‘I nicked the census man.’ ‘There’s a good boy.’
We’re starting to see some worry that anti-Washington sentiment may be hurting conservative states in the census. This from the Houston Chronicle:
As of Friday afternoon, only 27 percent of Texas households had filled in and returned their census forms — well below the national average of 34 percent — according to computer data from the U.S. Census Bureau….
Contrary to historical trends, some of the toughest challenges facing the agency responsible for measuring the nation’s population are not from counting the traditionally undercounted groups such as African-Americans and Latinos. Instead, a new and growing threat to an accurate national head count is coming from anti-government conservatives who may not fill out their forms to protest against “Big Brother” in Washington.
“There’s a general distrust of the federal government at every level, starting with Congress and the president, all the way down to executive branch agencies,” says Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland.
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210 comments Add your comment
phoenix falcon
March 30th, 2010
1:46 pm
Everything is Bigger and Better in Tejas.
and Texas City was destroyed by a large explosion some years before that, what is your friggin point?
Mr. Mike
March 30th, 2010
1:46 pm
Folks, not filling out the census forms is not the answer. FYI: When a state’s population increases significantly, electoral votes for that state can increase giving that state more leverage in the presidential elections. For example, as a result of the 2000 census the state of Ga picked up 2 more electoral votes moving us from 13 to 15. The way to change things is vote the wrong people out of office and put the right one’s in. And let me say one one thing while I am at it. When any nation turns from God and starts putting immorality about its own pleasures above what is right then that nation is in trouble. Remember all the fornication, homosexuality, abortions, removing prayer out of schools, removing the 10 Commandments out of public places and court rooms and the list goes on: America was a great nation, once, when it honored God.
Fire Frank Wren
March 30th, 2010
1:47 pm
Let them do it. They are only hurting themselves.
Hey, It's Enrico Pallazzo!
March 30th, 2010
1:48 pm
The census is needed for determining how each state is represented in the House of Representatives. The census asks about age and race to help determine how federal money is distributed to the states for various federal programs. If Texans want to burden their state with higher taxes to make up the shortfall of those federal dollars, then they can do that. End the end they will do as we saw Sonny do recently with the Race to the Top; he went begging for federal money.
Michael
March 30th, 2010
1:48 pm
Cool. I’m proud to be a Texan.
Everything is Bigger and Better in Tejas.
March 30th, 2010
1:49 pm
Fort Worth is home to the “Stockyards”.
@ phoenix falcon – do you need some more fiber in your diet?
Michael
March 30th, 2010
1:49 pm
Any little thing helps I guess.
Everything is Bigger and Better in Tejas.
March 30th, 2010
1:50 pm
Texas does not have a state income tax.
phoenix falcon
March 30th, 2010
1:52 pm
Everything is Bigger and Better in Tejas.
yes, yes i believe i do
Chris D'
March 30th, 2010
1:52 pm
In other census statistical news skewed to this stupid articles twist on the facts. The liberal bastion of South Carolina currently has a return rate of %48 while the conservative state of New York has a return rate of %41. Those right wing fanaticals in New York City need to get a grip. Yah, I am talking to you Bill Clinton and your tea party rallies at the Apollo.
Everything is Bigger and Better in Tejas.
March 30th, 2010
1:54 pm
My expansive ranch is fenced and heavily secured. If a census worker comes a callin, I will leave them at the gate in the 100 degree heat and tell them that I will be there in a minute.
cmurphyga
March 30th, 2010
1:55 pm
Wow! It’s offical, the stupid get stupider…
Are u serious?
March 30th, 2010
1:55 pm
Just when I thought this country was ready to bury the old days….we go right back to it. For a nation full of riches, we make some of the most azzbackward choices. Fill out the form and shut up.
The time you spend protesting could be used looking for a job. I see why people leave the United States and never come back.
Michelle
March 30th, 2010
1:58 pm
Good. Then maybe they will receive even fewer federal dollars. MORE for the rest of us!
