Census workers can enter your apartment in your absence
Thousands of census workers, including many temporary employees, are fanning out across America to gather information on the citizenry. This is a process that takes place not only every decade in order to complete the constitutionally-mandated census; but also as part of the continuing “American Community Survey” conducted by the Census Bureau on a regular basis year in and year out.
What many Americans don’t realize, is that census workers — from the head of the Bureau and the Secretary of Commerce (its parent agency) down to the lowliest and newest Census employee — are empowered under federal law to actually demand access to any apartment or any other type of home or room that is rented out, in order to count persons in the abode and for “the collection of statistics.” If the landlord of such apartment or other leased premises refuses to grant the government worker access to your living quarters, whether you are present or not, the landlord can be fined $500.00.
That’s right — not only can citizens be fined if they fail to answer the increasingly intrusive questions asked of them by the federal government under the guise of simply counting the number of people in the country; but a landlord must give them access to your apartment whether you’re there or not, in order to gather whatever “statistics” the law permits.
In fact, some census workers apparently are going even further and demanding — and receiving — private cell phone numbers from landlords in order to call tenants and obtain information from them. Isn’t it great to live in a “free” country?
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1,749 comments Add your comment
Linda
May 31st, 2010
5:57 pm
Yes, Ben, I know about the ACS. I haven’t had to fill one out, though I wouldn’t mind it. For a long time, I’ve been involved with various public policy and government programs, whether it’s through volunteering, contract or paid work, or board appointments. I understand how important this information is, I know it’s confidential at a personal level, and I have no worries that someone is out to get me. My experience helps me understand how it’s used.
For instance, I’m now volunteering with a non-profit group that advocates for better options for transportation and have recently taken some training about this concept from our department of transportation. (Yes, I am a nerd.) So I understand that when they ask “What time do you leave for work in the morning?”, they’re not just being nosy. Government agencies use data like this to forecast and plan our infrastructure. For OUR benefit. If you look at most state/local government websites where they talk about planning, you’ll see references to the ACS and 10-year population census.
But I don’t know why you seem to be assuming that Lynn is having trouble because this is ACS because she doesn’t mention that at all in her post. Whichever census format is the issue, filing police reports because someone’s knocking on your door probably isn’t going to solve your problem.
Ben
May 31st, 2010
6:39 pm
First, I’m not assuming anything about Lynn and have not even mentioned her in any of my posts. However, from her version of the incident it would seem that the problem is with Mr. Swann. I am a peaceful man, but had he used the same tactics with me, a restraining order would have been the least of his worries.
With regard to confidentiality, I would point to the somewhat less than sterling record the Dept. of Commerce (Census Bureau) has with lost or stolen laptops.
Mary Lou
May 31st, 2010
7:51 pm
Wow, this Barr person gets paid as a journalist? What he is claiming is patently wrong.
Linda
May 31st, 2010
7:52 pm
Sorry I assumed you were referring to Lynn’s post when talking to ACS, it appeared that way to me.
WRT filling out the ACS form, ya know, I still can’t get all worked up about my census data getting out. I’m trying to figure out what they would do with info like what kind of plumbing I have, how I heat my place, how many bedrooms I have or the condition of my health. By the time they make their way through my completed survey, I’m pretty sure they’d be asleep. Things always work out for the best and I’d be a wreck if I were half as fearful as some of the folks here. Life’s too short.
Fun fact: Did you know that the first censuses were REQUIRED to be posted in at least 2 public places? Granted, they didn’t contain nearly as much information …
Joni
May 31st, 2010
8:03 pm
I work at an apartment commmunity. A census worker cannot be allowed into an apartment without the renters consent. We in the office must provide as much detailed information as we have on a resident if they have not filled out their form, or answered their door. I know…we’ve spent 3 days with census workers, one of which I had to spend 6 1/2 hours of my workday with.
