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April 1 is Census Day but the Census Bureau began a daily posting of the mail
participation rate, that is the percent of forms sent out that have been mailed back.
These numbers for states, cities, counties and neighborhoods are on line at:
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/
As of this morning, the Mail Participation rates were as follows:
Nation 13%
State of Michigan 12%
City of Detroit 2%
Ann Arbor 4%
Southfiield 11%
Novi 12%
Farmington Hills 14%
Troy 18%
Wow, that many people were able to answer the very first question on the form, and it's only March 23.
Question #1 from the census:
"How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?"
I'm part of the 88% in Mich. that have not responded yet because the way it is worded, I cannot truthfully and honestly answer that question until April 2, 2010.
Oh don't be such a smart-ass. Good point though. I was filling out my family's form and my brother turned 19 on March 18, so I had to remember not to put 18, but 19, as I filled it out before his birthday.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnsmith
Has anyone out there been visited? My father couldn't remember if we were visited in the 2000 Census. I guess it's not 1930 anymore so mass mail might be more effective. I also thought the 2000 Census asked Whites about their ethnic group as well, i.e. German, French, English, etc.
One more question! I heard they kept "Negro" because 50,000 responded as such in the last census. Who were these people? If that's the way you want to be identified I guess that's your business, but I'm just wondering.
I am with John, I find it funny that people can truthfully fill that thing out in advance. You don't know whats going to happen between now and April 1.
Dtown, no one will be visited until after April 1. They cannot visit before April 1 and ask those questions. In terms of additional information that used to be collected through the census, the American Community Survey has been established to get the socio-economic data through sampling on a more regular basis. This was done because it makes no sense to use 10 year old data, because by the 10th year about ten percent of the population has died and another 30-40 percent has moved.
They threaten you with fines if you don't fill it out truthfully. If they really can fine you under the law, then I am forced to assume that it is a legal document. So I cannot truthfully answer it yet, and they cannot expect me to, until April 2nd. Otherwise it would be perjury with the way the question is written. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by dtowncitylover
Is it perjury if you haven't taken an oath? I really don't think the Census Bureau is going to be looking to levy a fine against people who answered with a reasonable answer before April 1st. I think unless you have household members who are pregnant with an imminent due date or in hospice who could die at anytime, for most people, it is "reasonable to assume" whoever you have in your house today will be the same ones there next Thursday. Complete the form, mail it, and get it over with. That's what I did. I don't PSAs from the feds or anyone else nagging me to submit this form.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnsmith
I'm po'd with the waste from all this. About a week before I got the Census form I received a letter telling me I would receive it. Then I received the form a week later. Then, a week after I received it, I got another form telling me I should have received it. What's with all the reminders??? Wasteful spending by the Federal Government AGAIN.
The point that johnsmith made is a very good one, indeed. I guess I broke the law because I filled mine out before April 1.
On the Census website they have posted a notice that you can answer it now with your belief of what the conditions will be on April 1. So go ahead, it is taken care of.
2010 Census: Questionnaire due date https://ask.census.gov/rnt/rnw/img/trnsp.gif Question What is the due date for returning the questionnaire? https://ask.census.gov/rnt/rnw/img/trnsp.gif Answer IF ASKED BEFORE April 1, 2010: The Census Bureau does not establish a due date for returning the questionnaire, but we ask that you mail back the questionnaire as soon as possible. Even though the census counts people as of April 1, if you plan on living at the address on the questionnaire on April 1, you can complete the questionnaire now and mail it back in the postage-paid envelope.
IF ASKED ON OR AFTER April 1, 2010: The Census Bureau does not establish a due date for returning the questionnaire, but we ask that you mail back the questionnaire as soon as possible. Please complete your questionnaire now and return it to us. If we do not receive your questionnaire soon, a census worker may visit your house and complete one with you.
I urge everyone to send in their Census so that we can be fairly represented in Congress.
...like, you know, the 54% of us that did not want Obamacare. :rolleyes::mad::confused::[[
[[source: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/publ...th_care_reform)
I'm just being difficult to be difficult. My line of work requires very specific technical language, and I was just pointing out this little detail. I'm still waiting for April 2nd to give them my household's headcount anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackie5275
As far as the perjury, I don't think it has to necessarily be an oath. For example, if you read the 1040 form where you have to sign it, on that form, it is a declaration you make "under penalties of perjury."
Now, for the census form, there is no declaration to be made or even a signature required. It's even addressed to "resident", no specific person. How can fines be imposed then? And to whom would they be imposed? Heck, the census even got people's addresses in Ferndale, Oak Park, Gross Pointe among others wrong. People there got forms that were mailed to "Detroit" with the Ferndale, Oak Park, Gross Pointe zip codes. What's up with that? Can they scratch out Detroit and put their true city on there? If you don't, are you lying about your address?
The fact they say Detroit is irrelevant, it was for postal purposes and saved them money. That should make Buyamerican happy. The barcode on the census form tells them where your house is, so they know the correct city. No need to cross anything out.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnsmith
Oh yeah, that's right, they GPS'd every one of our front doors. Now all they need to do is have your name, birthdate, race, etc. tied to this information to "determine how many classrooms and hospitals we need." [[per the sappy billboards around town). Yeah right, as if the Federal level decides any of that.
The federal level does decide how much money they will send you for those purposes based on population count.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnsmith
The population data are also provided to states, counties, and cities to assist them in allocating resources.
I documented that there are 12 people living in my two bedroom apartment.
Is that illegal??
