I got my Census today.

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THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

R.I.P Thread Bomber

16,816 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:08 PM
Just arrived in the mail.

I believe I will fill it out, but am concerned about giving everyone's name and stuff. If it is supposed to be confidential information collected solely for statisitcal purposes why do they need to know the name of everyone living in my house?

I am just not that big of fan of giving the government more information about myself than absolutely necesary.


Any thoughts?
Mar 15, 2010 2:08pm
tk421's avatar

tk421

Senior Member

8,500 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:13 PM
Just put the number of people.
Mar 15, 2010 2:13pm
BCBulldog's avatar

BCBulldog

Senior Member

824 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:14 PM
You think they don't already know who you are? Try not paying taxes and see how quickly they know your name.
Mar 15, 2010 2:14pm
V

vball10set

paying it forward

24,795 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:15 PM
^^this ;)
Mar 15, 2010 2:15pm
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

R.I.P Thread Bomber

16,816 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:15 PM
Yeah and I am going to take a Sharpie and cross out the bar codes on the form and my address.

At least there isn't a part about income on the form, I was a little worried about that too.
Mar 15, 2010 2:15pm
tk421's avatar

tk421

Senior Member

8,500 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:17 PM
Look, the census doesn't even get 70% of the people returning it. You could throw it away and nothing is going to happen. It doesn't come certified or anything so they have no way of knowing if you even got it. Just have to watch out for those annoying idiots coming to your house to try and get your information.
Mar 15, 2010 2:17pm
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

R.I.P Thread Bomber

16,816 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:20 PM
I believe the government knows who I am am, yes. And have no problem providing them with the ages, nationalities, and reason they live in my house. But their names just seems a little far fetched to me. Unless the Census data is to include how many people living in the US have the name James or something.
Mar 15, 2010 2:20pm
ts1227's avatar

ts1227

Senior Member

12,319 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:21 PM
BCBulldog wrote: You think they don't already know who you are? Try not paying taxes and see how quickly they know your name.
Yeah, it's not like you are giving them anything they don't already have on you. Don't overthink it here...
Mar 15, 2010 2:21pm
Q

queencitybuckeye

Senior Member

7,117 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:22 PM
Why the paranoia? There's nothing asked for in the census that anyone couldn't find out from public records.
Mar 15, 2010 2:22pm
tk421's avatar

tk421

Senior Member

8,500 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:23 PM
ts1227 wrote:
BCBulldog wrote: You think they don't already know who you are? Try not paying taxes and see how quickly they know your name.
Yeah, it's not like you are giving them anything they don't already have on you. Don't overthink it here...
Then what's the point of the census? Taking all the information from all the different government agencies, I guarantee they pretty much have information on everyone already legally allowed in this country. Seems a pretty good waste of money to count everyone again.
Mar 15, 2010 2:23pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:27 PM
THE4RINGZ wrote: Just arrived in the mail.

I believe I will fill it out, but am concerned about giving everyone's name and stuff. If it is supposed to be confidential information collected solely for statisitcal purposes why do they need to know the name of everyone living in my house?

I am just not that big of fan of giving the government more information about myself than absolutely necesary.


Any thoughts?
Just put on your foil hat, and fill the damn thing out!!

Mar 15, 2010 2:27pm
bases_loaded's avatar

bases_loaded

Senior Member

6,912 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:33 PM
Put the number of people and mail it back. Its supposed to be use to find out how many people live in the country. Fuck big brother
Mar 15, 2010 2:33pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:52 PM
tk421 wrote: Look, the census doesn't even get 70% of the people returning it. You could throw it away and nothing is going to happen. It doesn't come certified or anything so they have no way of knowing if you even got it. Just have to watch out for those annoying idiots coming to your house to try and get your information.
I'm going to be one of those annoying idiots later this month.
Mar 15, 2010 2:52pm
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

R.I.P Thread Bomber

16,816 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:54 PM
Stop in we can have a couple of beers together.
Mar 15, 2010 2:54pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:56 PM
THE4RINGZ wrote: Stop in we can have a couple of beers together.
I'm like 12 years old. (20)
Mar 15, 2010 2:56pm
bases_loaded's avatar

bases_loaded

Senior Member

6,912 posts
Mar 15, 2010 2:57 PM
The sole purpose of the censuses and surveys is to secure general statistical information. Replies are obtained from individuals and establishments only to enable the compilation of such general statistics. The confidentiality of these replies is very important. By law, no one — neither the census takers nor any other Census Bureau employee — is permitted to reveal identifiable information about any person, household, or business. Without such protections, those living illegally in the United States or hiding from the government would be deterred from submitting census data.

I didn't put any names on mine.
Mar 15, 2010 2:57pm
Glory Days's avatar

Glory Days

Senior Member

7,809 posts
Mar 15, 2010 3:01 PM
what is the worst that can happen if they have the names of the people in your house?

here is some information maryland put out involving why they ask names.

http://www.census.state.md.us/Whycensusneedsname.pdf
Mar 15, 2010 3:01pm
GoPens's avatar

GoPens

Senior Member

2,339 posts
Mar 15, 2010 4:41 PM
They've been keeping names for the census since the first one in 1790 so it's not like this is nothing new. My dad is big into geneology. Try reading the handwriting of the names, jobs, etc of some of those early censuses. They keep that information private and only release census data every generation or so. I believe they just released access to the 1930 census a couple of years ago, so no one will be able to read your name till the year 2080 or so, so quit worrying for crying out loud.
Mar 15, 2010 4:41pm
BRF's avatar

BRF

Senior Member

8,748 posts
Mar 15, 2010 4:53 PM
^^^^This.

And, btw, that 1930 census is pretty interesting reading for geneology purposes.
Mar 15, 2010 4:53pm
D

dobefan

Junior Member

5 posts
Mar 15, 2010 5:26 PM
I believe the government releases each census 72 years after it was taken. As a genealogy buff myself I can hardly wait to see my parents listed for the first time on the 1940 census when it is released in 2012.
Mar 15, 2010 5:26pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Mar 15, 2010 5:28 PM
dobefan wrote: I believe the government releases each census 72 years after it was taken. As a genealogy buff myself I can hardly wait to see my parents listed for the first time on the 1940 census when it is released in 2012.
get out more
Mar 15, 2010 5:28pm
believer's avatar

believer

Senior Member

8,153 posts
Mar 15, 2010 5:46 PM
I Wear Pants wrote:I'm going to be one of those annoying idiots later this month.
Enjoy the abuse.
Mar 15, 2010 5:46pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Mar 15, 2010 7:16 PM
believer wrote:
I Wear Pants wrote:I'm going to be one of those annoying idiots later this month.
Enjoy the abuse.
Pays better than McDonald's.
Mar 15, 2010 7:16pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Mar 15, 2010 7:18 PM
I Wear Pants wrote: I'm going to be one of those annoying idiots later this month.
Mar 15, 2010 7:18pm
P

Paladin

Senior Member

313 posts
Mar 15, 2010 9:09 PM
Filled mine out & sent it in. Real quick & easy.
Mar 15, 2010 9:09pm