Ben
May 31st, 2010
8:08 pm
They may be asleep, but the fact remains that the number of flush toilets I have, what my mortgage payment is, the number of vehicles in my driveway, and what my electric bill was, is nobody’s (especially not the government’s)business.
Jedidiah Bird
May 31st, 2010
8:12 pm
“10:00 am – Swan vehemently knocked on my door, then tried to open it. I was speaking with a friend (witness) who also heard the knock and the door handle being jiggled.”
“and told him about Swan opening my door ”
Contradictory statements, there is a reason why no one would seriously pay any attention to people like this in a court of law. There is a big difference between an attempt and an action. As you stated, he attempted to open it. You then lied to authorities saying he did open it. I would seriously question the validity of your entire version of events.
First off, the entire story doesn’t make sense. No single Enumerator, with ACS or with the decennial Census, should have a case for 13 days as is claimed. If this much is true, then the supervisor would have been breathing down his neck and had him turn the case in, incomplete.
Myself, I probably would not answer ACS questions, and it is not required by the Constitution, so you can’t really do anything if I refuse. The decennial Census is mandated, and you are required to answer those questions.
Ben
May 31st, 2010
8:31 pm
Linda, Would you honestly tell a complete stranger what time you left for work each day?
Ben
May 31st, 2010
8:41 pm
UhOh, I may be in big trouble now. I’ve been assigned a case number.
Census Enumerator
May 31st, 2010
8:49 pm
This is a complete and utter fabrication. We cannot access your residence without your permission, and frankly, I don’t WANT to be in your home. I’ve come across enough whackjobs to know that it’s best if we conduct the questionnaire on your front porch where I can see my car. Besides, if you aren’t there to answer my questions, WHY would I need to be in your home? All I need are answers to the questions. I don’t need to see your bathroom or your birth certificate or any damned thing else. Whatever information you give me is the information I put on my form.
Your person and your property are protected from illegal search and seizure and there isn’t a damned thing any of us want to search on you or in your home. Our job is already aggravating enough, sometimes dangerous, and certainly bizarre. So thanks for making it that much harder by disseminating lies.
Also, I am neither a goon nor a thug. I am 34-year-old mother of three. I hold a B.A. in English and I work in a library. So if by goons and thugs you mean librarian, well, I guess you got me on that one.
Linda
May 31st, 2010
9:05 pm
Census Enumerator, I like your attitude! Look out for the spunky librarian (and her pencil and clipboard)!
Maybe it’s different in your area but I’m having a blast! Almost all of the people have been nice, even if once in awhile they refuse to give an item or two of information. I’ve been looking forward to this job for months because it gets me out from behind a desk, meeting people and enjoying the weather. BEST SUMMER JOB EVER!!!
Although, like you say, articles like this can put a damper on things. I have 3 calls to landlords tomorrow, and I already know that 1 of them is hostile to letting in the census. That’s why I hit google Friday to try to figure out what his problem might be, and I ran into this BS. I never thought I’d have to explain that no, we won’t be breaking and entering. *(#$*@ that Bob Barr!
Linda
May 31st, 2010
9:10 pm
No, MaryLou, Bob Barr is not a journalist. He’s a political hack who gets his kicks out of sending his followers into a frenzied grab for their guns.
Linda
May 31st, 2010
9:20 pm
Ben, I might tell a stranger what time I left for work each day, depending on the circumstances. In casual conversation around town, I’m sure I’ve dropped that information but I don’t worry about it. I SURE wouldn’t worry that somebody who’s out to get me might incidentally stumble on my private information on a census survey. Or that anybody who happened to stumble on that information would be out to get me. Too far fetched.
Besides, isn’t that the same paper method that we use for the 10-year population census short form? Those are scanned at the main office and filed away right away. Once we turn those in, we can’t even get them back to make a correction or to check them off in our binders. I’m finding it hard to believe that that scan would somehow end up on a stolen laptop somewhere. (Calling Seanmom! What do you know about where those scans end up?) Regardless, life’s too short to sweat it.
Mum’s the word, Ben, your info’s safe with us. You’re not just a case number.
