, they're relying on personal responsibility of citizens to reduce waste in government. A concept that should be applauded by conservatives.

But I'm sure you'd rather not fill it out so that the socialist muslim can't plant bugs in your anus or something.

3/20/2010 11:31:46 AM

For the record, I'm not against the census. I'm against the organization of how the information is collected. I'm against the inherent discrimination against hispanic/latino people by not including their race as one of the race choices.

and i don't see how my home ownership or mortgage information is any business of the US Census.

3/20/2010 11:55:03 AM

I guess I don't see how it could be used against you, or why you even care, anyway. I mean, you sent in your taxes, didn't you? That went to the US Government. That had more personal information.

3/20/2010 2:19:19 PM

Quote :

"I mean, you sent in your taxes, didn't you? That went to the US Government. That had more personal information."

We go to jail if we don't...so don't make it sound like we don't mind stripping ourselves naked financially every April 15th for the go'vt.

Quote :

"The lack of proper demographic knowledge causes poor use of government funds and resources and because of this"

How about letting us keep the "gov't funds" and spend it the way we want. We earned it after all.

3/20/2010 11:46:51 PM

what i want to know is why i have to fill out this garbage when i've already paid my taxes. they have all my numbers, addresses and $$$ several times over.

3/20/2010 11:50:30 PM

my puerto rican friend took the census... let me quote him directly for quality purposes:

Quote :

"i have to check white or ngr i aint no ngr fuckt hat"

3/20/2010 11:53:02 PM

Quote :

"I'm against the organization of how the information is collected. I'm against the inherent discrimination against hispanic/latino people by not including their race as one of the race choices."

There are large numbers of white, black, native, and mixed race Hispanics. It's confusing. It sucks that it's confusing. Get over it.

Quote :

"Right..so fill in how many people live in your house, sign it and move on. "

I don't think you have to fill out anything other than the name and number of people that live in the place, though I could be wrong. Certainly my form didn't have anything about mortgages on it, though I gather that is on a longer, randomly-sent form.

Quote :

"I guess I don't see how it could be used against you"

The census bureau can't share specific information with anyone, including other parts of the government. I've also never heard anything to the effect that they violate that rule.

The Census is probably the one aspect of government for which the following can be said:

1) It is clearly, no question, constitutional
2) Nobody goes into it for the money or power, because no substantial money or power goes along with it
3) It is important and useful
4) Virtually never involves any use of violence or coercion

How anybody could find it objectionable in the slightest is beyond me.

3/21/2010 12:19:22 AM

^Can't be giving the government any wins or any credit, especially not for Obamacensus.

Being so anti-government that you oppose even a short version of the census strikes me as the dividing line between being libertarian minded and approaching anarchist.

3/21/2010 12:32:54 AM

Double points for having to complain that you are white (which I'm pretty sure all the people complaining in this thread are).

"Oh no, if the government finds out that I'm Caucasian then they'll...uh...be more likely to put a country club here?"

3/21/2010 12:35:57 AM

Also this:

http://ciser.cornell.edu/NYCRDC/helpful_links/CIPSEA.pdf

Which basically states that any government official who violates your privacy is guilty of a class E felony with a punishment of a $250,000 fine and/or up to 5 years in prison per offense.

3/21/2010 12:45:32 AM

Quote :

"Certainly my form didn't have anything about mortgages on it, though I gather that is on a longer, randomly-sent form."

Mine asked if I rented, owned with mortgage, or owned without mortgage, but that was it. Most likely they could have found that out by checking bank records, but it was just as easy for me to just check the box, so I'm not going to complain.

3/21/2010 1:15:33 AM

You know Supp. When you strive for gay marriage, gays in the military and such...you are fighting for civil rights. But if someone is challenging the ever-encroaching meddling and abuse of the central federal gov't on the private citizen..they're an anarchist.

Quote :

"I don't think you have to fill out anything other than the name and number of people that live in the place, though I could be wrong."

The short form also asks for your sex and race and phone number. The Constitution just requires an enumeration of the population, not a breakdown of their sex, race, housing or income.

Quote :

"Double points for having to complain that you are white"

How do you think we end up with these crazy, snaking congressional districts to make race "fair"? The census is a key tool in creating these.

In 1942, the U.S. used census information to round up Japanese-Americans for FDR's WWII concentration camps. Abuse could never happen again..because today's politicians are much more evolved..right?

3/21/2010 1:16:35 AM

Quote :

"The short form also asks for your sex and race and phone number. The Constitution just requires an enumeration of the population, not a breakdown of their sex, race, housing or income."

Census doesn't ask about income. But regardless, if they paid for the other information, they could get it. Shit, if you paid RSA enough, you could find out what your first car payment was.

3/21/2010 1:22:37 AM

EarthDogg:

Quote :

"But if someone is challenging the ever-encroaching meddling and abuse of the central federal gov't on the private citizen..they're an anarchist. "

http://www.prb.org/Articles/2009/changesin2010.aspx

Quote :

"However, for the first time since 1940, the 2010 Census will be a short-form-only census. This is because the decennial long form has been replaced by the American Community Survey (ACS). "

I think you are misunderestimating this if you think it is encroaching. I don't see how you are equating filling out your short form census as being abused.

3/21/2010 1:24:19 AM

Quote :

"You know Supp. When you strive for gay marriage, gays in the military and such...you are fighting for civil rights. But if someone is challenging the ever-encroaching meddling and abuse of the central federal gov't on the private citizen..they're an anarchist."

they have been asking basically the same questions on the census for over a century.

3/21/2010 1:34:22 AM

Quote :

"The short form also asks for your sex and race and phone number. The Constitution just requires an enumeration of the population, not a breakdown of their sex, race, housing or income."

OK, well it doesn't ask about housing or income, so you can calm down there.

As for race and sex, the Constitution implies from the very start that those should be counted in the census, since the overwhelming majority of black people were slaves who counted for 3/5 in population tallies, and women couldn't vote but -- unless I am mistaken -- were counted in the population capacity as well.

I don't like the rationale, but it's pretty clear that we were intended to do just a teeny bit more than straight up count people.

Quote :

"How do you think we end up with these crazy, snaking congressional districts to make race "fair"? The census is a key tool in creating these."

I have a creeping suspicious that anybody who wasn't blind and deaf could wander around a district for like a day and figure out where all the minorities were. Women and men, excluding a very tiny segment of the population, are also pretty easy to tell apart. The census asks, but I doubt changing it would make much difference.

Quote :

"In 1942, the U.S. used census information to round up Japanese-Americans for FDR's WWII concentration camps."

So almost 70 years ago it did something that is probably very bad. By that standard everything related to every government ever is probably pretty bad.

The fact is, if someone really wanted to abuse the census that badly, they could do so regardless of whether or not the form was a simple enumeration. They'd either change it or employ other means of tracking down demographic info.

3/21/2010 1:53:03 AM

Quote :

"There are large numbers of white, black, native, and mixed race Hispanics. It's confusing. It sucks that it's confusing. Get over it."

not really. I've been involved with many hispanic families, and none of them consider themselves white black, etc. They consider themselves hispanic.

3/21/2010 10:56:08 AM

so your entire problem with the census is that they left a checkbox off? They had native american, they also had a place where you can write in your own race, what the hell is the problem?

3/21/2010 11:18:30 AM