Community Chat

[Ms X]

On 1/12/2015 terrier3 said:

On 1/12/2015 Ms X said:

The "Question Authority" generation has turned into the Do As I Say OR ELSE Brigade. God help those who will not answer any and every question the federal government asks on the long and intrusive census. They are dismissed as paranoid, etc. Never mind that the info is available elsewhere. Never mind that they ask some weird questions that leave most wondering why they want to know about that. Never mind that one poster claims the feds sell some of the census info they get. We must comply. In full. Every question no matter how strange. Big Brother Is Our Friend, don'cha know!

The Founding Fathers started the census..I doubt they even considered that people would refuse to participate,

The refusal, based on groundless fears and people's strange notions of "freedom, is the new phenomenon.

It is true that the census is in our Constitution, but it directs only a count of the population. It does not direct the feds to send out these very detailed questionnaires to each household. Did you think it did?

[Still Raining]

I did not get a form last time but I had just moved. But I went to get mail yesterday and still do not have my form this time. Is everyone supposed to get one?

[Blahblahvampemer]

On 1/11/2015 SUHSE39 said: When they start enquiring about Bowel habits and favorite se. x. u al positions, I'll worry about intrusive. I don't find collecting demographic information intrusive. I'm quite sure it's all computerized and there is no Census Bureau agent, salivating over the fact that I have 2 bathrooms, cable TV and sometimes take the bus,

You're missing the point. The data is sold, and yes, it can be PERSONAL data. I would suggest digging up the latest NSA report that was quietly released on Christmas Eve, or the massive data center that is being built in Utah. The gov has refused to even admit how much water the cooling system will be using. If I want to fight for even a small degree of my privacy, I will. So far I've been quite successful at distorting online data. BTW, they already know about your bowel habits if it's in your medical records. Even the EPA has access to that data as they gave info about 100,000 agricultural workers to environmental groups. IRS to medical was released, and then they had to ask for it to be returned. Uh huh.

[LilacTree]

On 1/12/2015 Still Raining said:

I did not get a form last time but I had just moved. But I went to get mail yesterday and still do not have my form this time. Is everyone supposed to get one?

I have not received a census form since I moved to this ""over 62"" senior apartment building four and a half years ago. I guess they don't care about anyone my age. It kinda makes me feel as though I already don't exist.

[RainCityGirl]

On 1/12/2015 Ms X said:

On 1/12/2015 terrier3 said:

On 1/12/2015 Ms X said:

The "Question Authority" generation has turned into the Do As I Say OR ELSE Brigade. God help those who will not answer any and every question the federal government asks on the long and intrusive census. They are dismissed as paranoid, etc. Never mind that the info is available elsewhere. Never mind that they ask some weird questions that leave most wondering why they want to know about that. Never mind that one poster claims the feds sell some of the census info they get. We must comply. In full. Every question no matter how strange. Big Brother Is Our Friend, don'cha know!

The Founding Fathers started the census..I doubt they even considered that people would refuse to participate,

The refusal, based on groundless fears and people's strange notions of "freedom, is the new phenomenon.

It is true that the census is in our Constitution, but it directs only a count of the population. It does not direct the feds to send out these very detailed questionnaires to each household. Did you think it did?

Obviously times have changed since the Constitution was written which is why new interpretations come about in the Supreme Court. In my genealogical research, I have found more than just the early count of people: there is land owned, boarders, occupation, education level achieved, etc., and that is from the 1800's. Times change; population characteristics change, needs change, AND the census changes. Numerous reasons have been given for these changes, but apparently that's not good enough. It's NOT a conspiracy and it's not done to inconvenience you. Demographics is a huge study that indicates trends, movement, changes, and regional needs which can only benefit the people involved. It's just not that big of deal to take some time once every ten years to provide useful information, and it has transpired from inception till now through all administrations.

[Ms X]

On 1/12/2015 RainCityGirl said:

On 1/12/2015 Ms X said:

On 1/12/2015 terrier3 said:

On 1/12/2015 Ms X said:

The "Question Authority" generation has turned into the Do As I Say OR ELSE Brigade. God help those who will not answer any and every question the federal government asks on the long and intrusive census. They are dismissed as paranoid, etc. Never mind that the info is available elsewhere. Never mind that they ask some weird questions that leave most wondering why they want to know about that. Never mind that one poster claims the feds sell some of the census info they get. We must comply. In full. Every question no matter how strange. Big Brother Is Our Friend, don'cha know!