Linda
May 31st, 2010
9:33 pm
Jedidiah: “I would seriously question the validity of your entire version of events.”
That’s what I was thinkin’. If there was so much hassle in ‘09, it makes sense that they’d send 2 census-takers this year. Doesn’t sound like it’s the same one though, and she called the police on them unprovoked. Something just doesn’t smell right here and I suspect this isn’t the only issue she’s creating a storm over.
Linda
May 31st, 2010
9:41 pm
Ben: “the fact remains that the number of flush toilets I have, what my mortgage payment is, the number of vehicles in my driveway, and what my electric bill was, is nobody’s (especially not the government’s) business.”
Like I said before, I understand how this aggregated data is used in all different kinds of public policy planning so I don’t mind. Providing for the common good IS the government’s business, and this is some of the data that helps them do their work.
Linda
May 31st, 2010
9:45 pm
Wow, Joni, I like helpful property managers like you! The good news is, now we won’t bother you for another 10 years.
Shawn
May 31st, 2010
10:09 pm
It’s not that hard to answer 10 questions if you are here legally……………………
Ben
May 31st, 2010
10:14 pm
My info is more than safe with you, because you’re not getting it. In the vernacular, you are “eat up” with your own importance. Your response simply reinforces what I said earlier about a little perceived authority…. I hate to burst your bubble, but your $12.00/hour temporary government position means absolutely nothing to me. You can show up at my door with Eric Holder and the Man Child himself, and the only information you will get is the number of individuals who live at my address. That is all the information you are Constitutionally entitled to and all I am Constitutionally required to provide.
Linda
May 31st, 2010
10:22 pm
Did you just drink Bob Barr’s kool-aid, Ben, or is somebody else posting under your name? I’ve said nothing to exert any authority around here, perceived or otherwise.
Weird.
Census workers can enter your apartment in your absence « Swashbuckling, Liberty & Waffles
May 31st, 2010
10:35 pm
[...] from The Barr Code. Written by Bob [...]
Deauna
May 31st, 2010
11:58 pm
We mailed our forms in prior to the due date; still had a census worker show up at our door and stated that she was sorry, but they must not have received it.
I told her the address was on the box, 2 of us live here and our names.
She asked how many “STAYED” here prior to April 1, 2010. Asked if she meant guests & she said, yes. Told her it was none of the govs biz who or how many people visit our home on any given moment.
She came back the 2nd time saying they have to verify we wouldn’t answer the questions. I reminded her she didn’t have any reason to be there. WE MAILED IT TO THEM.
It’s their problem if their government ran MAIL SERVICE is broken, bankrupt & loses mail.
We repeated == 2 people, there’s the address on the box, have a nice day & tell Obama — November is just around the corner. We’re taking our country BACK!
Angry? YOU BET!
Linda
June 1st, 2010
8:13 am
Deauna, the question is asked about the guests because we’re trying to count people where they live or stay on April 1 — so we can include them in the census count not because we’re out to get you or get all up in your business. This question is not some new plot for Obama to persecute you. If you look at the census rolls of 100 years ago, you will find all kinds of unrelated people listed together in the same residences. It was the same deal then.
With millions of census forms in the mail, some of them didn’t get recorded by the April 17th cutoff so we have to go out and interview the ones we didn’t have yet. I’m a census-taker and have run into this. Almost every one of these people has just smiled and interviewed with me for the 5 minutes it takes to give me the information again. No big deal.
It also might surprise you to know that this is George Bush’s census. The questionnaire and the whole operation was well underway by the time Obama took office. For such a huge operation, it’s probably going as well as is to be expected.
jasmine
June 1st, 2010
8:53 am
how are they “counting” people that aren’t there.the landlord had to let them in right? so how are they going to count people that aren’t home.
Below The Beltway » Blog Archive » Debunked: No, Census Workers May Not Enter Your Apartment
June 1st, 2010
9:25 am
[...] week former Congressman Bob Barr made a rather provocative claim about the ability of Census workers to violate your privacy: What many Americans don’t realize, is that census workers — from the head of the Bureau and the [...]
