I got my Census today.

Serious Business Backup 152 replies 3,153 views
tk421's avatar
tk421
Posts: 8,500
Mar 22, 2010 7:32pm
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
eersandbeers wrote:
Glory Days wrote:
its not, but you can think it is. the supreme court has heard this case many times and as recent as 2000.

I'm assuming you are referring to the Morales decision. I also think there was far more to the ruling, but I'll look it up.


A couple of interesting tidbits I learned:

1. Hitler used the census to track and round up all the Jews in Germany
2. FDR used the census to round up all the Japanese American to place them in internment camps
3. The FBI wanted to use the census data to track Muslims after 9/11

So people are delusional if they think this isn't used for other purposes.
Just admit it, you are against the census all together.
It is a total waste of money and resources. The government is spending over 14 Billion on the census.
So you don't know what apportionment is?
And it costs 14 Billion to do a headcount? Get real. Census workers are making 15-20 dollars an hour. You think that's a wise use of government resources?
LJ's avatar
LJ
Posts: 16,351
Mar 22, 2010 7:33pm
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
eersandbeers wrote:
Glory Days wrote:
its not, but you can think it is. the supreme court has heard this case many times and as recent as 2000.

I'm assuming you are referring to the Morales decision. I also think there was far more to the ruling, but I'll look it up.


A couple of interesting tidbits I learned:

1. Hitler used the census to track and round up all the Jews in Germany
2. FDR used the census to round up all the Japanese American to place them in internment camps
3. The FBI wanted to use the census data to track Muslims after 9/11

So people are delusional if they think this isn't used for other purposes.
Just admit it, you are against the census all together.
It is a total waste of money and resources. The government is spending over 14 Billion on the census.
So you don't know what apportionment is?
And it costs 14 Billion to do a headcount? Get real. Census workers are making 15-20 dollars an hour. You think that's a wise use of government resources?
So wait... what are you arguing here? That the census itself is a waste and of time and money? Or that the way that the gov't handles it is a waste of money? I would say that you are wrong on the first part and correct on the second one.
E
eersandbeers
Posts: 1,071
Mar 22, 2010 7:34pm
LJ wrote:

that's never been it. EVER. People want to cite the constitution and what the people of the time did, well, even in the very first census it was more than that.

I've never argued it was. However, have you heard of the fines and mandatory answering before this year? I'm not sure exactly when it became illegal to not answer all the questions, but this is the first year where they act like they are going to enforce it.

I'm also arguing that Constitutional obligations place it at only a headcount. Nothing above and beyond that. If people want to voluntarily answer questions about race then that is their choice.
Little Danny's avatar
Little Danny
Posts: 4,288
Mar 22, 2010 7:35pm
If people are bitching now, imagine how fired up they would be if ACORN (Obama's original choice) was running it.
tk421's avatar
tk421
Posts: 8,500
Mar 22, 2010 7:35pm
LJ wrote:
eersandbeers wrote:
LJ wrote:
eersandbeers wrote:
Glory Days wrote:
its not, but you can think it is. the supreme court has heard this case many times and as recent as 2000.

I'm assuming you are referring to the Morales decision. I also think there was far more to the ruling, but I'll look it up.


A couple of interesting tidbits I learned:

1. Hitler used the census to track and round up all the Jews in Germany
2. FDR used the census to round up all the Japanese American to place them in internment camps
3. The FBI wanted to use the census data to track Muslims after 9/11

So people are delusional if they think this isn't used for other purposes.
Just admit it, you are against the census all together.
I'm not against a simple headcount.

Such as how many males and how many females. That should be it.
that's never been it. EVER. People want to cite the constitution and what the people of the time did, well, even in the very first census it was more than that.
And it shouldn't be. All that is required for apportionment is the number of people living in a certain state.
Glory Days's avatar
Glory Days
Posts: 7,809
Mar 22, 2010 7:36pm
tk421 wrote:
I Wear Pants wrote: It is useful. No matter how much you want to believe there is some conspiracy at work here...there isn't.
I'm sure the Japanese Americans would agree with that.
the laws protecting the privacy of the census were not in place when that happend.
eersandbeers wrote:
Glory Days wrote:
its not, but you can think it is. the supreme court has heard this case many times and as recent as 2000.

I'm assuming you are referring to the Morales decision. I also think there was far more to the ruling, but I'll look it up.