The Founding Fathers started the census..I doubt they even considered that people would refuse to participate,

The refusal, based on groundless fears and people's strange notions of "freedom, is the new phenomenon.

It is true that the census is in our Constitution, but it directs only a count of the population. It does not direct the feds to send out these very detailed questionnaires to each household. Did you think it did?

Obviously times have changed since the Constitution was written which is why new interpretations come about in the Supreme Court. In my genealogical research, I have found more than just the early count of people: there is land owned, boarders, occupation, education level achieved, etc., and that is from the 1800's. Times change; population characteristics change, needs change, AND the census changes. Numerous reasons have been given for these changes, but apparently that's not good enough. It's NOT a conspiracy and it's not done to inconvenience you. Demographics is a huge study that indicates trends, movement, changes, and regional needs which can only benefit the people involved. It's just not that big of deal to take some time once every ten years to provide useful information, and it has transpired from inception till now through all administrations.

Rain City Girl: No one has said the census is "a conspiracy" except you and a few others who want to discredit those who object to today's census. You can write all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that the Founding Fathers to which terrier referred designed the census to count the population.

Opposing opinions should be respected by certain people on this board instead of prompting browbeating and false characterizations of what people think in a feeble attempt to gain the upper hand in a discussion. It's always a certain few who start with the personal attacks and mischaracterization of others' views. They simply cannot tolerate a difference of opinion or engage in RESPECTFUL debate.

[sfnative]

circles,

I've not read but a few replies. DH and I discussed this briefly. The FEDERAL census forms are received every ten years such as 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010. So the next FEDERAL census will be in 2020.

If your post regards non-submission of the 2010 census, then I can understand why you are being asked to submit the information. If you refuse to complete the form, then simply look up what your options are.

A question: Does your state, county or city issue a census to its citizens?

[terrier3]

On 1/12/2015 blahblahvampemerblah said:

On 1/11/2015 SUHSE39 said: When they start enquiring about Bowel habits and favorite se. x. u al positions, I'll worry about intrusive. I don't find collecting demographic information intrusive. I'm quite sure it's all computerized and there is no Census Bureau agent, salivating over the fact that I have 2 bathrooms, cable TV and sometimes take the bus,

You're missing the point. The data is sold, and yes, it can be PERSONAL data. I would suggest digging up the latest NSA report that was quietly released on Christmas Eve, or the massive data center that is being built in Utah. The gov has refused to even admit how much water the cooling system will be using. If I want to fight for even a small degree of my privacy, I will. So far I've been quite successful at distorting online data. BTW, they already know about your bowel habits if it's in your medical records. Even the EPA has access to that data as they gave info about 100,000 agricultural workers to environmental groups. IRS to medical was released, and then they had to ask for it to be returned. Uh huh.

Why so paranoid?

It would be so much easier to just get counted like all the other patriotic citizens do.

[RainCityGirl]

On 1/12/2015 Ms X said:

On 1/12/2015 RainCityGirl said:

On 1/12/2015 Ms X said:

On 1/12/2015 terrier3 said:

On 1/12/2015 Ms X said:

The "Question Authority" generation has turned into the Do As I Say OR ELSE Brigade. God help those who will not answer any and every question the federal government asks on the long and intrusive census. They are dismissed as paranoid, etc. Never mind that the info is available elsewhere. Never mind that they ask some weird questions that leave most wondering why they want to know about that. Never mind that one poster claims the feds sell some of the census info they get. We must comply. In full. Every question no matter how strange. Big Brother Is Our Friend, don'cha know!

The Founding Fathers started the census..I doubt they even considered that people would refuse to participate,

The refusal, based on groundless fears and people's strange notions of "freedom, is the new phenomenon.

It is true that the census is in our Constitution, but it directs only a count of the population. It does not direct the feds to send out these very detailed questionnaires to each household. Did you think it did?

Obviously times have changed since the Constitution was written which is why new interpretations come about in the Supreme Court. In my genealogical research, I have found more than just the early count of people: there is land owned, boarders, occupation, education level achieved, etc., and that is from the 1800's. Times change; population characteristics change, needs change, AND the census changes. Numerous reasons have been given for these changes, but apparently that's not good enough. It's NOT a conspiracy and it's not done to inconvenience you. Demographics is a huge study that indicates trends, movement, changes, and regional needs which can only benefit the people involved. It's just not that big of deal to take some time once every ten years to provide useful information, and it has transpired from inception till now through all administrations.