Linda
June 1st, 2010
9:39 am
We’re not counting people who aren’t home, jasmine, because we’re not going into people’s living spaces unless invited by the resident. (And sometimes, not even then.) Again, here’s the link that exposes this lie:
More Census Nonsense
truth
June 1st, 2010
10:09 am
Following are some excerpts from a recent Fox news article:
“The bureau is also aware of an incident in which a Census worker is accused of committing a crime. In southern Indiana, a 39-year-old Census worker allegedly broke into a home and attacked and raped a 21-year-old mentally handicapped woman. Buckner confirmed the suspect is a Census worker who underwent background checks before he was hired.”
“In another disturbing incident in Houston, a man posing as a Census worker barged into a home Saturday with two other suspects and stabbed a city employee who lived there to death. According to police, the three suspects ransacked the house, assaulted the other people in it and escaped in a pickup truck.”
Article: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/12/violence-unusual-threats-mark-beginning-census-canvas/?test=latestnews
Linda
June 1st, 2010
10:42 am
If these guys are proven guilty, I hope they’re prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, whether they’re census-takers or poseurs. We pay a heavy price if we violate somebody’s privacy, I hope they get 10 times the sentence for this kind of sh*t.
However, I see that you have conveniently cherry-picked the article to imply that census-workers are the dangerous criminals. Here’s “the rest of the story”:
“But most of the incidents this year have involved violence against Census workers. According to the bureau, there have been 15 attacks or threatened attacks on employees since mid-March, with most of them happening in the last couple of weeks. They include two armed carjackings, two sexual assaults and two incidents of weapons being fired at Census takers. …”
I hope these folks are put away for a long time too.
Census workers can enter your apartment in your absence « GCN News
June 1st, 2010
10:54 am
[...] Read entire article « Dollar to be Replaced with IMF’s SDR as Reserve Currency? Ron Paul Defends Rand Against Concerted Corporate Media Attack » ©1997 – 2010 Genesis Communications Network var rootURL = ""; cycle(); [...]
MELANIE HARRISON
June 1st, 2010
10:56 am
this is bull…i work for the census and we so not go into anybodies house…why would they say this…has to be a republican…u all need to grow up…this is all lies..
truth
June 1st, 2010
11:31 am
Many of you are wondering why all the fuss about the Census this time? Plain and simple people are very uncomfortable with giving personal information to this administration whom they do not trust especially not knowing how this information might be used against them. Why? This administration is led by a President who at best has a very misguided sense of loyalty to our country and our citizens and at worst his loyalties may lie elsewhere. Every move this President makes reeks of reducing the strength, sovereignty and national identity of our country in favor of a new global identity within a global order. A strong US is the single greatest stumbling block to any one world order. I think our President (and the global power brokers) desire to merge the US with the Global Community. If Obama is successful he will be given a position of great power and influence in that organization.
Shelly Lowe, U.S. Census Bureau
June 1st, 2010
11:38 am
Please see http://www.factcheck.org/2010/05/more-census-nonsense/.
Linda
June 1st, 2010
12:00 pm
“truth”, exactly how are you less free now than before Obama was president? What are you afraid he’s going to do to you in the future? How do you really think he’s going to use the demographic data of 200 million+ people to destroy us or to destroy you personally. And why?
It’s probably a good time for a lot of people to turn of FOX Noise, learn more about your government and get involved. Knowledge cures fear.
