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Census Bureau gets personal
Article Published: 03/5/06, 2:55 am
The government already knows who makes how much money.
Now it's asking who has a barbershop in the basement, who's in law school, and who has trouble dressing, bathing or remembering where he left his car keys.
Some Americans recall such details from the long form of the U.S. census questionnaire that hit a minority of households in the nation's head count every 10 years.
But now the Census Bureau, backed by money Congress approved last year, is asking those questions annually to make the results more timely. The answers help the government hand out money for its programs and let communities see how they're growing in terms of wealth, poverty and lifestyle.
Glen Tschetter, 81, a retired automotive wholesale worker, thought the questionnaire was junk mail when it arrived at his Sioux Falls home. When he studied it, he liked it even less because it seemed too personal.
"They wanted to know if you had any stocks or bonds, how much you made last year, how much you got from Social Security," he said. "I don't think it's anybody's business."
He showed it to his pastor, the Rev. Chris Franklin of First Christian Church, who said, "I thought it was a scam."
Officials acknowledge the concerns. Pat Rodriguez, data technician for the Census Bureau in Denver, said people worry about the validity of the survey, particularly in an age of easy identity theft.
"Some of these questions don't even seem to be legitimate, but when you look at legislation, it makes sense because it applies to local community needs and funding," Rodriguez said.
The Census Bureau promises confidentiality for individuals, but details those individuals supply coalesce into massive data devoured by city planners, researchers and publishers of almanacs. The new survey should make the effort more useful, officials said.
"The census comes out every 10 years and the data get old quickly. People are always looking for more current information," said Nancy Craig, information specialist with the State Data Center at the Business Research Bureau at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.
The Census Bureau will continue its national head count in years ending in zero, following the constitutional requirement to measure the population every 10 years.
In the past, most Americans received a short census form to complete, but a random group received a long form with extended questions. The long form now gives way to the community survey.
As with the old system, the new survey will reach a minority of the population. Instead of a 1 in 6 chance of receiving the long form every 10 years, a resident now has a 1 in 8 chance of receiving the American Community Survey every five years. The bureau will contact 250,000 households a month, 3 million a year, with addresses supplied by the postal service. In South Dakota, 184 households will receive the questionnaire this month. That number will grow as the government expands the program geographically, Rodriguez said.
Current events could create even more uses for the more up-to-date information gleaned by the new survey. The American Community Survey can be used, for instance, to examine the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the population, Department of Commerce economist Keith Hall testified at a federal hearing in September.
Julianne Fisher, communications director for U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson, said Friday that Johnson's office had received no complaints from South Dakotans concerning the survey. The Census Bureau has a variety of data-collecting projects going from time to time, a number that tops 100.
"The questions sometimes do feel a little intrusive, but it's not being matched with anybody's name," Fisher said. "The information is a good way to gauge how communities are changing."
Rodriguez said people refusing to complete the community survey could face fines of $100 to $5,000. The Justice Department decides whom to penalize. "I don't know if it ever happens," she said. "We're not out to prosecute anyone."
Emmett said:I tend to agree with the guy in the article, it really is not anybody's business is it! I'm not a reciepiant of any government funding, I don't really have a need for their assistance in any way and can see no real benefit in divulging my personal business to them. Am I wrong?
Kathianne said:All the talk of the Patriot Act opening the possibility of 'loss of personal rights', well it seems the government is now compelling people to just give up the info:
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060305/NEWS/603050311/1001
Same fine for the regular Censes as I recall.Rodriguez said people refusing to complete the community survey could face fines of $100 to $5,000. The Justice Department decides whom to penalize. "I don't know if it ever happens," she said. "We're not out to prosecute anyone."
Required by the Constitution [Article 1, Section 2]
"An enumeration of inhabitants" [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 [ Decennial Census], in such manner as they shall by law direct] to constitute Congress is the only Constitutional requirement. Nothing else is required.
The Census should locate everyone in their homes, count them, determine male and female populations, and the ages of the household members. Some conservatives would like to return to this simple counting; believing that the additional questions are an invasion of privacy.
Rodriguez said people refusing to complete the community survey could face fines of $100 to $5,000. The Justice Department decides whom to penalize. "I don't know if it ever happens," she said. "We're not out to prosecute anyone."
Mr. P said:Im a rebel on this, despite what the Censes form asks for they only get what is required by law from me. I havent been fined yet., but they have sent storm troopers (in 2000) to try an get the info from me. They made threats too, small ones, but threats none the less. Maybe intimidation is a better description. Anyway, cant wait till 2010, and if I get one of these community survey forms, straight to the trash it goes!
BaronVonBigmeat said:Err wait, you personally refused to fill everything out, and you were actually contacted by the feds? Tell us more, what did they threaten you with, etc. I was under the impression they didn't harass or fine people for noncompliance. Wow.
The constitution is a document of specified powers. If it's not on the list, the feds aren't supposed to be able to do it. It isn't "do what you want, except for X, Y, Z". It's "you have no powers, except for the ones explicitly listed". And the only thing the constitution authorizes the feds to do is to take a head count. Not collect detailed information on behalf of marketing firms.
Yes, I refused to fill out everything on the form. I did fill out what is required and sent it in.BaronVonBigmeat said:Err wait, you personally refused to fill everything out, and you were actually contacted by the feds? Tell us more, what did they threaten you with, etc. I was under the impression they didn't harass or fine people for noncompliance. Wow.
The constitution is a document of specified powers. If it's not on the list, the feds aren't supposed to be able to do it. It isn't "do what you want, except for X, Y, Z". It's "you have no powers, except for the ones explicitly listed". And the only thing the constitution authorizes the feds to do is to take a head count. Not collect detailed information on behalf of marketing firms.
