Do Ask Do Tell
By Amit Singh | Saturday, March 27th, 2010 | Catch-All, PolicyOnce a decade the US government conducts a census to determine how many representatives each state can send to Congress. The representation is regardless whether a person is a man or a woman, white or black, young or old. A few questions on the 2010 Census are concerning to me:
Question #2 asks us to specify what type of additional people stayed in our homes, whether they were live-in baby sitters, roommates, adult children, or foster children. What is the purpose of knowing these answers? Should the representation in Congress not include any of these groups?
Question #3 asks whether we rent, own or squat in the home we live in. So does our financial standing change our representation in Congress?
Question #4 directly asks for our phone number in case the Feds don’t understand the numbers in the boxes they provided for us. They already have our postal address so I’m surprised they don’t ask for our Facebook profiles as well.
Question #5 wants my name. What if my name is Abdul Goldstein? Do I get more or less representation?
Question #6 wants to know my gender? Didn’t the 19th Amendment make this irrelevant?
Question #7 wants my age. I guess if I was the govt I would want to know how much money to print up to “fund” No Child Left Behind and how much for Social Security.
Question #8 asks about my “Hispanic origin” clarifying that “For this census, Hispanic origins are not races.” My jaw dropped when I saw this question. Between question #2 and this one, why not just ask us how many illegal immigrants live in our home?
Question #9 now wants my race. Funny how I have always considered myself “American” but I think they really want me to fill the box labeled “Asian Indian” even though I was born and raised in VA. Wonder what Tiger Woods has to put here.
Question #10 wants to know if I “sometimes live” in jail or a or a seasonal residence. I wonder if they want my hotel receipts as well.
Perhaps the 2020 census will ask us for our income, investments, blood type, medical history, how many guns I own and sexual orientation. Guess I will have to wait another 10 years to find out.
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37 Responses to "Do Ask Do Tell"
It seems the only question that you have no problem with is the one the Constitution actually authorizes….My answers to most of these questions was “none of your business.” Now I keep wondering when “they” are going to knock on my door. I have this paranoia that I will be harrassed by the “Feds”. I am just not very good at breaking laws. Maybe “none of your business” counts as an answer.
I hope so Jerry! because I have the same answers.
The short form census questions are about the least intrusive in history. It is required by the constitution that a census be taken. Many of the questions posed allow for follow up to insure the accuracy of the results.
I’m just wondering if anyone objecting to answering the questions posed have something to hide? Do your duty as American Citizens and fill out the census form. An accurate census is necessary to fulfill Constitutional obligations and ensure accurate representation in Congress amongst other things.
If you are afraid of the questions asked, if you are so secretive that you can not answer these questions, I hope that they come knocking on your door and take you away. You are going to refuse to answer the questions and then object when they come knocking on your door? OK, if you are running that Meth lab you need to hide and are afraid of the authorities, then answer the questions.
What are you so afraid of?
What are you so afraid of?
People like you, who want the government to “take me away” just for refusing to classify myself by race.
Are you afraid of your race?
I would have thought that a census conducted under a mixed race President would have made you less afraid.
I will answer the census, but not necessarily in the way they want me to, the law says that you have to answer them all, and truthfully, it does not say you have to answer them the way that they want you to … American is a race – both an answer and truthful, because I am one.
I have heard that the census form allows for that. Perhaps I will follow your lead and answer that way as well.
I would have thought that a census conducted under a mixed race President would have made you less afraid.
Race has nothing to do with how I judge presidents, LittleDavid. It’s disappointing that’s important to you.
I judge presidents by their ideology, and especially whether they show Fascist tendencies, like demagoguing to gain political power, suggesting courts be used redistribute wealth, trying to intimidate the SCOTUS in a show-trial atmosphere at the SOTU, engaging in crony-capitalism with Wall Street, appointing adminstration members who are truthers and communists, and ignoring the plight of unemployed people during a recession in order to concentrate on a massive new entitlement aimed at increasing government power.
Michele Malkin was the first to suggest “American” as a race. It’s not yet clear the Census will allow this. I imagine they will if enough people do it.
Salt Lick,
Now it is not enough for our President to be described as socialist he must now be described as being fascist? Make up your mind. He can not be both.
Or do you throw these names around without understanding what they mean?
LD -
Does it matter? The left is just going to be critical no matter what is said, so Salt Lick might as well call him whatever he damn well pleases because regardless, people like you are going to blow-off his anger.
All I have to say is keep it up. There were warning signs to Britain before the Revolution and the dissenters were ignored for years before it blew up. There were warning signs to the Federal government for years before the War between the States that were ignored before it blew up.