Harumphhh
June 1st, 2010
12:18 pm
Truth – One of your examples was posing as a census worker. How on earth can you disparage census workers using a criminal who wasn’t actually a census worker? I mean, how do you actually make that connection in your head without doing yourself a brain injury? I’d really like to know.
seanmom
June 1st, 2010
12:28 pm
The data gets scanned and the paper is shipped directly to the National Processing Center on a daily basis, where it is held confidential for the next 72 years. This shipping process is checked and double-checked, and every coded piece of paper is accounted for on the way in and on the way out. The scanned data is analyzed statistically,and the President gets a summary on December 31st. Even if you broke into the NPC at Jeffersonville, Indiana, you would be hard pressed to find anyone’s information, since it’s stored in a coded fashion. Also, if you lose any shred of personally identifiable information, you MUST report that incident within 24 hours. That includes something like your own identification badge.
Some of you on here have incredible egos. The Commerce Department is not interested in you, except as a data point. Worry instead about the Department of Health and Human Services’ new interest in your tax return. Worry about the Agriculture Department’s interest in your garden, and the food police who are taking over school vending machines THIS YEAR.
The Census is constitutionally mandated. None of the statistical information can be linked back to you (and if, for some reason, it could, all you would have to do is MOVE. For heaven’s sake, we can’t figure out which houses have been demolished without your help–do you really think we are tracking you personally with the census?)
If you want the government to track you, just turn on your cell phone, buy an airline ticket, purchase a GM car with Onstar, or go to the library. But the census couldn’t find you if it wanted to. All we want to know is which houses have people, how many people will be weighing on the infrastructure in the future, and where the streets need to go. If we could find it out without asking you and not break a billion different laws, I really think we would.
As for the Commerce laptops used by the census, as far as I know the only laptops are used by the people doing community outreach, talking to city officials and setting up public events and such. Enumerators don’t use them, and office workers aren’t allowed to even bring personal cellphones, much less run around with computers. The information on those laptops would logically be Personally Identifiable Information even if they only contained lists of contact people and their phone numbers. But the census information itself doesn’t go into them. I have seen references to laptops, but only in material produced last year, which also talk about hand-held computers–which are not being used.
By the way, you would LOVE the census in India. They are counting probably a billion people, over a year, FINGERPRINTING and photographing them all, issuing national id cards, and asking a LOT more questions than we do. This is from the India Census webpage ( http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-FAQ/FAQ-Public.html#F ):
F. What information will be collected?
Top
Two Forms will be canvassed in each household. The first relates to the Houselisting and Housing Census. In this, 35 questions relating to Building material, Use of Houses, Drinking water, Availability and type of latrines, Electricity, possession of assets etc. will be canvassed.
The second form relates to the National Population Register. In this the following will be canvassed:
* Name of the Person
* Gender
* Date of Birth
* Place of Birth
* Marital Status
* Name of Father
* Name of Mother
* Name of Spouse
* Present Address
* Duration of stay at Present Address
* Permanent Address
* Occupation
* Nationality as Declared
* Educational Qualification
* Relationship to Head of family
Wow. What is it we’re complaining about, again?
Wondering . . .
June 1st, 2010
12:55 pm
Does anyone know the last day for census workers to visit your home?
Joseph P.Myerson
June 1st, 2010
2:03 pm
Sir you’re misinformed about this. Please see (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode13/usc_sec_13_00000223—-000-.html).
So take a deep breath and relax. Perhaps a meds tweek might be justified? Or maybe just a nice glass of wine and some soothing music.
Cheers
Linda
June 1st, 2010
2:47 pm
Thanks for the info on census form storage, seanmom, With the tight security we have at the community level, I couldn’t imagine they’d just let those completed forms or individual data float around on department laptops. I know I’m not that important that people are going to hunt down the details of my daily life and somehow use that to … I don’t know what. Follow me around? Heh, they could never keep up.
There ARE some huge egos here and all the fearmongering is dumbing people down. I think some of the more paranoid folks are lost in some old X-Files episode, where the government is out to steal their thoughts. I already have my own thoughts, thanks, I don’t have room for anybody else’s.
Linda
June 1st, 2010
2:49 pm
Wondering, the end date of the project varies depending on progress of the count in each neighborhood. I don’t think there’s a hard date.
