So that's where my raise went this year. I started my career at the Census being a crew leader for the field staff in 1990. I am now a field representative. Here's the rub, people with field experience such as myself can't do both. Therefore, a lot of valuable experience, especially enumerating Queens County, is lost. YOUR tax dollars at work!!!
They may have thought people would think the census form was a scam and therefore by notifying them prior they would be my apt to fill it out. It also allows people time to ask what it's all about, etc. The first letter is probably catering more to the immigrant population than the rest of us smucks.
If city, state and federal agencies would cut out waste and inefficiency, there would be no need to raise taxes on anything. The waste in government agencies is enormous. You would think they would find it and eradicate it immediately. Bring in the forensic accountants and watch what they'll find. The census is ridiculous. There are so many illegals that don't get counted and don't want to be, yet they harass citizens and interrogate them. All you have to do is give them the number of people in your household. The census is for the politicians. The more people (legal or illegal) that they can conjure up will insure their political futures. The will have job security.
" Babs said... They may have thought people would think the census form was a scam and therefore by notifying them prior they would be my apt to fill it out"
That's correct. They do the same for that other survey which is far more intrusive (I forget the name) Much of the info on that one is actually sold to businesses.
Reading some of the comments here it's easy to see why demagogues can manipulate these people with anti-government rhetoric.
All you have to do is give them the number of people in your household.
And if you do, you're only screwing yourself. Information such as number and ages of children, work commute, and income allow policymakers to allocate education, transportation, social service and other funds. You may bitch and moan about how the government chooses to spend money, but underlying many of these decisions are input from the census. Deprive them of REAL information and all they've got nothing to base their decisions on but politics.
So if you want to continue complaining about how the government misallocates resources, by all means play hooky on census day. The rest of us should consider this a civic duty, like voting.
What purpose did the Constitution's framers have in mind ordering an enumeration or count of the American people every 10 years? The purpose of the headcount is to apportion the number of seats in the House of Representatives and derived from that, along with two senators from each state, the number of electors to the Electoral College.
The American Community Survey, long form, that used to be sent to 1 in 6 households during the decennial count, is now being sent to many people every year. Here's a brief sample of its questions, and I want someone to tell me which question serves the constitutional function of apportioning the number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives: Does this house, apartment, or mobile home have hot and cold running water, a flush toilet, a bathtub or shower, a sink with a faucet, a refrigerator, a stove? Last month, what was the cost of electricity for this house, apartment, or mobile home? How many times has this person been married?
After each question, the Bureau of the Census provides a statement of how the answer meets a federal need. I would prefer that they provide a statement of how answers to the questions meet the constitutional need as expressed in Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution.
The Census Bureau also asks questions about race, and I want to know what does my race have to do with apportioning the U.S. House of Representatives? If I'm asked about race, I might respond the way I did when filling out a military form upon landing in Inchon, Korea in 1960; I checked off Caucasian. The warrant officer who was checking forms told me that I made a mistake and should have checked off "Negro." I told him that people have the right to self-identify themselves and I'm Caucasian. The warrant officer, trying to cajole me, asked why I would check off Caucasian instead of Negro. I told him that checking off Negro would mean getting the worse job over here. I'm sure the officer changed it after I left.
Americans need to stand up to Washington's intrusion into our private lives. What business of government is the number of times a citizen has been married or what he paid for electricity last month? For those who find such intrusion acceptable, I'd ask them whether they'd also find questions of their sex lives or their marriage fidelity equally acceptable.
What to do? Unless a census taker can show me a constitutional requirement, the only information I plan to give are the number and names of the people in my household. The census taker might say, "It's the law." Thomas Jefferson said, "Whensoever the General Government (Washington) assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force."
Liberal demagogues, such as Lino, should read the U.S. Constitution before they commit their thoughts to the internet, thus demonstrating how stupid they really are......
Walter Williams is right. And on the form they have a huge box to ask if anyone of Hispanic heritage lives in your house. So, Hispanics are now are a "special" group. No, they are not. Headcount for number of reps in Congress is the ONLY reason for the census.
I also got that insipid American Community Survey and when I didn't answer it they sent a big fat "wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley" type to my apartment. They said: "ACORN." I said, "F off." You should have seen the look on the pig's face.
The government has too much information on us. All they need to know is the number of people in your household and that's all I'm giving them. It's none of their business how much I pay for my electricity. If they deem it too affordable, they'll use it as an excuse to raise the rates. The government needs to keep out of our private lives. I'm sure they tweak the numbers for more seats in the House of Representatives. All we are doing is giving these assholes job security.