Not saying that this is the case here, but if the Left wants to stifle debate, say that conservatives are wrong to be angry, that what they are saying is not in good taste I just have two things to say:
1) Where were you when Bush was called a Nazi?
2) Watch the warning signs and quit trying to gloss this anger over.
Well I guess I should listen to the voice of opposition no matter how unreasonable they become? Every foolish voice speaking in opposition is sacred? I see where you are coming from now J.R. If you continue to sign on with fools, the movement you are trying to start is going to be identified as foolish.
For the record: I spoke up against impeaching Bush.
LD — Fascism is Socialism (National Socialist Party). Socialism is Fascism (see Jonah Goldberg’s “Liberal Fascism.”)
Both these philosophies rely on large measures of STATE CONTROL. The state controls the people, “for their own good.”
Anarchy is at the other end of the political spectrum. It allows NO CONTROL WHATEVER.
Ordered Liberty is in between. It balances the need for mechanisms whereby a nation can make decisions, but with minimal government interfence to individual liberty. It’s what the Founders gave us.
But think about this — the US Republic is not a normal condition. For thousands of years, humanity has ordered governments under Pharoahs, Emperors, Kings, Satraps, Princes, Fuhrers, Czars, Premiers, Commissars, etc.
Our little experiment here in America is only 250 years old. Natural forces are constantly tugging it toward a more “normal” direction. Thus the saying, “Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty.”
Yes! That’s exactly what you should do.
Are you serious? Yes! If I am expected to listen to Code Pink, SEIU, NARAL, the Nation of Islam, CAIR, and what seems to be more than the left’s fair share of organizations, then you, for sure, can listen to some pissed-off, freedom-loving Americans for a change.
In reading and responding to the Census form this year, there seems to be some new subcategories of “race” which have been added. Question 8 is dedicated to a detailed breakdown of Hispanics and, their origin and Question 9 having a detailed breakdown of Asians and their origins which includes people of mideastern descent. Whites, blacks and American Indians only have one block to check in 8 as NOT being Hispanic and one block in 9 to check.
The form explains “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.” which is code speak for shifting an economic emphasis to “social justice” courtesy of the Obama administration which is overseeing the Census.
Now that we have the health care law and more to follow, this is basically telling us who will be rewarded at the expense of those who will be punished as we dig deeper into this hole. I don’t have a problem being punished when something is my fault, but when people are punished in the name of “social justice” (an Obama term) to reward people with some characteristic I wasn’t born with, then history is repeating itself and the only thing that will be left is “social chaos”.
@LittleDavid, I’m somewhat surprised at your stance here. you want people dragged from their homes? you think only people with something to hide don’t want to fill out the census? perhaps you forget that in America, a person is innocent until proven guilty and if they think I am doing something wrong they can get a warrant to ask me questions.
why not assume that everyone who is of “Hispanic origin” is here illegally and ask them to prove they are here legally? is that the kind of country you want to live in?
I’m still waiting for the crusade against the government tyranny of stop lights (which, if folks haven’t noticed, ARE RED.)
@MB, I’m against speed limits, does that count?
Nope. And now I question how much of a freedom-lover you really are. Don’t you see that they are RED?
(I am, however, looking forward to the white paper on how the Free Market will set the correct speed for Wilson Boulevard.)
little david: you are exactly right! anyone afraid of answering their census forms surely must have something to hide. we must suspend the 4th & 5th amendments & just haul ‘em in. you sound like someone who wants to suspend the Constitution. you must be a Democrat.
the census people must come to my house because I have a PO box & don’t get street delivery.
when asked my race, I’m inclined to answer “gun owner”.
@ kelley – Haha, that would be hysterical, I would love to see that person’s face.
@MB, not a fan of red light districts? want a free market solution to stop lights, then use the concept behind HOT lanes.
I answered clearly many of the questions about age, sex, etc. Well, because….I didn’t mind and thought they might be able to use the statistical information.
The hispanic origin question, was uncalled for. I truthfully answered that that didn’t apply to me, but I would have taken offense were I hispanic.
Why they needed to know the relationship between persons #1 and #2 is none of their damn business. My phone number??? Suponea my cell service provider!!!
A head count is needed, the rest should be voluntary.
I am always glad to hear these absurd “what do you have to hide”, “what are you afraid of” BS arguements. Kinda reminds me of the Bush administration and the unpatriotic “Patriot” Act, illegal wire tapping without a warrent, etc.