Linda
June 1st, 2010
2:54 pm
seanmom: “By the way, you would LOVE the census in India. They are counting probably a billion people, over a year, FINGERPRINTING and photographing them all, issuing national id cards, and asking a LOT more questions than we do.”
Uh-oh! Mass extermination can’t be far behind.
We used to have much more information on our census too and yet our nation survived. Here’s a snapshot of the 1900 census rolls:
Norfolk County, New York, June 1900
And we know the tyranny that THAT census caused!
Patrica
June 1st, 2010
3:01 pm
This is under no circumstances true. How do I know? I myself am a census taker and know for a fact that we are not allowed to enter ANYONE’S living quarters while we are taking census, what sense would that be, what kind of info would we get from doing that? We are not the Gestapo for crying out loud. You know I find that the internet is full of untruths, info written by folk that have noting better to do.
bridget
June 1st, 2010
3:56 pm
- your comments in this article is incorrect. I am a 2010 Census enumerator and we are NOT allowed to enter anyones dwelling at any time…even if we are invited in. Also, we are not to park our vehicle on private property unless it is OK’d or necessary.
truth
June 1st, 2010
4:41 pm
Linda I see you are still on here. You are obviously getting paid by Census to work this site. I see by your comments you are either very simple minded or intentionally misleading. I have no doubt they will find many creative ways to use the census information to penalize honest, hardworking, bill paying, law abiding legal citizens that play by the rules and are not looking for handouts. How you ask? Well, let me see……… since politicians like Obama thrive on buying votes through government handouts this data would make them much more effective at determining who to target based on percentage of population, where they are located and what to give them. I have no doubt the census data will be used for more effective gerrymandering. It will also be used for discrimination against certain groups based on race and sex through supposed anti-discrimination programs which we all know means affirmative discrimination for another group. If you don’t believe me you can read it for yourself on the Census website where they give you an explanation why they ask each question.
monitor compliance with anti-descrimination provisions, administer bilingual programs for people of Hispanic origin that refuse to learn English.
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/how/interactive-form.php examples are:
3) used to administer housing programs (just like what caused the recent financial crisis)
6) funding of federal programs based on sex, promoting equal employment opportunity for women
9) determine congressional, state and local voting districts, assess fairness of employment practices, monitor racial disparities
Website: “The data collected by the census also help determine the number of seats your state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
All of this will be decided from the information gathered in the Census but there are no questions about whether you are a legal citizen or not. Doesn’t it stand to reason if you are a criminal living in our country illegally then there will be disparities. Should we make special provisions for these criminals at the expense of our honest law abiding citizens.
In addition: Will some areas be ignored or labeled insignificant because they are made up of certain groups or races? I bet it will provide plenty of data that can be manipulated to show numerous areas of social injustice and discrimination against multiple races, illegal aliens, and the non-working segment of our society. Also, who will have access to the final statistics? Will Muslim terrorists better know which neighborhoods or cities they can target to avoid Muslim casualties? Will hostile foreign governments have access to this information?
seanmom
June 1st, 2010
5:24 pm
“All of this will be decided from the information gathered in the Census but there are no questions about whether you are a legal citizen or not.”
Considering how resistant certain people CLAIMING to be citizens are to answer simple questions, imagine how useless it would be to ask people if they were here LEGALLY. In addition, the Census is of people who RESIDE in the nation, not CITIZENS, and has been since the beginning. The infrastructure is used by everyone, not just those who are here legally, and if you underestimate the need for that infrastructure, it will probably be the CITIZENS who end up cheated, not those whose low economic status gives them access to need-based charities already!
“Will some areas be ignored or labeled insignificant because they are made up of certain groups or races? ”
The answer to this is yes. Unfortunately, people who consider “American” to be a “race” and refuse to be counted will never get the help they need because the census doesn’t know they are there. Thus, their much-needed mental hospitals will remain unbuilt, while schools and streetlights go up around them to serve the COUNTABLE members of the population.