How is GPS any different different than your address? The census is in the Constitution, because representatives at the Federal level are based on population. Get over it. If our grand grandparents could fill it out without handwringing about big brother, I think we can handle it.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnsmith
That's the sort of data that could be used to target immigrants.Quote:
Originally Posted by izzyindetroit
If you don't bother filling it out, then someone will come to your door asking the questions on the form. It is a job created. I applied and hope I am able to work for the census. Haven't worked in years.
Yep, I looked up my grandparents as far back as the 1860 census and it contained pretty much the same questions it has now. Names, ages, sex, ethnicity, etc. And further than that, it had whether or not each member of the household could read and/or write and if they were handicapped or not.Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnlodge
Yeah, those old censuses would also have information on what sort of house [[frame, stone, sod) and occupations too.Quote:
Originally Posted by jcole
Here's the actual phrasing of the 'handicapped' question of 1870:
Attachment 5582
Actually, if it wasn't for the census, I would never have known that my family originally came from Canada, my great-great-great grandfather was an engineer in a logging camp and his sons were loggers, too, and that my great grandfather was a twin whose brother died when he was 14.
Is it a crime to lie on the Census? Cause then my great-grandma is guilty. In the 1920 Census she put her father being born in France. In the 1930, she put Pennsylvannia, the correct answer. My father always talked about her wanting to be French, but c'mon! :D
That is a good point. The information on historical censuses isn't always correct!Quote:
Originally Posted by dtowncitylover
No, because in the 1930 Census my grandma, the same family, is Mary Buby not Mary Bube, the right name.Quote:
Originally Posted by Detroitnerd
My family had some odd spellings too. I imagine they said their name to the census taker, and rather than deal with their broken English, he just decided how to spell it himself. I may be mistaken, but isn't the handwriting on one of those 30's census forms all the same? Not filled out by the person, but by the census taker?Quote:
Originally Posted by dtowncitylover
Edit: yes, here a sample
http://www.duryeapa.com/1930to1939/P...e%20Martin.jpg
Oh, yes. Pardon me. That completely disproves my ... hey! Wait a second! :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by dtowncitylover
I used to work at the IRS as a Revenue Agent. I know that quote is on the tax forms because if they can take you to court for any kind of tax violation, you will be questioned about your tax return in court on the stand under oath. In that respect, they can nail you for perjury as well as any other tax violations they hit you with.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnsmith
As I heard on the radio last week regarding the paucity of qustions, "genealogists of the future will weep."Quote:
Originally Posted by jcole
John Smith = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF_o5KQkbrI
I know, I'm writing like I speak. I mean, "no they don't spell names wrong. For example..." not "no, you're wrong." Sorry!Quote:
Originally Posted by Detroitnerd
Quote:
Originally Posted by jcole
Rather precise terms that PC has gotten us away from.
These used to be classifications:
Mental deficiency used to be more finely classified using the following technical terms that later began to be abused by the rest of society [[5):
IQ Range Classification 70-80 Borderline deficiency 50-69 Moron 20-49 Imbecile below 20 Idiot
People in hotels/motels long term stay have already been visited - or are being visited. I know because a friend of mine lives in a hotel since his job loss rendered him homeless. He told me yesterday that census workers were at his hotel and he was able to fill out the form with their assistance.
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnsmith
I remember thinking that too when I saw that form, but then I decided I'm confident enough in my longevity that I went ahead and answered it assuming I'll still be alive. [[If I'm not, after all, what are they going to do to me? Haul my corpse to jail?) Besides, less and less of what the government does makes any sense these days anyway, so if there's an error in their logic I don't feel obligated to take it seriously.
Interestingly enough, even though I filled out and sent back the form immediately the day it arrived in my mailbox, just the other day I got a postcard reminding me to be sure to fill it out [[but thanking me and saying I could disregard the notice if I had already filled the form out). So it's pretty reasonable to conclude it's not their intent for us to wait until 4/1.
I filled out my form and dropped it off in the mail yesterday. What I did find interesting is that college students who are away at school are supposed to be counted away from their parents homes.
That is supposed to be true, but isn't, unfortunately. Some federal funds are supposed to be distributed based on population, but as a whole, there is a disparity. A lot has to do with the pull of a state's congressmembers in receiving earmarks for their state.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hermod
Michigan, for example is considered a "donor state" because it does not receive federal funds in proportion to its population. [[source: http://crcmich.org/PUBLICAT/2000s/2008/rpt348.pdf)
And if you look at federal funds received in proportion to federal taxes paid [[as opposed to population), Michigan is also a "donor state". [[source: http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/22685.html)
You'd think with Dingel, Conyers, the Levins, etc., this would be just the opposite, but...:[[
We should all do this so we don't lose a congressional seat, heck we might gain one! Of course the stats would then reflect an 80 percent unemployment rate and a per capita income of $2,000! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by izzyindetroit
To some degree, the "donor state" thing is BS. It counts total federal money going to a state, not just discretionary funds. Florida has a big pot of fed money going there thanks to all of the socail security checks for its aging population. Virgina and Maryland are big reciever states thanks to all of the bedroom communities getting payrolls for all of the Washington DC federal workers. Take that "donor state" with a grain of salt.Quote:
Originally Posted by Retroit
You people are crazy to be so paranoid...I have proof:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnzHtm1jhL4
I filled mine out when I first got it and will mail it off next week.
As a late Gen X/early Millennial, I was annoyed because they could have used the Internet and saved the postage. Or better yet TEXTED anyone under 35. They could have had the information instantly.