If you’re a Democrat, do you trust the Republicans to not use your information against you? If you’re a Republican, do you trust the Democrats not to use your information against you?
Was what Nixon did ok? Did Bill and Hillary really have the right to all those FBI reports on REPUBLICAN congressmen? Why was Sandy Berger smuggling secret documents in his pants? Was Bush’s warrantless wiretapping justified when JUDGES CAN EASILY BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR even early morning emergency warrents? Was the Patriot Act justified when something else could have been passed for similiar results? How about the FACT that even though BUSH INSISTED IT WAS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY ONLY, that the Patriot Act has been used to prosecute DRUG CASES? What other exceptions were made?
Do you mind the spyware in your computer? What do you have to hide? Are you in the closet?
Maybe the Republicans or Democrats want to know, so that they can blackmail you or damage your career in politics.
Would you be so accepting of the census questions if Bush was still President?
How about we start pulling over all truck drivers randomly, and do a census survey on possible illegals smuggled in trailers? Terrorist smuggling, drug smuggling, weapons of mass distruction could be in your truck! If it saves just one life and prevents terror, isn’t it worth it David? What do you have to hide?
Part of the problem is that the government, as per usual, is going beyond their Constitutionally limited job. A head count for Representation does not include your age, race, sex, relationship to other household members, and whether or not you are hispanic since that is no longer a “race question”.
J.R.,
Yes you are correct. Every aspect of our citizenry should be listened to. This includes those who oppose you as well as those in agreement with you. Failure to allow them to have a voice invites them to take up arms. I hope by allowing such speaking, we can avoid another civil war or something like it.
But I just do not understand the problems with the census. Ten easy questions. The census is required by the Constitution. I guess those you have a problem with it would applaud if we came up with an inaccurate census. No follow up required? It wouldn’t then be very accurate would it?
What information is provided by answering the ten easy questions that you still think the big bad government is going to glean something new about you in order to persecute you?
Just answer the questions. I did not find it offensive at all. The race question? Big deal. If your family has been in the US for a couple hundred years and you think that where your ancestors are from is unimportant, okay. But that’s no reason to take it personally. Most of this stuff is just for statistical amusement for the folks at the Commerce Department. The questions on age are to determine whether there are enough young people to pay for the number of old people soon to be Social Security and Medicare. Hopefully the answers will scare the crap out of Congress and they’ll realize that there aren’t nearly enough young people to pay for all of their promises to the old folks – i.e.-our parents and grandparents.
Seriousy, folks. Grow up. Answer the Census questionnaire truthfully. It’s actually one of the few things the Founders put in the Constitution where we are asked or told to partitipate. So, participate and be a good American. If you don’t like the Census questions, make a note and remember to take it up with your Congressman or Senator in 2018 as they write the next set of questions. Aren’t their bigger fish to fry than harrassing some poor census worker?
Ron, “Answer the Census questionnaire truthfully”, sure, we will do that but the problem with this again, is process. Are we sure that what we as individuals and families truthfully report will directly reflect the national head count that won’t be run though a political filter at the White House?
One of the reasons Judd Gregg withdrew his nomination for Commerce Secretary was because he realized that reporting to senior White House staffers would make the Census a political event in front of a Constitutional requirement.
Tim J,
Oh my gosh. There is a government conspiracy behind the census now? Are you also a member of the 911 Truth Movement? I have a tin foil hat I can sell you, it is a must have amongst the conspiracy folk.
The idea of race is so subjective, especially for those of us who don’t want to be categorized as “mixed,” but rather just plain American. In the hybrid nation we’re living in, no one should be made to feel like they’re “less” American. As Americans, we are truly united, right?
Many would argue that race was originally used in the Census as tool for racism to deal with slaves and what they considered non-citizen natives (American Indians), vs true accountability. Race data collected via the census has a history of being misused beyond its original stated intent. Take the following examples:
- Used during the Civil War to identify the number of free and slave African-Americans prior to General Sherman’s March to the Sea campaign
- During World War II to identify the location of Japanese-Americans in the United States
- Back in 1940, American citizens of Japanese ancestry dutifully supplied their race and national origin on the census forms. In 1942, after Pearl Harbor, the government decided to start putting American citizens of Japanese descent, who lived on the West Coast, into concentration camps.
What am I afraid of? I believe our duties as Americans include not sleeping in an ignorant bliss of government down feathers. As a concerned American, I would be wondering:
1. What artifacts will be derived from this data?
2. Where will this data be stored (data privacy, integrity, ect)?
3. Who will have access to this data?
4. Are artifacts derived from analysis of this data being used for other studies, and what organizations will be able to draw on this data (and subsequent census data) for years to come?
