Anyone else lose their 2010 Census forms?

[RockStarNick]

I know it arrived in the mail. Somehow, it vanished into thin air.

Let me tell you. Calling the Census Department is a chore and half.

Apparently, I was instructed to just sit tight, and they are sending out "questionairres" with extra forms with them?

:dunno

[greyhound]

I never received one.

[jay42]

Two things to do. 1) wait for another form...they're sending them out soon...2) go to the nearest public library. They're supposed to have them...eh...call first.

[Sandy]

As a PSA from your friendly librarian: We do have census forums, at least in my branch. Do call ahead to see if yours does. We also have a census worker out in our lobby who will answer peoples' questions. I had someone call today to ask if WE (the library) would mail them one. No. The census worker talked to the person on the phone, and said that if you don't complete a form a worker will come to your home to gather the information. According to her no further forms will be mailed...

[Tubebender]

These forms are due when???

[todd richman]

I never saw one either oh well! Federal prison won't be that bad!

[Bryan T]

CNN has a good article with some FAQs:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/01/census.day/index.html

[itkindaworks]

I never received one.
Me either.

[tonedaddy]

I never saw one either oh well! Federal prison won't be that bad!

From what I've read, the total number of prosecutions for failure to properly submit a census forms is something like 7, since they began taking the census. What's that 200+ years? None of them have resulted in jail times for defendants, and the last prosecution was related to the 1970 census.

The threats are a joke.
The press is full of stories confirming it:
http://www.slate.com/id/2248233/



As usual, I haven't received a form this year. This is my 4th census, and I haven't received one the last 3 times. The first time, I threw it in the trash. Still waiting for the feds to show up.

:hide2
:hide

And yes, I know all of the "good reasons" for filling a census form out.

[A-Bone]

All that not returning the form means is that the census will have to send out workers to personally collect the data for the census. This is obviously considerably more expensive than if a recipient spends the couple of minutes it takes to fill out the form and return it. For those that did not receive a form, or that lost it in the interim, a census taker will attempt to make personal contact with you at some time in the coming months.

The census is a constitutional obligation for purposes of determining congressional representation in the house, and is also a key to the allocation of federal funds to states in a number of areas. It would certainly be welcome if those that received a form returned it, rather than intentionally ignored or destroyed it.

Also, for anyone interested in picking up some extra money that has a schedule that can accommodate census work, it is my understanding that census takers will be paid around $20 per hour or so.

[drgonzoguitar]

This is my nerdy plea to fill out your census:

When I was working on my undergraduate capstone in history, US Census data was critical to the development of some of the ideas I was pursuing. Some facts: Did you know that in Chicago in the early 1900s, there were around 1400 men of Chinese descent and only 12 women?!? It accurately depicted the immigration policy in place at the time.

During my graduate degree, I was researching political participation based on socio-economic status. Some of you who will receive the additional "Household" survey help provide an quantifiable snapshot of life in America. Without prior years of this survey, I would not have been able develop some questions for my graduate thesis.

So please...think of the nerds. Fill out the census. :D

[Zelmo]

I received two. :huh

[Doodad]

I got two as well. Plus the presend letter and the followup postcard.

[Sandy]

\
Also, for anyone interested in picking up some extra money that has a schedule that can accommodate census work, it is my understanding that census takers will be paid around $20 per hour or so.

I could be wrong, but I think that you needed to go through the training for this awhile back; you just can't "drop in" and ask to do this. There were training classes in my library this past winter. But double check...

[tonedaddy]

All that not returning the form means is that the census will have to send out workers to personally collect the data for the census. This is obviously considerably more expensive than if a recipient spends the couple of minutes it takes to fill out the form and return it. For those that did not receive a form, or that lost it in the interim, a census taker will attempt to make personal contact with you at some time in the coming months.


Our state's unemployment rate is over 12%,
so putting people to work seems like a good idea.
I don't see a downside.
;)

[RockStarNick]

Thanks for the library tip guys. My friend actually is the head of the library in the town where I work, and put another form aside for me.

