Census

There aren't many more underserving states than Illinois.

I love it that they mailed out notices to tell you that they were going to mail
census forms.

I got a Census form the other day but it only asks very basic questions - how many in the household, name, address, age. It has pages for 6 other people to fill out their information (same questions), and that's it! Is that right? I expected to be asked all sorts of very personal questions that I would balk at. I kept turning the pages and reading back and front and kind of thought this was a stupid form. They already know my name and address (since they mailed the form to me) and my age is on my tax return. I'm confused. What questions are on your census forms?

10 simple questions per person. No prying at all.

RIGHT! *sarcasm* if there was no prying involved there would be one question, how many people live at such and such address.

The race questions in particular are unjustified.

I do not share your opinion.

can you back up that opinion of yours with an argument?

Mine is that the point of counting was to enable proportional representation, and thus any questions that go beyond counting people and documenting where people live is an abuse of the constitutional provisions for census.

Without researching the veracity of my reply, they need the information for a number of programs to properly work.

The original intent of the census was to enable proportional representation in Congress, yes, but the purpose of the census has expanded 'way beyond that. As others have already pointed out, it is used to determine the allocation of Federal assistance funds to specific states and communities, for example. The 'race' question is due to the requirements of equal opportunity legislation and affirmative action programs.

Of which I am well aware. Expansive government needs this data, but we don't necessarily need expansive government. In particular affirmative action programs are particularly without merit in 2010, the government claiming a need for data in order to make affirmative action programs work is not persuasive.

The situation on the ground trumps hypothetical in this as in most cases.

agreed

Received my census forms yesterday.

I think the racial questions are reasonable, simply to get current information on the population demographics. I didn't find those questions intrusive or unwarrented.

But I did wonder why they want to know whether you have a mortgage or a loan on your home. What on earth does that have to do with counting the population?

Anyone know why questions like that are included?

A Census website answers it this way:

Asked since 1890. Homeownership rates serve as an indicator of the nation's economy. The data are also used to administer housing programs and to inform planning decisions.

Thanks for the info.

I'm not sure I find their explanation satisfying. I can, perhaps, understand asking whether you own or rent your home or apartment, but I cannot see any benefit to asking whether or not you have a mortgage. What difference does having a mortgage make? I still don't see the relevance to either a population headcount or the adminstration of housing programs.

I don't know the ins and outs of it.

ok, you guys convinced me.

i'm off to get the mail...

nope still waiting...


(we're obviously low priority)

I am guessing it has more to do with not overloading the receiving center(s) in Arizona +?, and in not overloading the post office, and going in an order that is consistent with the post office static capacity. The post office is broke, they sure don't need costs of adding trucks or air over and above what is already contracted.

or I live out in the country in a one horse town, and mail is s l o w...