Rain City Girl: No one has said the census is "a conspiracy" except you and a few others who want to discredit those who object to today's census. You can write all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that the Founding Fathers to which terrier referred designed the census to count the population.

Opposing opinions should be respected by certain people on this board instead of prompting browbeating and false characterizations of what people think in a feeble attempt to gain the upper hand in a discussion. It's always a certain few who start with the personal attacks and mischaracterization of others' views. They simply cannot tolerate a difference of opinion or engage in RESPECTFUL debate.

I'm sorry if you feel there was browbeating intended. I was mostly reacting to comments more than thinking it was brow beating. Perhaps I shouldn't have used the words conspiracy or inconvenience in my response. People DO act as if it's such an imposition or that the government is trying to glean information for unsavory purposes. You can't deny that. AND, you can't deny that change is constant throughout history. What I have observed in genealogical research on census forms is a fact. Whatever it was on the first census, it changed to additional factual data on later ones. That's all I meant. But you're right; you have a perfect right to complain about the whole process if you so choose. In the scheme of things, it's probably the last thing within our national policies that I would worry about, but that's just me. Sorry that I offended you. I will try to be more careful next time.

[Ms X]

On 1/12/2015 RainCityGirl said:

On 1/12/2015 Ms X said:

On 1/12/2015 RainCityGirl said:

On 1/12/2015 Ms X said:

On 1/12/2015 terrier3 said:

On 1/12/2015 Ms X said:

The "Question Authority" generation has turned into the Do As I Say OR ELSE Brigade. God help those who will not answer any and every question the federal government asks on the long and intrusive census. They are dismissed as paranoid, etc. Never mind that the info is available elsewhere. Never mind that they ask some weird questions that leave most wondering why they want to know about that. Never mind that one poster claims the feds sell some of the census info they get. We must comply. In full. Every question no matter how strange. Big Brother Is Our Friend, don'cha know!

The Founding Fathers started the census..I doubt they even considered that people would refuse to participate,

The refusal, based on groundless fears and people's strange notions of "freedom, is the new phenomenon.

It is true that the census is in our Constitution, but it directs only a count of the population. It does not direct the feds to send out these very detailed questionnaires to each household. Did you think it did?

Obviously times have changed since the Constitution was written which is why new interpretations come about in the Supreme Court. In my genealogical research, I have found more than just the early count of people: there is land owned, boarders, occupation, education level achieved, etc., and that is from the 1800's. Times change; population characteristics change, needs change, AND the census changes. Numerous reasons have been given for these changes, but apparently that's not good enough. It's NOT a conspiracy and it's not done to inconvenience you. Demographics is a huge study that indicates trends, movement, changes, and regional needs which can only benefit the people involved. It's just not that big of deal to take some time once every ten years to provide useful information, and it has transpired from inception till now through all administrations.

Rain City Girl: No one has said the census is "a conspiracy" except you and a few others who want to discredit those who object to today's census. You can write all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that the Founding Fathers to which terrier referred designed the census to count the population.

Opposing opinions should be respected by certain people on this board instead of prompting browbeating and false characterizations of what people think in a feeble attempt to gain the upper hand in a discussion. It's always a certain few who start with the personal attacks and mischaracterization of others' views. They simply cannot tolerate a difference of opinion or engage in RESPECTFUL debate.

I'm sorry if you feel there was browbeating intended. I was mostly reacting to comments more than thinking it was brow beating. Perhaps I shouldn't have used the words conspiracy or inconvenience in my response. People DO act as if it's such an imposition or that the government is trying to glean information for unsavory purposes. You can't deny that. AND, you can't deny that change is constant throughout history. What I have observed in genealogical research on census forms is a fact. Whatever it was on the first census, it changed to additional factual data on later ones. That's all I meant. But you're right; you have a perfect right to complain about the whole process if you so choose. In the scheme of things, it's probably the last thing within our national policies that I would worry about, but that's just me. Sorry that I offended you. I will try to be more careful next time.

I appreciate your very gracious and classy clarification, Rain City Girl! Can you explain how the federal census helps you do genealogical research? I thought it was supposed to be confidential as to a specific person's answers. I don't mind local censuses over the years when I've lived in various places because they simply sought confirmation about who lived at the specific address. That's a far cry from the federal census. I did return it in 2010, but only filled out the number of occupants.