Gooooooo Texas!
phoenix falcon
March 30th, 2010
1:58 pm
this country is going st8 to hell, and it’s all thanks to the racist republicans, that’s a fact.
jm
March 30th, 2010
2:00 pm
If you’re a conservative, this isn’t as non-sensical as you may think. The census drives funding mostly for things conservatives are against. Furthermore, if the census was widely known as inaccurate, it would (in theory) lead to the conclusion that more management and authority be distributed to the states.
Makala
March 30th, 2010
2:00 pm
@ Ben-I agree with you. So the best way to show Washington what you think is to decrease your representation in it? Yeah, that makes PERFECT sense. SMH
Everything is Bigger and Better in Tejas.
March 30th, 2010
2:02 pm
Texas is doing quite well thank you.
Everything is Bigger and Better in Tejas.
March 30th, 2010
2:03 pm
Austin has a great music scene.
Jay 1941
March 30th, 2010
2:04 pm
Why is President in lowercase? The world has me really frightened right now. Our ingnorance is really beginning to show.
Jeffrey
March 30th, 2010
2:07 pm
Where were all these right-wing nut jobs when “W” gave us the Patriot Act? Two wars without funding it? Medicare prescription without funding it? Supporting amending the Constitution they so love to prevent same-sex marriage (yes, that is an intrusion of government into our personal lives)? Yeah, I didn’t think so. They are extremely selective about who they raise their voices against, and that just happens to be liberals. When conservatives tread on their soil, they don’t say a effing peep! Get over it! If you don’t like it, move to Haiti, Yemen or the Sudan if you want to live in a country where government has no control over its people’s lives.
ZJ
March 30th, 2010
2:10 pm
This only PROVES that those self-righteous right-wingers have no idea HOW the government (e.g. Congress) actually works. No surprise, and amusing, all at the same time!
Jeff in ATL
March 30th, 2010
2:10 pm
“When states start seceding from the union, maybe then all you liberal hypocrites will start noticing that everything is not free and that stealing from people who work to give to people who do not, have not and will not is totally unacceptable.”
Interestingly enough the states that are more likely to secede are in the south; the states which receive more money from Washington DC than they send.
Minnesota, Massachusetts (well, all of New England), etc. — those dirty blue states — all receive less money than they send to DC every year. Maybe those blue, liberal, wealthy states should secede and let the south fend for itself. I’ll gladly move back north if that happens.
mta56
March 30th, 2010
2:12 pm
Since I don’t speak spanish or ebonics there is no reason to fill out my census form. It will not aid my kind in any way – only steal my money to support minorities!
Conservative for freedom
March 30th, 2010
2:13 pm
I don’t trust anyone in Washington. However, Republicans are not pushing this country toward Marxism/Communism/Socialism. They are all the same. I filled out my census but this time I was more reluctant to do so.
Everything is Bigger and Better in Tejas.
March 30th, 2010
2:13 pm
You fools underestimate Texans. We don’t need or want government control or money. Now take your ball and run on back to Obammy… err I mean Mommy.
Ignorance at it's best
March 30th, 2010
2:13 pm
Not surprised by Texans…They did produce ‘W” knumbskulls.
Ga transplant
March 30th, 2010
2:15 pm
Wow, really surprised at the responses here. For the deep, conservative, south, quite a few progressive responses and comments here. Maybe Georgia isn’t a lost cause after all. By the way, for all those people who think this is a “big brother” tactic or some other liberal plot, consider this. The NSA can and does know, for the most part, who you are, where you live, every internet site you visit, and all your financial information. The census is for the people that leave virtually no paper trail. I would echo that by not filling out the census, you only hurt yourselves. Your congressional representation goes down as well as federal funds for virtually everything.
what about it
March 30th, 2010
2:15 pm
once the white is no longer the majority does that mean whites start getting all the breaks, affirmative action, college scholarships for being a minority, etc. currently afforded to minorities. Maybe my sons can get some help with college through grants instead of taking out loans to cover what I can’t pay for….