A couple of interesting tidbits I learned:

1. Hitler used the census to track and round up all the Jews in Germany
2. FDR used the census to round up all the Japanese American to place them in internment camps
3. The FBI wanted to use the census data to track Muslims after 9/11

So people are delusional if they think this isn't used for other purposes.
yeah its the Morales one. i didnt dive into it either, but when referencing whether the census violated the 4th amendment, thats the one it points to. i believe there were a few others around the turn of the last century too(1900). plus the one in 1970 involving how the punishment can be dealt out.

plus, 2 of your 3 examples dont apply. this isnt germany and privacy laws for the census were not established during WWII. and your third example, you even say they "wanted" to use the census. i am assuming something stopped them?
tk421's avatar
tk421
Posts: 8,500
Mar 22, 2010 7:36pm
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
eersandbeers wrote:
Glory Days wrote:
its not, but you can think it is. the supreme court has heard this case many times and as recent as 2000.

I'm assuming you are referring to the Morales decision. I also think there was far more to the ruling, but I'll look it up.


A couple of interesting tidbits I learned:

1. Hitler used the census to track and round up all the Jews in Germany
2. FDR used the census to round up all the Japanese American to place them in internment camps
3. The FBI wanted to use the census data to track Muslims after 9/11

So people are delusional if they think this isn't used for other purposes.
Just admit it, you are against the census all together.
It is a total waste of money and resources. The government is spending over 14 Billion on the census.
So you don't know what apportionment is?
And it costs 14 Billion to do a headcount? Get real. Census workers are making 15-20 dollars an hour. You think that's a wise use of government resources?
So wait... what are you arguing here? That the census itself is a waste and of time and money? Or that the way that the gov't handles it is a waste of money? I would say that you are wrong on the first part and correct on the second one.
I think it's a waste of time and money. The government can get an accurate count of all the people in this country without the census.
bases_loaded's avatar
bases_loaded
Posts: 6,912
Mar 22, 2010 7:37pm
I got my SECOND census today....but it makes sense I am in a democrat leaning ward.
tk421's avatar
tk421
Posts: 8,500
Mar 22, 2010 7:37pm
Glory Days wrote:
tk421 wrote:
I Wear Pants wrote: It is useful. No matter how much you want to believe there is some conspiracy at work here...there isn't.
I'm sure the Japanese Americans would agree with that.
the laws protecting the privacy of the census were not in place when that happend.
And you think privacy laws will stop the government from using this information however they want? Ha.
LJ's avatar
LJ
Posts: 16,351
Mar 22, 2010 7:40pm
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:

It is a total waste of money and resources. The government is spending over 14 Billion on the census.
So you don't know what apportionment is?
And it costs 14 Billion to do a headcount? Get real. Census workers are making 15-20 dollars an hour. You think that's a wise use of government resources?
So wait... what are you arguing here? That the census itself is a waste and of time and money? Or that the way that the gov't handles it is a waste of money? I would say that you are wrong on the first part and correct on the second one.
I think it's a waste of time and money. The government can get an accurate count of all the people in this country without the census.
That makes 0 sense and has to be the worst argument I have ever heard

From Merriam Webster

Main Entry: cen·sus
Pronunciation: \?sen(t)-s?s\
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin, from cens?re
Date: 1634

1 : a count of the population and a property evaluation in early Rome
2 : a usually complete enumeration of a population; specifically : a periodic governmental enumeration of population
3 : count, tally

In other words, that is exactly what the census is and what the word means. It's not some arbitrary program made up by the U.S. gov't.
Glory Days's avatar
Glory Days
Posts: 7,809
Mar 22, 2010 7:41pm
tk421 wrote:
Glory Days wrote:
tk421 wrote:
I Wear Pants wrote: It is useful. No matter how much you want to believe there is some conspiracy at work here...there isn't.
I'm sure the Japanese Americans would agree with that.
the laws protecting the privacy of the census were not in place when that happend.
And you think privacy laws will stop the government from using this information however they want? Ha.
haha yeah, i do. because if they really wanted to, they dont need the census to find you!
tk421's avatar
tk421
Posts: 8,500
Mar 22, 2010 7:43pm
Glory Days wrote:
tk421 wrote:
Glory Days wrote:
tk421 wrote:
I Wear Pants wrote: It is useful. No matter how much you want to believe there is some conspiracy at work here...there isn't.
I'm sure the Japanese Americans would agree with that.
the laws protecting the privacy of the census were not in place when that happend.
And you think privacy laws will stop the government from using this information however they want? Ha.
haha yeah, i do.
Where were the privacy laws here? Or do Arab Americans not deserve the same privacy? Government and privacy have nothing to do with each other. The fact is any information given to the government can be used against you.
On July 23, 2004, EPIC obtained documents revealing that the Census Bureau provided the Department of Homeland Security statistical data on people who identified themselves on the 2000 census as being of Arab ancestry. The special tabulations were prepared specifically for the law enforcement agency. There is no indication that the Department of Homeland Security requested similar information about any other ethnic groups. The tabulations apparently include information about United States citizens, as well as individuals of Arab descent whose families have lived in the United States for generations.
http://epic.org/privacy/census/foia/
tk421's avatar
tk421
Posts: 8,500
Mar 22, 2010 7:46pm
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:

It is a total waste of money and resources. The government is spending over 14 Billion on the census.
So you don't know what apportionment is?
And it costs 14 Billion to do a headcount? Get real. Census workers are making 15-20 dollars an hour. You think that's a wise use of government resources?
So wait... what are you arguing here? That the census itself is a waste and of time and money? Or that the way that the gov't handles it is a waste of money? I would say that you are wrong on the first part and correct on the second one.
I think it's a waste of time and money. The government can get an accurate count of all the people in this country without the census.
That makes 0 sense and has to be the worst argument I have ever heard

From Merriam Webster

Main Entry: cen·sus
Pronunciation: \?sen(t)-s?s\
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin, from cens?re
Date: 1634

1 : a count of the population and a property evaluation in early Rome
2 : a usually complete enumeration of a population; specifically : a periodic governmental enumeration of population
3 : count, tally

In other words, that is exactly what the census is and what the word means. It's not some arbitrary program made up by the U.S. gov't.
Do you honestly not think that between all the government bureaucracy and agencies that the U.S. government does not know right now the exact number of people living in this country? They really need to send out a form and waste 14 Billion dollars to get a count?
LJ's avatar
LJ
Posts: 16,351
Mar 22, 2010 7:49pm
tk421 wrote:

Do you honestly not think that between all the government bureaucracy and agencies that the U.S. government does not know right now the exact number of people living in this country? They really need to send out a form and waste 14 Billion dollars to get a count?
You still aren't making any sense.
Are you against enumeration?
Do you understand what apportionment is?
or
Do you just feel the gov't is extremely inefficient in how they go about doing the census?

And while they may know how many people, I thought you were a constitutionalist?
Glory Days's avatar
Glory Days
Posts: 7,809
Mar 22, 2010 7:50pm
tk421 wrote:
Glory Days wrote:
tk421 wrote:
Glory Days wrote:
tk421 wrote:
I Wear Pants wrote: It is useful. No matter how much you want to believe there is some conspiracy at work here...there isn't.
I'm sure the Japanese Americans would agree with that.
the laws protecting the privacy of the census were not in place when that happend.
And you think privacy laws will stop the government from using this information however they want? Ha.
haha yeah, i do.
Where were the privacy laws here? Or do Arab Americans not deserve the same privacy? Government and privacy have nothing to do with each other. The fact is any information given to the government can be used against you.
On July 23, 2004, EPIC obtained documents revealing that the Census Bureau provided the Department of Homeland Security statistical data on people who identified themselves on the 2000 census as being of Arab ancestry. The special tabulations were prepared specifically for the law enforcement agency. There is no indication that the Department of Homeland Security requested similar information about any other ethnic groups. The tabulations apparently include information about United States citizens, as well as individuals of Arab descent whose families have lived in the United States for generations.
http://epic.org/privacy/census/foia/
did you look at the actual documents? they are no names or anything that identifies a person. so Lakewood Ohio has a 4% arab population....ok now what?
tk421's avatar
tk421
Posts: 8,500
Mar 22, 2010 7:56pm
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:

Do you honestly not think that between all the government bureaucracy and agencies that the U.S. government does not know right now the exact number of people living in this country? They really need to send out a form and waste 14 Billion dollars to get a count?
You still aren't making any sense.
Are you against enumeration?
Do you understand what apportionment is?
or
Do you just feel the gov't is extremely inefficient in how they go about doing the census?

And while they may know how many people, I thought you were a constitutionalist?
Then tell me, how exactly is this information used for that purpose? All that is needed is an accurate headcount. What does a person's race, telephone #, whether or not they owned or rented, their name, sex, age and date of birth have to do with apportionment? Each state is assigned a certain number of representatives based entirely on the population, what do those other questions have anything to do with it?
G
Gardens35
Posts: 4,929
Mar 22, 2010 8:04pm
tk421 wrote:

Do you honestly not think that between all the government bureaucracy and agencies that the U.S. government does not know right now the exact number of people living in this country? They really need to send out a form and waste 14 Billion dollars to get a count?
Probably do not know the exact number of people living in this country........and probably because of the bureaucracy and agencies that you refer to.
tk421's avatar
tk421
Posts: 8,500
Mar 22, 2010 8:04pm
Glory Days wrote:
tk421 wrote:
Glory Days wrote:
tk421 wrote:
Glory Days wrote:
tk421 wrote:
I Wear Pants wrote: It is useful. No matter how much you want to believe there is some conspiracy at work here...there isn't.
I'm sure the Japanese Americans would agree with that.
the laws protecting the privacy of the census were not in place when that happend.
And you think privacy laws will stop the government from using this information however they want? Ha.
haha yeah, i do.
Where were the privacy laws here? Or do Arab Americans not deserve the same privacy? Government and privacy have nothing to do with each other. The fact is any information given to the government can be used against you.
On July 23, 2004, EPIC obtained documents revealing that the Census Bureau provided the Department of Homeland Security statistical data on people who identified themselves on the 2000 census as being of Arab ancestry. The special tabulations were prepared specifically for the law enforcement agency. There is no indication that the Department of Homeland Security requested similar information about any other ethnic groups. The tabulations apparently include information about United States citizens, as well as individuals of Arab descent whose families have lived in the United States for generations.
http://epic.org/privacy/census/foia/
did you look at the actual documents? they are no names or anything that identifies a person. so Lakewood Ohio has a 4% arab population....ok now what?
Nothing, I give up. If you are perfectly fine with the government knowing everything about you, more power to you. I can't imagine that the stand up quality people in charge of this country would ever misuse this data.
Q
queencitybuckeye
Posts: 7,117
Mar 22, 2010 8:37pm
tk421 wrote:
Nothing, I give up. If you are perfectly fine with the government knowing everything about you, more power to you. I can't imagine that the stand up quality people in charge of this country would ever misuse this data.
The paranoia here is amazing. Give me your address and I'll find out everything about you that the census asks for (and a lot more) in ten minutes. They aren't exactly deep-diving into your darkest secrets here.
tk421's avatar
tk421
Posts: 8,500
Mar 22, 2010 8:42pm
queencitybuckeye wrote:
tk421 wrote:
Nothing, I give up. If you are perfectly fine with the government knowing everything about you, more power to you. I can't imagine that the stand up quality people in charge of this country would ever misuse this data.
The paranoia here is amazing. Give me your address and I'll find out everything about you that the census asks for (and a lot more) in ten minutes. They aren't exactly deep-diving into your darkest secrets here.
So because the information is already out there, we should volunteer it? That's a good argument. Call me paranoid if you want, I do not and never will trust the government.
LJ's avatar
LJ
Posts: 16,351
Mar 22, 2010 8:42pm
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:

Do you honestly not think that between all the government bureaucracy and agencies that the U.S. government does not know right now the exact number of people living in this country? They really need to send out a form and waste 14 Billion dollars to get a count?
You still aren't making any sense.
Are you against enumeration?
Do you understand what apportionment is?
or
Do you just feel the gov't is extremely inefficient in how they go about doing the census?

And while they may know how many people, I thought you were a constitutionalist?
Then tell me, how exactly is this information used for that purpose? All that is needed is an accurate headcount. What does a person's race, telephone #, whether or not they owned or rented, their name, sex, age and date of birth have to do with apportionment? Each state is assigned a certain number of representatives based entirely on the population, what do those other questions have anything to do with it?
So you are changing your argument again? It's empirical data that is a very important historical snapshot of our country. I am not 100% sure on what information can be seen by whom, but the info could be very important for the building of schools, hospitals, fire houses, police stations, etc etc etc etc
Q
queencitybuckeye
Posts: 7,117
Mar 22, 2010 8:45pm
tk421 wrote:
queencitybuckeye wrote:
tk421 wrote:
Nothing, I give up. If you are perfectly fine with the government knowing everything about you, more power to you. I can't imagine that the stand up quality people in charge of this country would ever misuse this data.
The paranoia here is amazing. Give me your address and I'll find out everything about you that the census asks for (and a lot more) in ten minutes. They aren't exactly deep-diving into your darkest secrets here.
So because the information is already out there, we should volunteer it? That's a good argument. Call me paranoid if you want, I do not and never will trust the government.
I don't trust them either, but I don't see how putting information on a piece of paper, every bit of it readily available to the entire world puts me at any sort of risk.
tk421's avatar
tk421
Posts: 8,500
Mar 22, 2010 8:49pm
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:

Do you honestly not think that between all the government bureaucracy and agencies that the U.S. government does not know right now the exact number of people living in this country? They really need to send out a form and waste 14 Billion dollars to get a count?
You still aren't making any sense.
Are you against enumeration?
Do you understand what apportionment is?
or
Do you just feel the gov't is extremely inefficient in how they go about doing the census?