"The government has too much information on us. All they need to know is the number of people in your household and that's all I'm giving them. It's none of their business how much I pay for my electricity."
they are going to ask how much we pay of electricity? I didn't know that - now that I do - I will write down "too much".
One minute the majority of regular commenters are complaining that cameras in public places will turn us into a police state, and then the same people are defending the fact that a simple headcount of the populace has turned into one of the most intrusive acts by government. You really need to get on the same page.
For the record: Cameras in public places = good! They deter crime and help catch criminals; A census that asks what is your race, income, or sexual prference, or any question other than "How many people live in your household?" = bad! unconstitutional!
WHY wouldn't you want the gov't to know how many people live in your household - aside from harboring illegals that is or falsely claiming dependents on your income taxes!
The Senate is the most bullshit component of our government. West Virginia, North Dakota, Wyoming and Mississippi have the same representation as New York, Illinois, California, and Pennsylvania.
So on top of the fact that we are underrepresented in the Senate, we apparently need 60 VOTES now to pass health care reform? Get the fuck outta here.
"WHY wouldn't you want the gov't to know how many people live in your household - aside from harboring illegals that is or falsely claiming dependents on your income taxes!"
Did you read what was written?
"A census that asks what is your race, income, or sexual preference, or any question other than "How many people live in your household?"
"Liberal demagogues, such as Lino, should read the U.S. Constitution before they commit their thoughts to the internet, thus demonstrating how stupid they really are"
Here we go again, another "Black Helicopters" mook.
We are duscussing the Census not that other survey, which I received in summer of '08 and refused to fill out. They tried to call me but my number is unlisted, so they called one of the other numbers here and left a message with an official sounding "Case number".
They even tried to follow up in person but could not get past the front desk.
All told, made four phone calls, one attempted visit, sent an advance letter, two thick envelopes w/the survey and two followup postcards. All to no avail.
I had done some research and was not interested in participating.
The -Census- is another matter, you should respond to that.
A week after receiving the census form, each residence will get either a form letter thanking it for its participation or one exhorting it to fill out the form and send it in by such-and-such a date.
Crapper, it's obvious that you've never administered a real survey. You get a higher response rate if you prepare and remind people ahead of time, thus this letter.
And we've been reminded by politicians, via newspaper ads, TV ads, etc for months. There have even been people coming door to door in my area. I don't see the need to waste money on paper and postage as well.
Okay, here's this year's Census, all ten questions. Nothing about the cost of electricity, nothing about personal income. Yes, there are a couple of questions about race - just as there's been since the Founders conducted the 1st Census in 1790. Most of the questions seem aimed at securing an accurate count, as mandated in the Constitution.
As for the American Community Survey, which I got myself last year, yes, it's a bit more intrusive. No, it's not necessairly related to apportionment in the House of Representatives, so perhaps it wouldn't be proper to include it with the Census. BUT that doesn't mean it's not legitimate for the government to ask these questions. Remember, "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States..." (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1, emphasis added). In order to properly determine what the "general Welfare" is Congress clearly needs reliable statistical information. Do vast swaths of the country not have flush toilets or have to pay excessivly for electricity? Have huge numbers of people not completed any schooling? Congress should probably know about that. Or, conversely, if these things are not pressing issues Congress should know that, so it can devote resources to other areas. This is not scary Big Brotherism, folks. Fill out the damn forms.
Well I filled out that sweet little Census today:) and the part about race:) I X'd OTHER and wrote AMERICAN!!!!!!! WTF is up with this race thing on there they really are interested in the Spanish and Latinos I see, but why??? MMMM I can only imagine!!!
You probably got one of these, too. A letter from the U.S. Census Bureau informing you that you will receive another letter from them in about a week.
29 comments:
YEAP and today Julissa Ferreras is having a party at Natives Restaurant with US Census... really a US Census and Julissa CRAP
So that's where my raise went this year. I started my career at the Census being a crew leader for the field staff in 1990. I am now a field representative. Here's the rub, people with field experience such as myself can't do both. Therefore, a lot of valuable experience, especially enumerating Queens County, is lost. YOUR tax dollars at work!!!
Government in action - Have one group of workers dig the hole, then have another group come to fill the hole!
Hey, at least we're creating "jobs"!
They may have thought people would think the census form was a scam and therefore by notifying them prior they would be my apt to fill it out. It also allows people time to ask what it's all about, etc. The first letter is probably catering more to the immigrant population than the rest of us smucks.
