Come to your senses about the Census


Don't fear the Census
By Kelvin Wade March 18, 2010

The 2010 US Census arrives in mailboxes this week. The results impact everything from where tax dollars go to socio-economic studies to political representation. Suisun City, as well as other cities, is heavily promoting the census because they know it potentially means more federal dollars.

The bad thing was the $85 million the government spent mailing notices to 90 percent of Americans last week notifying them of the coming census. The census has been discussed on the news, newspapers, magazines and blogs. Ads are running on television and radio. So why blow $85 million on those mailers?

Now some don't want to fill out the 10-question census form. At a time when fear and hysteria is the norm, you can't blame some folks from being skittish.

Last year, Rep. Michelle Bachmann. R-Minn., went on television with her desire to avoid completing the census. Few American politicians bring the crazy like Bachmann. She worried that the Obama administration could use the census information to set up internment camps. (If, in some Bizarro Universe, the government did set up internment camps, she should probably be the first one they lock up.)

Between your birth certificate, drivers license, military ID, Social Security number, and bank accounts, you don't think the government already knows who you are and could send black helicopters dropping Kevlar-coated, night-vision goggle-wearing, submachine gun-toting goons to your door if they wanted to?

The census isn't voluntary. In fact, the U.S. Constitution mandates it. You know, that old document we consult only when we get into a jam, not unlike the instructions while putting together something involving tools?

Not filling out the census violates federal statute. A census worker will most likely come knocking on your door if you don't return the mailer. Section 221 of Title 13, Chapter 7 of the U.S. Code says that anyone refusing to fill out the form can be fined $100. If you lie, you can be fined $500.

But what if you're genuinely afraid that the Obama administration is going to use the info to send you in front of a death panel or some low-level federal drone is going to put you on a mailing list or something? Violating the confidentiality of a census form is punishable by five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Census Bureau cannot share your information with the IRS, the INS, the FBI or any government agency. Some people probably wish the government would turn over the information to the INS or FBI, but, if they did that, people wouldn't participate.

They want to know your name, where you live, birth date, phone number, gender and race. Ah. . . race. That's usually a contentious issue. The form has even included 'Negro' for the 11 blacks in this country that prefer that term. The form allows you to check multiple boxes if you're multiracial.

Now fill out the forms and send them back in the prepaid envelope. Or else watch out for the black choppers. Peace.

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