Hot Topic (3/22): Did you fill out your U.S. Census Form yet? Any concerns?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

Libertarians say Census Bureau is violating Constitution

 

The Census questionnaires should ask one and only one question, according to the Libertarian Party. The party says the Constitution outlines the task of Census officials, to find out how many people are where.

Executive Director of the Libertarian Party Wes Benedict says only one question is valid… how many people live in your residence?

Benedict says the Constitution empowers Congress to use census numbers to apportion Representatives correctly and for no other purpose, so there’s no need to collect additional information such as names, races, ages, sexes, or home ownership status.

The 2010 Census asks ten questions. Benedict says that’s nine too many.

Forms went out March 15 and are due back by April 1.

The Libertarian Party’s push is for less government, and Benedict says the Census is just one example of the Government using citizens’ private information for government business. He cites the Patriot Act as an example of how the Government abuses information it collects from the public.

“Unfortunately, the federal government wants to use the additional information to fine tune its control over the lives and money of the American people,” says Libertarian Party Chairman William Redpath. “The Census Bureau promises that they will keep everything confidential, but they have broken that promise in the past. As David Kopel of the libertarian Cato Institute has pointed out, during World War I, the Census Bureau handed over lists of names and addresses so the federal government could search for draft resisters. And, shockingly, during World War II, the Census Bureau told the Justice Department which neighborhoods had high concentrations of Japanese-Americans. The federal government then used that information to find Japanese-Americans and imprison them in concentration camps.”

Another concern for the Libertarian party is cost.

“The 2010 census is expected to cost over $14 billion. A recent report from the Inspector General of the Department of Commerce indicates that preparations for the 2010 census have already been filled with waste and bloat. A proper census, limited to just a headcount, would be far less expensive

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Are you concerned about the amount of information asked on the U.S. Census Form?

Does the cost bother you?

[katy_kay]

 No, I'm not at all bothered by the information that was asked on the census form.  It's not like the government doesn't already know who lives in the house since we have to include all dependents on our income tax returns. 

I'm also not bothered by the cost, this is a once every 10 years program.  It hardly is breaking the bank. 

[rotPferd]

I didn't give them my phone number, but filled out the rest. I mean really? It's not rocket science! lol 

[JennHa]

The only thing that bothers me is that some people are refusing to fill it out and send it back. It says right on the envelope "Your response is required by law." For pete's sake, it takes less than 20 minutes to fill out, even if you have to fill out every single blank on the form. Who would really want to be penalized for not doing something so simple? People might think there's nothing to it, but I know for a fact that the Census takers in this area will go get the cops if you slam the door in their face. I've never slammed the door on anyone but door-to-door religious proselytizers (those who'd wish to convert you to their religion), but a couple of neighbors have, and I witnessed them almost get thrown in the back of the cop car for refusing to do the census. Maybe in some areas they aren't that mean about it. I'll get off the soap box now, lol. To those that have already sent it in, thanks. We need better funding for our schools, hospitals, and everything else.

[sharebearmomof2]

I mailed it in last week.

[jbyrd898]

I filled it out and sent it back, but it asks you questions about who is in your house on April 1st, but you also have to send it back by April 1st. That seems weird!

[mamadixon]

We only answered the one question that was pertinent..."how many people live at your residence?" We sent it back last week.

[LokisMama]

I'm gonna finish mine today and mail it back.  I'm not terrible concerned about it.

[AmyBe]

I have not filled it out, but plan to. 

I read some information from a friend of mine and it made me very aware.  There might be people coming door to door to ask some questions.  First ask for personal and work id.  Then only let them know how many people are in the house.  No other information is required.  On the other hand, if you filled out the form and sent it back, let them know and don't give them any information. 

[cagnew80]

Filled out the first question, and put slashes through the rest. My toddler also got ahold of it and drew Christmas trees all over the back. Will mail it back today.

I'm not worried about giving them all the info- they have access to it anyway. I am just sending them a message (which will prbably be ignored, just like the voice of all the other people speaking out against this gov.) by not filling out the rest.

[Godgaveme4]

We have not filled out ours yet.  We are waiting until April 1st.  I do not know who will be living here or staying here on April 1st.  I cannot see into the future.

I do have an issue with the amount of money spent on the census.  It was a complete waste to send out letters telling you to expect it.  It was also a waste for the TV ads.