Jeffrey
March 30th, 2010
2:16 pm
There’s a reason most southern states lag behind the rest of the country in personal wealth, good health, education and other important quality of life statistics. It due to lack of effective and active government. Oh, the weather may be milder, the tea sweeter, but where does that get you?
The True REALIST
March 30th, 2010
2:16 pm
Just another case of Stupidity rearing it’s ugly head. If they dont want to be counted….forget them. Each day, consercatives are proving to be even more lost.
Jeffrey
March 30th, 2010
2:23 pm
what about it–Are you inferring you would like government assistance? What cracks me up on the health care debate is that conversatives are so up in arms about it when it is about the only legislation that has come out of Washington, DC over the past several years that is actually good for its citizens instead of being good for big business. I just don’t get it. Why are conservatives okay with spending unbudgeted and unpaid-for wars in the Middle East costing us well over $2,000,000,000,000 (yes that’s 2 trillion–twice the amount of the healthcare bill) to date with many more trillions to come during the course of the wars and the associated healthcare costs for our brave men and women who have been permanently injured–both physically and emotionally? Why were you not screaming then about fiscal responsibility? You all are just a bunch of yahoo hypocrites.
RT
March 30th, 2010
2:27 pm
So, you protest the gov’t by not participating? Strange how these idiots don’t want to tell the gov’t anything about themselves, but they want the gov’t to tell women that they can’t have an abortion. They can’t have it both ways…
ButlerDawg
March 30th, 2010
2:28 pm
I cringe knowing all of these 20-somethings (some out of college, some still in) are moving into the corporate environment. Already brain-washed with anti-capitalism, anti-conservative, anti-white hatred. And I’m not that much older than you twits!
Jimmy
March 30th, 2010
2:28 pm
As of Friday afternoon, only 27 percent of Texas households had filled in and returned their census forms — well below the national average of 34 percent
so, that means you idiots that in most blue states 66% didn’t return their form either.
But, when a D.F liberal/totalitarians see the word texas the just lose all comprehension.
mta56
March 30th, 2010
2:28 pm
Guess the butt kissers at the ajc removed my non politically correct comment! Sissy cowards!
STFU
March 30th, 2010
2:30 pm
Wow the left and the right just cannot play nice. You’re all ignorant morons, Democrats and Republicans. If one of you doesn’t like something the other does they are obviously racist or trying to give away “your money”. Get a new argument BOTH of you. Its like the verizon and AT&T commercials, I really don’t give a sh*t which one of you is better, I would like you both to shut up!
bugman
March 30th, 2010
2:31 pm
Umm, Ben, in case you haven’t noticed lately, you don’t really have representation in DC. Big busines on the other hand…
jj
March 30th, 2010
2:31 pm
Really Sad! Instead of doing what everyone yelled and screamed and name called about during the Bush administration they have just increased the name calling in a much more abusive and hateful mannor. The way I see it anyone that can’t rise above calling names really is just showing their ignorance to the rest of the world. There are plenty of problems and even more solutions if we and washington would work together but until the party in power realized that it doesn’t get 100% of the say because of who or what they are then we will never have real change. Never has there been such partianship and no one can deny that.
Cletus Dooley Earnhardt SR.
March 30th, 2010
2:34 pm
I hate the govvernmeant. The censis peeple came to my trailor just last niighht. I was enjoiying a nice cold Pabsst Blu Ribbbon and watcchin the UGA vs Auburn VHS viddeo forr the 543 tyme, and theyy ticced me off bad!! Dey wooldnt lett me coint my roooosters or my wife/sister as seeperate peeple!! Isss this how theyy chose to run the govvernmeant? Arree these how they speend the 60 dollars or taaaxes I pay outtta my wealth? Whoo in the naame of Daavid Green do theyy thenk they arree?
GO UGA!!!
