2010 Census—Honesty is the Best Policy

We’ve heard about it on television and the radio, and now by mail I'VE been warned that in about one week from now, you will receive a 2010 Census form in the mail. No getting around it, I’ll have to answer ten questions that will give the government information that will help determine Congressional Representation and federal aid.

While I’m not crazy about the census, I’m even less fond of the
American Community Survey [more on that in an upcoming post] I’m certainly not advocating lying. As a matter of fact, I strongly suggest that EVERYONE tell the TRUTH. So, let’s take a look at each of the ten questions on the census, shall we?

First, we have questions one and two, the later is redundant.

#1. How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?

In and of itself, it is appropriate; because THAT is the type of information the government needs to determine Congressional Representation. My answer: 4

BUT question #2:

Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Question 1?

Seriously? Do they think I'm hiding a bunch of illegals in my basement? I realize the government is accustomed to lying, therefore they assume everyone else is too. But do they really think that if I didn’t tell them in question one the amount of people in my household that I’m going to admit it in question two? Get real! Like I said, a redundant question, but do we expect any less? My answer: REFER TO QUESTION #1

Then we have question number three which asks whether the household is owned, rented, mortgaged—including home equity loans, or occupied without payment of rent. Exactly HOW does THAT determine Congressional Representation? It’s NONE of the government’s business if I own my house outright, if I’m mortgaged to the hilt, or if I’m leaching off my brother. My answer: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS

There is room for your telephone number under question number four, where they have politely written, may we call you if we don’t understand an answer. My answer: RESPECTFULLY NO

Why they need my first name, middle initial, and last name for question five is beyond my comprehension. Call me Sally, call me Sam—neither matter, just represent me in Congress already! My answer for THAT question will be: RESIDENT OF PENNSYLVANIA

They may have my gender for question number six. I don’t have an issue with this, as I think it correlates with counting the population, male vs. female. My answer: FEMALE

Question seven wants your age and date of birth. One could make the argument that residents COULD be under the voting age and live on their own thus required to fill out a census. I’ll grant them this one. My answer: 44 --7/27/65

Question number eight is a question that has me totally perplexed.

Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?

What the heck? If I AM, does that mean my state will get extra goodies? What about the other origins? Like Asians? Indians? Blacks? Or just plain old WHITE? Are these the NEW ethnicities they are targeting now? I don’t like this question one bit and I don’t believe it belongs on a census, because ALL ethnicities require representation. My answer:
THIS DOES NOT DETERMINE CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION

We can have fun with question number nine while sending Congress a BIG message!

What is Person 1’s race?

That is definitely NOT a Congressional issue and we all know it. Race has nothing to do with representation in Congress. But it does have something to do with how much money they want to pass out. And it does state that on the questionnaire,
Asked since 1790. Race is key in implementing many federal laws and is needed to monitor compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State governments use the data to determine congressional, state and local voting districts. Race data are also used to assess fairness of employment practices, to monitor racial disparities in characteristics such as health and education and to plan and obtain funds for public services.

There you have it. However, I believe we are all Americans since America is the melting pot for ALL races and ethnicities. My answer will be: AMERICAN, just as Donald at
Conservative Firestorm suggested. And as I mentioned at the beginning of my post—lying is not only WRONG, it’s also unconstitutional, so answering "American" is not telling a falsehood, because we ARE Americans. I told a friend, who said he would “fib”, that if we don’t take a stand, as Americans, and send a strong message to Congress, these types of questions will NEVER go away—they will only get worse. Don’t fib, lie or distort the truth—whichever way you choose to look at it—write in AMERICAN and spread the word to your friends and family members to do the same. Let’s send a message to Congress!


The final question—another one that is a bit baffling, but I’m sure one of my devoted readers will be more than kind enough to shine the beam of enlightenment. Anyway, the questionnaire asks if Person one sometimes lives or stays somewhere else, then lists “situations” as to where Person one could possibly be staying, like the military, college and even PRISON! Oh, I’m sure I'D readily check THAT box! By the way, the Caribbean was NOT on the list, although it does have a box for a seasonal or second residence, so Charlie Rangel should sharpen HIS memory skills before HE answers THIS question! My answer will be: REFER TO ADDRESS ON FORM

All in all, out of the 10 questions on this census, question number one is really the only question that is relevant! But isn’t 10% about what we have come to expect from our government? And at cost of $14 billion dollars of OUR money, that is totally unacceptable.


Cross-posted @ The Oracular Opinion

Comments

  1. I figured as a right leaner you would want an accurate count of who is and belongs here Pamela.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have lived in the same house, at the same address for over 20 years....and I have told the Census that I am here...and yet today I get a letter announcing that I will get my 2010 Census form in the mail in about a week and the damn letter is addressed to "Current Resident"

    When I get my census form I am going to fill it out the same way Pam did and on the bottom I am going to say, "Completed based upon the professional advice of the experts at Rational Nation USA."

    ReplyDelete
  3. There is much more behind this census than meets the eye.

    This is way beyond the original purpose of the US census.

    Of course leave to the fine liberals (read statists)above to overlook this.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great post! I thought racism was wrong, so why are they dividing us up by race?

    This is an out of control government.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Silverfiddle - Racism certainly is wrong, racism of any kind.