If city, state and federal agencies would cut out waste and inefficiency, there would be no need to raise taxes on anything. The waste in government agencies is enormous. You would think they would find it and eradicate it immediately. Bring in the forensic accountants and watch what they'll find. The census is ridiculous. There are so many illegals that don't get counted and don't want to be, yet they harass citizens and interrogate them. All you have to do is give them the number of people in your household. The census is for the politicians. The more people (legal or illegal) that they can conjure up will insure their political futures. The will have job security.
" Babs said...
They may have thought people would think the census form was a scam and therefore by notifying them prior they would be my apt to fill it out"
That's correct. They do the same for that other survey which is far more intrusive (I forget the name) Much of the info on that one is actually sold to businesses.
Reading some of the comments here it's easy to see why demagogues can manipulate these people with anti-government rhetoric.
http://www.pensitoreview.com/2010/01/21/tea-party-patriots-should-boycott-the-2010-u-s-census-stand-up-dont-be-counted/
All you have to do is give them the number of people in your household.
And if you do, you're only screwing yourself. Information such as number and ages of children, work commute, and income allow policymakers to allocate education, transportation, social service and other funds. You may bitch and moan about how the government chooses to spend money, but underlying many of these decisions are input from the census. Deprive them of REAL information and all they've got nothing to base their decisions on but politics.
So if you want to continue complaining about how the government misallocates resources, by all means play hooky on census day. The rest of us should consider this a civic duty, like voting.
http://townhall.com/columnists/WalterEWilliams/
2010/02/17/the_census_and_the_constitution
What purpose did the Constitution's framers have in mind ordering an enumeration or count of the American people every 10 years? The purpose of the headcount is to apportion the number of seats in the House of Representatives and derived from that, along with two senators from each state, the number of electors to the Electoral College.
The American Community Survey, long form, that used to be sent to 1 in 6 households during the decennial count, is now being sent to many people every year. Here's a brief sample of its questions, and I want someone to tell me which question serves the constitutional function of apportioning the number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives: Does this house, apartment, or mobile home have hot and cold running water, a flush toilet, a bathtub or shower, a sink with a faucet, a refrigerator, a stove? Last month, what was the cost of electricity for this house, apartment, or mobile home? How many times has this person been married?
After each question, the Bureau of the Census provides a statement of how the answer meets a federal need. I would prefer that they provide a statement of how answers to the questions meet the constitutional need as expressed in Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution.
The Census Bureau also asks questions about race, and I want to know what does my race have to do with apportioning the U.S. House of Representatives? If I'm asked about race, I might respond the way I did when filling out a military form upon landing in Inchon, Korea in 1960; I checked off Caucasian. The warrant officer who was checking forms told me that I made a mistake and should have checked off "Negro." I told him that people have the right to self-identify themselves and I'm Caucasian. The warrant officer, trying to cajole me, asked why I would check off Caucasian instead of Negro. I told him that checking off Negro would mean getting the worse job over here. I'm sure the officer changed it after I left.
Americans need to stand up to Washington's intrusion into our private lives. What business of government is the number of times a citizen has been married or what he paid for electricity last month? For those who find such intrusion acceptable, I'd ask them whether they'd also find questions of their sex lives or their marriage fidelity equally acceptable.
What to do? Unless a census taker can show me a constitutional requirement, the only information I plan to give are the number and names of the people in my household. The census taker might say, "It's the law." Thomas Jefferson said, "Whensoever the General Government (Washington) assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force."
Liberal demagogues, such as Lino, should read the U.S. Constitution before they commit their thoughts to the internet, thus demonstrating how stupid they really are......
Walter Williams - "Americans need to stand up to Washington's intrusion into our private lives."
oh come on - we are talking about a CENSUS form - must you always be so dramatic?
Is the Census form only in English? That would suck for everyone else.
Walter Williams is right. And on the form they have a huge box to ask if anyone of Hispanic heritage lives in your house. So, Hispanics are now are a "special" group. No, they are not. Headcount for number of reps in Congress is the ONLY reason for the census.
I also got that insipid American Community Survey and when I didn't answer it they sent a big fat "wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley" type to my apartment. They said: "ACORN." I said, "F off." You should have seen the look on the pig's face.
The government has too much information on us. All they need to know is the number of people in your household and that's all I'm giving them. It's none of their business how much I pay for my electricity. If they deem it too affordable, they'll use it as an excuse to raise the rates. The government needs to keep out of our private lives. I'm sure they tweak the numbers for more seats in the House of Representatives. All we are doing is giving these assholes job security.
