I haven’t posted anything of worth in the last couple weeks. Most of you have me on Facebook and know at least one reason for that.
In the next few weeks most people in the United States will receive census questionaires. As you might have already heard, they want a lot more information than many people are comfortable with. This video by Jerry Day is a little presumptive but it does make some very good points:
[Video removed by owner on YouTube]
The Census Bureau derives its power from the United States Constitution. Article 1, Section 2, Paragraph 3 states:
Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons [Modified by Amendment XIV]. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative;
Quite frankly, the Bureau wants a lot of information when it only needs to know how many representatives each state receives. If the Census Bureau is doing the representing for the representatives, why do we still need them?
I wouldn’t even give my representatives some of the information that the Census Bureau wants. I attended a small meeting with one the other night. At least he was able to tell me that derivitives of REAL ID will stop the illegal requirement to provide a Social Security Number (ie. Texas Administrative Code, Title 37, Part 1, Chapter 16, Subchapter B, Rule §16.40.c vs. 5 USC Section 552a, and check the dates on the Texas legislation) before you can legally drive on the road.
I still don’t trust him, or Real ID. 
UPDATE: According to the SSA, what I was told by my representative is inaccurate. The REAL ID Act requires verification of social security numbers. They also say that the “Tax Reform Act of 1976” allows DMV to require SSNs. Great. Something else for me to read.
Comments
Submitted by shelene on
A short form this year, 10 basic questions.
As in all years, they ask name and age and relationship to the main home owner or renter of all who live there.
They are asking race info, mostly wanting to count hispanics for some reason.
There will be other surveys partnered with the census by another polling company, and that is NOT the same.
Then census not only determines how many representatives your state gets in congress, but how the money in taxes is portioned out to your city, county and state by how many are living there.
If there are so many kids of school age in your district that is how they figure the money divisions.
Also, much info that is asked in years where the long form is sent out, is used for statistics that are allowed to be used for other companies, and organaizations after all personal information is removed.
Originally it took more than the 10 years between census’ to compile the info, now it is much faster<G>.
You are legally required to participate, and if you don’t, they will send out people to collect the info.
Submitted by Carrie on
they will revoke your voting privileges, as per our town.
Submitted by Chris on
Hmm, you’re right. The short form questions are not probing any farther than they ought.
I’ve been hearing that cooperating with the “American Community Survey” is still mandatory. Is that wrong?
Submitted by Valerie on
We were required to fill out the ACS about 10 years ago when we lived in SE Houston. It was a very long survey, and very invasive. We answered the general questions, but skipped the invasive questions. Thankfully there were not any repercussions. And yes, we are members of HSLDA…
Submitted by netwiz on
...just thought you would want to know.
Submitted by netwiz on
Did the site figure out that the video was removed? The page just has a line of text now…guess I need to call it a day.
Submitted by Chris on
You posted the comment at just the right time that I could edit it fast.
Submitted by netwiz on
That’s funny…I was tired enough I had one of those moments, that I assume non-technical people have, where it seemed like magic…now you see it, now you don’t…was it ever there? Did I just dream it?