The detail of data their soliciting this year should make any thinking American wonder what type of information and actionable intelligence they plan to derive from this collated data beyond its original intent. Maybe there are no bad intentions, but it doesn’t hurt to ask the questions and be an informed American.
The Census Confidentiality Statute (1954) prohibits the use of census data for any other purpose than the original statistical purpose. The Act prohibits disclosure of census data that would enable an individual to be identified, except to officers and employees of the Census Bureau.
Wake up – We should all be on the watch to ensure our data isn’t used by industry or the government beyond what it was originally intended for. That’s not conspiracy – That’s being a Common Sense American 101. Like Jefferson stated:
“Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms [of government] those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.” [Thomas Jefferson]
“Race” data in the census has been used by both parties for redistricting purposes, resulting in bizarre boundaries created to create a majority vote for some races and minority vote for others. This is electoral apartheid. It divides American on the basis of skin coler. It creates racial polarization.
“Race” data is used by Democrats to bribe minority groups with government grants targeted to certain districts. The data becomes a tool that abets corruption.
I will indicate I’m “multiracial” on the census form, though I look as white as Dolph Lundgren.
good points made. I’m sure the director of INS is salivating at the mouth to get the census data that tells him which Hispanic families have more than 4 people living in their household. scary stuff.
Serious people remember that Obama’s attempt to move census operations into the White House was one reason Judd Gregg declined to become the administration’s Sec. of Commerce. The revelation that Obama intended to politicize the census in a way unheard of up to that time, coupled with Gregg’s resignation, made the White House abandon the plan.
A White House press release said, however, that despite abandoning the plan, “White House officials would work closely with the Census director.”
Oh my gosh. Has not past census data enabled us, as a nation, to understand how past immigrant waves influenced our development as a nation? You would bar future generations from having this data available to them?
If the ten easy questions is not enough to please some of you I am beginning to think the only thing that would please you is a Constitutional Amendment barring a census from being taken.
LD — it’s diappointing that there are still people in America, like you, who want to judge people by their skin color. Most Americans have moved beyond that, and think it’s best to look at a person’s character.
Likewise, it’s disappointing that some people want to divide Americans up, and pit them against each other, by racial groups. This is, of course, a source of Democrat power, and a large reason for Obama’s election.
Me, I’ll just keep singing with the Staple Family, “Take the sheet off your face, boy, it’s a brand new day.”
@LD no, the census data has not helped us understand how waves of immigrants have influenced our country. what are you referring to? are you saying that without race information in the census, we would not know that Chinese immigrants helped build the railroad or Indian immigrants helped the technical boom in Silicon Valley?
at this point, I’m surprised you’re not lobbying the Census to ask us our religion, pre-existing health conditions, and blood type. isn’t that information important for the govt to know?
Because I wrote a family history stretching back to 1729 in America, I appreciate the information in the census. And I appreciated the information on “race” because it helped me learn stories about my family I might not have known otherwise.
Today, however, our government is massive, powerful, and using that census “race” data in corrupt ways that divide and hurt us as a nation. Time to stop it.
@LD – you say that Census data has “enabled us, as a nation, to understand how past immigrant waves influenced our development as a nation”.
That must explain the expensive census commercials I’m seeing on TV now which proclaim “fill out your census and send it in so our neighborhood can get our fair share of government money”.
I’ve heard that the government is relying on studies to justify their advertising. That for every million they spend on advertising, they think they can save several million on not having to pay someone to run around knocking on doors. If advertising was ineffective, all those paying millions for thirty seconds during the Super Bowl wouldn’t do it either.
Salt Lick,
You appreciated the data and information available to you but you would deprive following generations of the same assets?
While I am not Irish, I appreciate the data that shows how the Irish flood of Irish immigrants helps explain some of what happened in our nation’s past and even unto today. I am of German descent and I appreciate hearing how there was a flood of German immigrants that some thought would hurt our nation. My great grandparents were part of that flood. (Personally I think adding my forefathers was good, but only through adding spice to the greater melting pot. I still would rather live here then in Germany.)
All the Federal government needs to meet its constitutional requirement for a census is to count the number of individuals. That is it. Many of us simply do not want the Federal government to do more than the Constititution mandates. The Census being used to redistribute wealth is immoral, based on natural law. Government’s role according to our Founding Fathers is to protect natural laws, including the right to property. Taking property (money) from one person for the purpose of giving to another is simply wrong. I will participate only to the degree to which I am forced. Some relatively low fines isn’t enough force.
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