"The government has too much information on us. All they need to know is the number of people in your household and that's all I'm giving them. It's none of their business how much I pay for my electricity."
they are going to ask how much we pay of electricity? I didn't know that - now that I do - I will write down "too much".
One minute the majority of regular commenters are complaining that cameras in public places will turn us into a police state, and then the same people are defending the fact that a simple headcount of the populace has turned into one of the most intrusive acts by government. You really need to get on the same page.
For the record: Cameras in public places = good! They deter crime and help catch criminals; A census that asks what is your race, income, or sexual prference, or any question other than "How many people live in your household?" = bad! unconstitutional!
They are 2 separate issues.
WHY wouldn't you want the gov't to know how many people live in your household - aside from harboring illegals that is or falsely claiming dependents on your income taxes!
Lino ain't no liberal if he supports the reactionary dimwits who call themselves the "Tea Party."
The Senate is the most bullshit component of our government. West Virginia, North Dakota, Wyoming and Mississippi have the same representation as New York, Illinois, California, and Pennsylvania.
So on top of the fact that we are underrepresented in the Senate, we apparently need 60 VOTES now to pass health care reform? Get the fuck outta here.
"WHY wouldn't you want the gov't to know how many people live in your household - aside from harboring illegals that is or falsely claiming dependents on your income taxes!"
Did you read what was written?
"A census that asks what is your race, income, or sexual preference, or any question other than "How many people live in your household?"
EMPHASIS ON "ANY OTHER QUESTION"!!!
"Liberal demagogues, such as Lino, should read the U.S. Constitution before they commit their thoughts to the internet, thus demonstrating how stupid they really are"
Here we go again, another "Black Helicopters" mook.
We are duscussing the Census not that other survey, which I received in summer of '08 and refused to fill out. They tried to call me but my number is unlisted, so they called one of the other numbers here and left a message with an official sounding "Case number".
They even tried to follow up in person but could not get past the front desk.
All told, made four phone calls, one attempted visit, sent an advance letter, two thick envelopes w/the survey and two followup postcards. All to no avail.
I had done some research and was not interested in participating.
The -Census- is another matter, you should respond to that.
" Anonymous said...
Lino ain't no liberal if he supports the reactionary dimwits who call themselves the "Tea Party.'
You sir have a fine sense of reading comprehension. May I ask what school you didn't attend?
Definition of LINO:
Open mouth, insert foot!
re:Dr. Walter E. Williams....a great American educator.
"black by popular demand" is his radio logo,when substituting for Rush Limbaugh.
BTW what ever happened to that left wing liberal radio show "air america" ?the only steady listener probably was LINO,THE LYING LIBERAL LOYALASS.
was it not funded by some of the richest democrat developers in n.y.c. ? name rhymes with wurst.
A week after receiving the census form, each residence will get either a form letter thanking it for its participation or one exhorting it to fill out the form and send it in by such-and-such a date.
Crapper, it's obvious that you've never administered a real survey. You get a higher response rate if you prepare and remind people ahead of time, thus this letter.
And we've been reminded by politicians, via newspaper ads, TV ads, etc for months. There have even been people coming door to door in my area. I don't see the need to waste money on paper and postage as well.
Okay, here's this year's Census, all ten questions. Nothing about the cost of electricity, nothing about personal income. Yes, there are a couple of questions about race - just as there's been since the Founders conducted the 1st Census in 1790. Most of the questions seem aimed at securing an accurate count, as mandated in the Constitution.
As for the American Community Survey, which I got myself last year, yes, it's a bit more intrusive. No, it's not necessairly related to apportionment in the House of Representatives, so perhaps it wouldn't be proper to include it with the Census. BUT that doesn't mean it's not legitimate for the government to ask these questions. Remember, "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States..." (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1, emphasis added). In order to properly determine what the "general Welfare" is Congress clearly needs reliable statistical information. Do vast swaths of the country not have flush toilets or have to pay excessivly for electricity? Have huge numbers of people not completed any schooling? Congress should probably know about that. Or, conversely, if these things are not pressing issues Congress should know that, so it can devote resources to other areas. This is not scary Big Brotherism, folks. Fill out the damn forms.
Amen, Ridgewoodian. THAT's what I'm talkin' about.
Well I filled out that sweet little Census today:) and the part about race:) I X'd OTHER and wrote AMERICAN!!!!!!! WTF is up with this race thing on there they really are interested in the Spanish and Latinos I see, but why??? MMMM I can only imagine!!!
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