Census 2010

[oneupper]

Just got this week and finally filled it out.

Simple enough, except for the questions surrounding ethnicity and race.
Frankly, I found it a bit disturbing that they require people to identify themselves with a specific "race" (and Latino or Hispanic isn't specific enough for them).

I put us all down as "Other", specifically "HUMAN".

Guess Im not alone:

http://www.kcra.com/news/22886503/detail.html

[redsfandan]

I received mine about a week ago. For a minute I thought about making myself into a super minority. Something like a black transgendered pagan with a handicap. Instead I just tossed it aside into a pile of junk mail.

[Newport Red]

Originally Posted by redsfandan

I received mine about a week ago. For a minute I thought about making myself into a super minority. Something like a black transgendered pagan with a handicap. Instead I just tossed it aside into a pile of junk mail.

Think of it as your own jobs program. They'll have to hire someone to knock on your door. A 3 o 4 week stimulus plan.

[M2]

I don't get the freak out over the race question (not folks here, just around the nation in general). It helps the government understand population trends. We should want the government to have good information instead of bad information. It inoculates against bad decisions.

Plus, it's not like it's a secret that I'm a white guy.

I can see where it's a hassle for Hispanic folks, but I suspect the reason for the fragmentation is because the Census Bureau is trying overly hard not to offend certain oversensitive individuals. I've heard the "I'm not a Hispanic/Latino/Chicano/etc., I'm a Hispanic/Latino/Chicano/etc." argument plenty of times. While I'm sympathetic whenever someone feels unfairly pigeonholed, in this case it does prevent the adoption of a useful generic term.

[Reds Nd2]

We should want the government to have good information instead of bad information. It inoculates against bad decisions.

It's never stopped 'em before.

As for the census, I'm getting married next month and moving to a neighboring state. I'm not sure if I should fill one out or not. The plan is to be moved out of the apartment before the census workers show up.

[pahster]

Originally Posted by Reds Nd2

It's never stopped 'em before.

As for the census, I'm getting married next month and moving to a neighboring state. I'm not sure if I should fill one out or not. The plan is to be moved out of the apartment before the census workers show up.

These things even out in the aggregate. Go ahead and fill it out.

Data ftw.

[LoganBuck]

Originally Posted by Reds Nd2

It's never stopped 'em before.

As for the census, I'm getting married next month and moving to a neighboring state. I'm not sure if I should fill one out or not. The plan is to be moved out of the apartment before the census workers show up.

I heard on the radio that for every household that doesn't fill one out, the government will spend roughly $50 to get the information. Fill out the darn paperwork! Do it for the general good.

I would be in favor of tacking on the expense to the 2010 tax burden of someone who doesn't fill it out.

[919191]

I was really tempted to add fictional family members, but I resisted.

[Reds Nd2]

Originally Posted by pahster

These things even out in the aggregate. Go ahead and fill it out.

Data ftw.

I didn't really explain myself very well, my bad. What I meant was I don't know if I should fill one out for myself or have my fiance add me to hers. I plan on being counted, I'm just not sure where. For the sake of the enumeration, I think it would be best to be added to hers since that's the state I'll be living in for the forseesable future. I'm not sure how well that will play out once the census worker starts coming around though. It might be hard to convince them that I've already been counted.

[M2]

Originally Posted by Reds Nd2

It's never stopped 'em before.

That's sort of my point. It needs all the help it can get.

[Spazzrico]

I'm sympathetic to the idea that we should live in a society that is blind to the idea of race. But we aren't there yet and because there are such blatant differences in socio-economic outcomes that flow along race/ethnicity/gender lines it is most certainly worth enumerating at the very minimum.

I get the sense that some of the backlash against the race questions dovetail with the strong anti-government feeling permeating the streets at the moment. It's unfortunate that it is getting in the way of people performing their civic duty. Plus I'm a geographer so I want very accurate population data across the board.

I say fill em' out.

[pahster]

Originally Posted by Reds Nd2

I didn't really explain myself very well, my bad. What I meant was I don't know if I should fill one out for myself or have my fiance add me to hers. I plan on being counted, I'm just not sure where. For the sake of the enumeration, I think it would be best to be added to hers since that's the state I'll be living in for the forseesable future. I'm not sure how well that will play out once the census worker starts coming around though. It might be hard to convince them that I've already been counted.

Are you going to be living in your current place on April 1, 2010? If so, fill your form out.

[pahster]

Originally Posted by Spazzrico

I'm sympathetic to the idea that we should live in a society that is blind to the idea of race. But we aren't there yet and because there are such blatant differences in socio-economic outcomes that flow along race/ethnicity/gender lines it is most certainly worth enumerating at the very minimum.

I get the sense that some of the backlash against the race questions dovetail with the strong anti-government feeling permeating the streets at the moment. It's unfortunate that it is getting in the way of people performing their civic duty. Plus I'm a geographer so I want very accurate population data across the board.

I say fill em' out.

Yeah, access to good population data is important to all social scientists (like me), not to mention that this stuff determines how district lines are drawn and how federal and state funds are allocated.

[Sea Ray]

Not to mention that Hispanic is not a race. Aroldis Chapman is Hispanic but his race is black. Jorge Posada is Hispanic but his race is white. African American is not a race either.

[Reds Nd2]

Originally Posted by pahster

Are you going to be living in your current place on April 1, 2010? If so, fill your form out.

We are getting married April 16th. My things will all be moved by the end of the month. We've already begun moving some things. It just doesn't seem right to be counted in Va. when I'll be living five miles across the state line in N.C. for the next ten years or so. Another problem complicating things is the fact that I don't have a mailing address here at the apartment. I can't remember how it went the last time (I was living in the same apartment) but I'm pretty sure the census worker had to come out anyway.