And while they may know how many people, I thought you were a constitutionalist?
Then tell me, how exactly is this information used for that purpose? All that is needed is an accurate headcount. What does a person's race, telephone #, whether or not they owned or rented, their name, sex, age and date of birth have to do with apportionment? Each state is assigned a certain number of representatives based entirely on the population, what do those other questions have anything to do with it?
So you are changing your argument again? It's empirical data that is a very important historical snapshot of our country. I am not 100% sure on what information can be seen by whom, but the info could be very important for the building of schools, hospitals, fire houses, police stations, etc etc etc etc
No, I'm saying that the constitution calls for a head count only. That's it. How many people live at this address? Done. The other questions are not needed. It is a total waste of time and money. The government doesn't need to pay people 15 dollars an hour to hound citizens for days to get information from them. It doesn't need GPS coordinates of every household in this country. I don't care about the historical records, that's not important to me.

I've got an idea for the Census. How many household in this country don't get U.S mail service? I'd bet the post office has the address of every home on file. Why not have the postal workers stop for less than 3 minutes one day and ask that very question. One question, record the address and number of people. No money spent, no fuss. This would be way to simple and easy for the government to do, though.
Glory Days's avatar
Glory Days
Posts: 7,809
Mar 22, 2010 8:53pm
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:

Do you honestly not think that between all the government bureaucracy and agencies that the U.S. government does not know right now the exact number of people living in this country? They really need to send out a form and waste 14 Billion dollars to get a count?
You still aren't making any sense.
Are you against enumeration?
Do you understand what apportionment is?
or
Do you just feel the gov't is extremely inefficient in how they go about doing the census?

And while they may know how many people, I thought you were a constitutionalist?
Then tell me, how exactly is this information used for that purpose? All that is needed is an accurate headcount. What does a person's race, telephone #, whether or not they owned or rented, their name, sex, age and date of birth have to do with apportionment? Each state is assigned a certain number of representatives based entirely on the population, what do those other questions have anything to do with it?
So you are changing your argument again? It's empirical data that is a very important historical snapshot of our country. I am not 100% sure on what information can be seen by whom, but the info could be very important for the building of schools, hospitals, fire houses, police stations, etc etc etc etc
No, I'm saying that the constitution calls for a head count only. That's it. How many people live at this address? Done. The other questions are not needed. It is a total waste of time and money. The government doesn't need to pay people 15 dollars an hour to hound citizens for days to get information from them. It doesn't need GPS coordinates of every household in this country. I don't care about the historical records, that's not important to me.
it doesnt cost the govt any more money if they ask 1 question or 10 questions. and they wouldnt have to waste money going door to door if people(like you) answered the questions.
LJ's avatar
LJ
Posts: 16,351
Mar 22, 2010 8:55pm
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:
LJ wrote:
tk421 wrote:

Do you honestly not think that between all the government bureaucracy and agencies that the U.S. government does not know right now the exact number of people living in this country? They really need to send out a form and waste 14 Billion dollars to get a count?
You still aren't making any sense.
Are you against enumeration?
Do you understand what apportionment is?
or
Do you just feel the gov't is extremely inefficient in how they go about doing the census?

And while they may know how many people, I thought you were a constitutionalist?
Then tell me, how exactly is this information used for that purpose? All that is needed is an accurate headcount. What does a person's race, telephone #, whether or not they owned or rented, their name, sex, age and date of birth have to do with apportionment? Each state is assigned a certain number of representatives based entirely on the population, what do those other questions have anything to do with it?
So you are changing your argument again? It's empirical data that is a very important historical snapshot of our country. I am not 100% sure on what information can be seen by whom, but the info could be very important for the building of schools, hospitals, fire houses, police stations, etc etc etc etc
No, I'm saying that the constitution calls for a head count only. That's it. How many people live at this address? Done. The other questions are not needed. It is a total waste of time and money. The government doesn't need to pay people 15 dollars an hour to hound citizens for days to get information from them. It doesn't need GPS coordinates of every household in this country. I don't care about the historical records, that's not important to me.
Wow. So you don't care about schools, fire stations, hospitals, police stations, etc?

Knowing that there is a large number of owned houses with a married couple and 2 kids under the age of 3 in a decent sized statistical area is extremely important when it comes to city planning. Historical trends are also extremely important to city planning.

Also, the constitution does not call for a head count only, it calls for enumeration that the terms of are decided by congress.