    The 2010 census will further divide this nation along ethnic and racial lines.

    Indeed a government out of control and run a muck.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, of course we are 'statists' because we do not see some big conspiracy behind the census.

    Lets see, what does the IRS know about me?

    The Treasury department can tell you everytime I move $10,000.

    What does the NSA know about me?

    When I travel overseas what is the State Department gathering inregards to information?

    Credit Card Companies, Banks, and the credit agencies all know a whole lot more about me than that census will ever gather....and all of that information is readily available to the government.

    All it takes is a threat of 'terrorism' and people will support the government to enact laws that will allow the government the right to go after anything and everything they want...

    The only ones who stood up to the Patriot Act when it was first passed were Progressives/Liberals and the ACLU.

    Oh, and conservatives now want to call me a 'statist' after they supported Richard Nixon and George Bush....

    But let me add, I am glad that SOME conservatives have found 'religion' and see the threat of an authoritarian government....

    Its about time....some of us have been fighting that battle since the early 70's....while conservatives were demanding "LAW AND ORDER"

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hmm.

    It seems to me that the more we draw attention to race, the bigger the divide between the races gets.

    Can we just be "Americans"? Is it too much to ask? I mean, should I demand that you refer to me as a "European-American"? Never mind that my bloodline came to America in the late 1800's. I still need to hold onto my ancestry as a means to give me status and entitlements and protection.

    Apparently liberals learned nothing from 9/11. Since that day, honestly, I have done everything in my power to view us as Americans, with no racial or ancestral attachments.

    The Census is a joke. All you need to put is your name and number of occupants in your domicile.

    I fear we shall ne'er be a united Nation as long as liberals will not take off their "race-colored glasses".

    BTW, Pam, I enjoyed this post! However, I did NOT write that article from Conservative Firestorm that you referenced. It was written by Soloman of Wisdom of Soloman fame. No worries. It's all good.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great post! I thought racism was wrong, so why are they dividing us up by race?

    This is an out of control government.
    --silverfiddle

    Asking what one's racial background is is NOT racism. This is the definition of racism:


    "a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
    2.a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
    3.hatred or intolerance of another race or other races."


    Asking questions to gather stats is not racism.

    "Apparently liberals learned nothing from 9/11. Since that day, honestly, I have done everything in my power to view us as Americans, with no racial or ancestral attachments."--DB,Jr.

    That is admirable and we commend you for your efforts. We just wish other conservatives would follow your lead, since the blast emails I've received showing Mrs. Obama as a gorilla, Mr. Obama as a witch doctor with a bone through his nose, watermelons on the WH lawn, were all forwarded to me by conservatives, not to mention the unending references to Mr. Obama's race by one R. Limbaugh.

    It appears THAT is where the emphasis on race lies.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Truth: As a “right leaner” of course I want an accurate count. As I recall I stated in my post , “I strongly suggest that EVERYONE tell the TRUTH. [no pun] Plus it’s titled “Honesty is the Best Policy”. ; )

    Tao: Thank you for considering me a “professional”. I do try.

    My letter was addressed to “Resident” also and I’ve lived in the same house for 21 years as well.

    Donald: I’m glad you enjoyed my post.
    I realize YOU didn’t actually offer the answer for question #9 and that it originally came from “Solomon of Wisdom”. I suppose I should’ve worded that part differently—my bad— but that’s one reason why I linked your post, so readers could read it themselves. A lesson learned.

    Les: There is no denying that racism in any form is WRONG—something I don’t think any of us deny. However, it’s being used as a tool and by our own Government no less. Until we take a stand they will continue to use it and us.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Pam - Racism is certainly being used by our government. And yes we must speak to it and take a stand.

    Shaw Kenawe - I want to clarify that I do not approve of the bone in the nose picture of President Obama (I saw it shortly after I started blogging) it is disrespectful as well as distasteful. I have never been back to that blog since.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Shaw: [You and I must’ve been commenting at the same time!]

    I’ve admitted it on your blog, that Rush does in fact bring “color” into many of his monologues and I find it not only useless but distasteful. I, like Donald, feel we are all Americans, and have said that on quite a few blogs too, as well as not participating with the spreading of “degrading emails” or “humiliating pictures” of the First Family. I want us to be “United”. It seems, though, that we are divided. Until we stop with the “racism”, the “personal attacks”, and even the “phantoms”—because there are those, too, we will be forever divided in this country.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The left, as well as the right have their "bogeymen" and "women." Neither side of the political divide is guiltless of this.

    Until both put them away in a "lock box" not much will change.

    At the risk of offending some liberals I must say in general, all though universally, the left is far more guilty of determined partisanship than independent and real conservatives.

    Shawn -Thank you for visiting my site and please don't think I am referring to you specifically with my above comment because I am not.

    ReplyDelete
  13. [Shaw] Limbaugh brings up race often. The media environment surrounding Obama brings it up often. Hardly unique to Rush. The "first black president" the "historic" nature of his presidency were a large part of the media landscape during his campaign, though it is dying down a bit now.

    Limbaugh is a convenient lightningrod because Limbaugh is first and foremost an entertainer, and his main "schtick" is to lampoon and parody the excesses of those on the left end of the political spectrum. Hence he sees a media fawning over "the first black president," and develops his parodies as such.

    ReplyDelete

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