[Bryan T]

I could be wrong, but I think that you needed to go through the training for this awhile back; you just can't "drop in" and ask to do this. There were training classes in my library this past winter. But double check...

I did training last week and worked a few days this week on a specific census project. As I understand it, they are going to employ a lot of people for the follow-ups for people who do not return their forms.

More info is here: http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/

[A-Bone]

I could be wrong, but I think that you needed to go through the training for this awhile back; you just can't "drop in" and ask to do this. There were training classes in my library this past winter. But double check...

They are definitely not done hiring people to assist with census data collection.

[mark norwine]

The census is a constitutional obligation for purposes of determining congressional representation in the house, and is also a key to the allocation of federal funds to states in a number of areas. It would certainly be welcome if those that received a form returned it, rather than intentionally ignored or destroyed it.


It was also real handy for rounding up all of those troublesome Japanese-Americans during WWII.

Personally, I think the less you tell the Feds, the better.

My wife filled out ours & sent it in against my vehement strong objections.

[A-Bone]

It was also real handy for rounding up all of those troublesome Japanese-Americans during WWII.

Personally, I think the less you tell the Feds, the better.

My wife filled out ours & sent it in against my vehement strong objections.

I am most decidedly not a supporter of Executive Order 9066 or any of the related actions taken by the US government during that period. In fact, I think it is one of the darkest moments in civil rights in US history.

I would still suggest that everyone return their census forms for the reasons mentioned here and elsewhere, but for anyone interested in a brief recounting of the Census Bureau's questionable assistance in the identification and rounding up of Japanese-Americans in the Washington, DC area, here is a good article. If nothing else, it does give pause to examine what kind of information is captured on the census form itself.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=confirmed-the-us-census-b&sc=I100322

[Barefoot]

They are definitely not done hiring people to assist with census data collection.


You Florida guys are lucky! ......with the fed shutting down the space program you could have a rocket scientist coming to your door to collect census data.........at least you'll have something interesting to talk about....

[SpaceFlunky]

i lost mine too. :worried

[ford]

I ripped mine open... grabbed the nearest pen and started answering...

then after about 4 questions, I noticed it said use black or blue pen only at the top... I was using red.... I'll go over it again in black so I don't throw everything off.

[jazzandmetal?]

I think I mailed mine to the trash can.:hide2

[bek]

Mine disappeared. Is it true there is no question on the form about whether anyone listed is a legal US citizen? I hope not. Why would non-citizens be counted?

[steve108819]

If nothing else, it does give pause to examine what kind of information is captured on the census form itself.



I only answered the first question. The number of people in my household is all they needed to know according to the stated purpose of the census.

[badbrain]

Never got one. When they show up at my door, I'm going to ask them if I have to count the people tied up in my basement. Just kidding

[zzmoore]

I know it arrived in the mail. Somehow, it vanished into thin air.

Let me tell you. Calling the Census Department is a chore and half.

Apparently, I was instructed to just sit tight, and they are sending out "questionairres" with extra forms with them?

:dunno
I accounted for twice as many, more people at my residence than there really is. If you do not fill out your forms the whole population will be even.

[Old Tele man]

...which: lost accidentally or on purpose?

[It's Time!]

I filled the 2010 census out a long time ago and sent it in :)

[hclapp219]

It was also real handy for rounding up all of those troublesome Japanese-Americans during WWII.

Personally, I think the less you tell the Feds, the better.

My wife filled out ours & sent it in against my vehement strong objections.

If you want to waste your time fretting about "Big Brother", worry about the Patriot Act, not the information you filled out on your census form. The census can't listen to your phonecalls, subpoena your records from third parties, or search through your private property without informing you. BTW, this isn't political, I'm just stating the facts about what the government can and can't do.

[TwoTubMan]

I didn't have the guts to say the above.