As to the end of the census, my understanding is that the overall plan calls for enumeration to be finished by the end of July. II believe that could change, however, depending on how well the system turns out to work.
Linda
June 1st, 2010
5:41 pm
seanmom: “Unfortunately, people who consider ‘American’ to be a ‘race’ and refuse to be counted will never get the help they need because the census doesn’t know they are there. Thus, their much-needed mental hospitals will remain unbuilt,…”
Zing!
Wondering . . .
June 1st, 2010
6:30 pm
Linda, thank you for answering my question. I hope I can avoid my lil’ census taker for another two months; she’s as tenacious as a pit bull with a bone. I’m considering buying some fava beans and a nice Chianti. . . .
Ben
June 1st, 2010
6:36 pm
Linda, you’ve got balls accusing someone else of “drinking the Kool Aid”
Linda
June 1st, 2010
6:39 pm
“truth”, the ones who are so simple-minded are the folks here who play the “victim” card or make wild/vague claims about how the government will use the census to persecute them. Yes, your personal information is important but only as a miniscule part of the whole demographic picture. Here’s where you stand, in the big scheme of things:
You are here
You’re not that important that those Muslim terrorists are going to wait 10 years, then wade through all those census demographics so they can strike your neighborhood. Has your brain been THAT affected by all the fearmongering that’s been going on?
Linda
June 1st, 2010
6:45 pm
Ya know, Ben, I’m speaking from actual experience and knowledge about how these things work, as are a few other posters. I see how that can be intimidating to people who either can’t or won’t understand. The kind of fearmongering Bob Barr is doing here is definitely making some people resistant to facts and dumbing them down. One of the first quotes I saw when I stopped in here on Friday says it all:
“Watching paranoid conservatives soil their frilly panties is the free entertainment of our age. Especially when they combine it with their ‘we’re the tough guys’ fantasy.” – Albert Corn
seanmom
June 1st, 2010
7:44 pm
One important point. It is not “conservative” to oppose the Constitutionally-mandated census (by the way, the Court has repeatedly upheld the right of the Commerce Department to design the questionnaire as it sees fit.) It is REACTIONARY. Just as there is nothing “patriotic” about a White Supremacist group holed up in a compound plotting a race war and giving all gun-owners a bad name.
The people who promise to shoot census workers are not patriots; they are cowards. The people deliberately misinterpreting the statute to make it say something it does not say and authorize something that no one does anyway are not true tea party conservatives; they are tinfoil-hat black helicopter fantasists at best–and socialist agitators at worst. (And given that Bob Barr now wants to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, I can’t really think of him as a conservative any more.)
You don’t want to be counted? Guess what? YOU are not actually BEING counted; your dwelling is being counted. We ask your name and phone number so that when we have to re-check the data as a quality control check, we can check it with the same person who gave it in the first place–and MAYBE do so over the phone, so you don’t HAVE to worry about the 19-year old veterinary science major on your porch, or the disabled veteran at your front gate. We count you as a data point. Your name is no more meaningful a variable than your race or your gender. It’s all just information to paint a demographic picture and try to predict future trends.
What do you think the Founders had in mind, by the way? In the 1840 census, it asked how many “idiotic or insane” people lived in your house (broken down into whites, free blacks, and slaves.)
Guess you’re glad they didn’t ask THAT this time!
The more of a problem you become–thus rendering your ADDRESS a problem–the more times someone will show up to that ADDRESS looking for that information, and the more likely YOU make it that they will have to ask your neighbors whether THEY know the information. By asserting your “independence” (with the laughably untrue claim that you don’t have to answer the questions), you just invite a summer of paying enumerators, quality clerks, supervisors, and follow-up personnel to keep trying to get you to talk to them for a lousy ten minutes.
Sending it back would have cost 49 cents. Sending an enumerator costs roughly seventy dollars. Way to save money, TAXPAYERS!
Wondering . . .
June 1st, 2010
8:51 pm
Seanmom, use tax reforms to garner information and eliminate the census! Way to save money, Uncle Sam!