Sigh...
March 30th, 2010
2:35 pm
“What cracks me up on the health care debate is that conversatives are so up in arms about it when it is about the only legislation that has come out of Washington, DC over the past several years that is actually good for its citizens instead of being good for big business.”
It is only good for the insurance companies… but you keep on believing that forcing 300 million people to buy health care is gonna be awesome, cause it won’t be. Do you realize that our healthcare system is already stretched thin as it is. All its going to do is make insurers more money and make it ten times harder for any of us to get treated.
Taylor Wooten
March 30th, 2010
2:35 pm
Does anyone really believe for one second….that the Census matters?
What a crock. Its just Washington BS.
GA Native
March 30th, 2010
2:36 pm
The higher propensity of “progressive” is a direct reflection of the entitment crowd that does not work and if they do they are probably in a government job that they just get paid to show up and put the phones on hold at. The conservatives have less time to spend dialoging with stupidity – they have to work to pay for the entitlements that allow the idoits to prove that the are idiots.
ButlerDawg
March 30th, 2010
2:39 pm
Agree with “GA Native” 100%!!!
Patrick
March 30th, 2010
2:43 pm
@Jeffrey
Please don’t spout off when you don’t know your facts. This only damages your credibility. The numbers are bad enough without you inflating them. I also won’t bother correcting you on the gross misrepresentation of what universal health coverage will cost. No estimate is as low as $2 trillion.
I would direct you to a website whose soul aim is the disclosure of federal spending on the armed conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan:
http://www.costofwar.com/
And I quote…
All Counters
The numbers indicate all of the approved funding for the wars to date. These appropriations do not include funds to support the “surge” of 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan announced by the Obama administration on December 1, 2009. Conservative estimates suggest the surge will cost approximately $30 billion and we anticipate supplemental appropriations for this later in the year. When additional FY2010 war-related amounts are approved, we will adjust the counter so that it reaches the new total at the end of FY2010.
If you should compare the amount displayed on the Cost of War counters with the numbers available in our information sheets, please note that the information sheets include all war spending to date, the same number that the counters will reach at the end of the 2010 fiscal year.
Total War Funding since 2001
To date, $1.05 trillion dollars have been allocated to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This counter is designed so that on September 30, 2010, the end of the federal government’s 2010 fiscal year, the counter will reach that total number. Likewise, counters found here for states and towns will also reach their portion of this number at the end of FY2010. Please note, due to lower 2010 appropriations for Iraq the total estimated cost of war decreased since our last update.
Also, if you think this is published by conservatives, you are woefully mistaken.
Cletus Dooley Earnhardt SR.
March 30th, 2010
2:45 pm
GA nateve you musst be a stankin liberral wiht all thosse faancy worrds. Goo back up Norrth with alll of thatt Prroggressivess andd entttitlements worrds. Youu Liberalls arre always ussing biggg words on uss harrdworking connservatives. I gett madd whne you calll uss bad wordds like “prrogressivess”. Wee arre prrogressive justt becasue we are Reppublicans and Lovve this darn’ countrry?
Cletus Dooley Earnhardt SR.
March 30th, 2010
2:45 pm
I forrgot to add onee thing Johnn F Kennedy Jrr AKA GA nattive:
GO UGA!
Sigh...
March 30th, 2010
2:52 pm
And Cletus, shut up.
Cletus Dooley Earnhardt SR.
March 30th, 2010
2:55 pm
Isntt Sigh a Indiaan Name?? Go bacck to India commmie!
GO UGA!
RADLY
March 30th, 2010
2:56 pm
Yeah Galloway….let’s make it a Right Wing/Conservative Conspiracy..you and that AJC!!!!
In case you haven’t noticed….this country and its citizens…those with any moral and fiscal responsibility are hopping mad about the way Washington’s Elitist politicians are thumbing their collective noses at their constituincies. Ok…….see ya in November idiots!! You’ll listen then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!