03-17-2010 WORRIED ABOUT THE CENSUS? TAKE A LOOK AT INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE Mike Hendricks of the Kansas City Star has penned an interesting column aimed at those "wingnuts" who are opposed to providing U.S. Census information. The ones who think completing the 10-minute survey with about 10 questions is the government being too intrusive. "The latest phony outrage is this nation’s decennial head count," noted Hendricks. "Even before the forms appeared in mailboxes this week, some critics called this census overly “intrusive.”' Hendricks correctly points out many people routinely provide far more information on blogs, Web sites and even for discounts at the grocery store. "We give away far more information about ourselves in exchange for easy credit and the chance to win contest drawings and get discounts on groceries." Marketing experts would also note that many stores/manufacturers get far more information off warranty and product registration cards that many people complete when they buy new items. For a $20 radio people will often complete 10 pages of questions that provides far more information than the U.S. Census. "Product registration and warranty cards don't do very much for the consumer, but they are a gold mine for marketing companies," according to an article on Bankrate.com. "Notice that many cards go way beyond asking for your name, address and the serial number of the product. Questions such as your age, marital status, salary, education, do you own or rent and what kind of car you drive are common."
(NOTE: In his original census story Hendricks talked about going on Glenn Beck's wife's MySpace page where she said she was Beck's second wife. It turns out that was not Beck's wife's page and Beck chastised the KC Star columnist on his national radio show for getting his facts wrong. "As it turned out, the page was a phony, and I felt awfully stupid when Beck pointed out the fabrication on his national radio broadcast," said Hendricks, proving that even newspaper reporters are not infallible as they often claim. (Link to Hendricks' follow-up story.)
COMPARISON NOT VALID "I’m not sure the comparison between the Census questionnaire and filling out a warranty card (or any of the other comparisons made) is all that valid. First and foremost, when dealing with a warranty, you have voluntarily opted to purchase an item and then provide the information of your own free will. With the Census, your government is compelling you to provide it. "And besides, read what the Census, according to the constitution, is actually for. How do most of the questions help achieve that goal? “Article 1., Section 2., of the Constitution of the United States allows for enumeration of free persons and three-fifths of all other persons every ten years for purposes of apportioning taxes and determining the number of representatives from each state in the U.S. House of Representatives.” ---I’m just saying…-----pepe
NOTE 1: I’m pretty sure I’ll fill out the complete questionnaire because I really don’t care.
NOTE 2: Feel free to edit and condense this. Most people won’t take the time to read the Constitution excerpt.
NOTE 3: By not filling out the Census questionnaire completely, according to US Code Title 13, Section 221, paragraph (a), you may be subject up to a $100 fine.
GOVERNMENT LYING "Just received my census form. Note inside says that my answers cannot be obtained by law enforcement. So, how is it that I must answer the questions truthfully? THE GOVERNMENT IS LYING TO US ABOUT THE CENSUS. I know it's hard to believe (LOL), but it's true."
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
"...seems like this census has got a whole lot of people upset; over nothing in my opinion. frankly, i think Hendricks was right in pointing out we give out much more detail about our lives, etc. on other forms, than what is on that census form."
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