1

In fact, "American" was the plurality ancestry selection for respondents to the 2000 census in four states and several hundred counties.

This is a great idea!  Let's expand on this.

2 This comment has been removed by an NPR moderator as it does not fit teh discussion guide lines.

3 "I too got the Census letter informing me that I would be getting a Census letter next week."

A letter to inform you you'd get another letter.  Awesome.  Let's put them in charge of health care to create greater "efficiencies"!

I'm putting down "human" for the race question.

4

Ahhh!  I LIKE it!

OK, I think that I just might answer that one now too.  Was planning on leaving that one blank.

Going to link back to this post, if no one has a problem with it.

That is, assuming I can actually get this to post.  Big Sis must be busy this morning.

5 Ethnically I am "Aryan" but I'll write in "American", since "this is Sparta" won't be on the ballot.

6

I got that letter yesterday too.

It's f'ing ridiculous. Why send a letter informing me you are going to send me a form? Why not just send the form?

If you think i would throw away the form without looking, what makes you think I would open the letter letting me know the form was on its way?

Gabe, are you a lawyer? Do I legally have to fill out the census in its entirety or can I just fill out how many people live in my home and send it back?

 

7
"Fully one-quarter of the space on this year's form is taken up with questions of race and ethnicity, which are clearly illegitimate and none of the government's business We should answer Question 9 by checking the last option — "Some other race" — and writing in "American."

I like the idea. 

8
I choose "D.  Moron"

9
You racists!  You're just proposing this because you know Obama can't do the same thing.

10 I hope to receive the big 27 page form so I can answer "4, 2 adults, 2 children" to every question.  I hope to be the first American ever jailed for census insubordination! 

11 Do dead hobos buried in my basement count as tenants?

12 I also heard of another suggestion that everyone mark African-American as we are taught in school that is where the human race started ..... but I like "American" much better..... It will be done

13 A letter to tell you you're getting a letter and 10's of millions in advertising to let everyone know they'll be getting a letter telling them they'll be getting a letter...

Is it any wonder why I drink, heavily?

14

I got the letter in question also.

Which is odd, since I've already gotten one of those really thick census things, and sent it back. With only the constitutionally mandated info filled in, ie how many folks live here.

So, is this new census just for "bitter clingers" like me, or for everyone?

15  Check other, and write in "Human American" The federal government does not need to know anything but the number of "people"

16

17
It's f'ing ridiculous. Why send a letter informing me you are going to send me a form? Why not just send the form?

Answer:  Because it wastes money.  Wasting money is goooood.(D) 

18

Number 9? Number 9? Number 9? Number 9?

19 Na'vi FTW!

20 I am a a real American, I fight for the rights of every man, I am a real American, fight what's right, fight for your life.

21 Got the letter as well.  I've answered 'human' to every race question since high school.  Got called to the principal's office on that one, but nothing ever came of it.  Most forms nowadays ask for ethnic identity instead (I like to take partial credit for that), so I just leave it blank or tick "other" and don't elaborate.  I was pleased to see the race question on the form, ready to break out my 'human'-ness, but hubby insists on only answering the enumeration question as per the Constitution.... 

22 I am a quadropheniac, so do I put down four occupants?

23 I've been trying to figure out what my tactic is going to be, and so far I like what this guy has to say, "Civil Disobedience and the Census."  (Basically, he's going to attach a cover letter citing the number of people in the residence and quoting from the Constitution that the other stuff is none of the gov's beeswax.)

But "Some other race: American" is pretty styling.

24
I may have gotten bad advice, but when they hit me with the interim long form a few years back, I waited until they started calling me daily, and then I returned the booklet form they sent me.  I wrote "REFUSE" next to every question I did not want to answer.

The calls stopped, and I did not hear anything further about that form.

25

I got the letter yesterday, opened it and yelled out, "What a waste of money!" Can you imagine the cost of sending everyone a letter telling them that they would get a letter next week?

I can proudly say, "I am not a Gaia worshipper." It's only just now occuring to me how many trees had to die for the feds to waste money.

26

Also from the Corner:

On Tuesday, the Census Bureau will launch a campaign stressing the importance of counting infants and young children on the forms. As part of Children Count Too, Nickelodeon will broadcast a promotional spot featuring the children's character Dora the Explorer. Census officials say children are undercounted because people in hard-to-count groups, including immigrants and minorities, tend to have more children in their families and because many people do not list babies on the questionnaire.

If you can't understand babies are people...

27

Some other race:

The Talladega 500.

 

28 I got that letter yesterday too.  What a waste of money.  I am thinking of going with taxpayer as my race.

29 I will not fill out the form.

30 I haven't gotten a letter saying I'm going to get a letter. I feel so left out.

31 It's only just now occurring to me how many trees had to die for the feds to waste money.

I didn't even open the letter I got yesterday, since by the time it arrived I had already learned from the Internet that it was unnecessary bullshit.  Next time, send it straight from the printer to the landfill and save the USPS some fuel.

32 Yes, please do this.  It will make the round-ups easier for My civilian defense force.

33 Last summer or fall, I was inside and saw a "kid" walking towards my front door. I went to meet him at the door, but he didn't show up.. I stepped back and looked out the window. He was standing on my lawn holding what I thought was a cellphone. He then walked up the stairs and I opened the door. He seemed a bit surprised I was home and just handed me a "door hanger" card that told me that I would eventually get a census form. Learned later that he was "GPS'ing" my front door under the authority of some bullshit census-related fine print.
That's tall the info. they're getting from me, thank you very much. I'll be writing in "American" when the damn form shows up.

34 My goto on those questions are usually Virginian or Scots-Irish; but if there is going to be a groundswell - I'll hop on.

35 I sent mine back. I listed 11 ppl here(extended family). None work. Or speak English. Kids on SSI. Maybe if they get enough of these they will 1) Think they have a huge voting bloc. 2) realize they can't pay for..or will steal more tax cash to pay for it's non existance.

36 #21 I suggest writing in "Hulkamaniac" brother.

37 I've been intending to use "Confederate-American" (even though I'm not). Hey, all subjected peoples and victims of the Amerikkkan Empire gets to hyphenate!

38

The problem started with a liberal congress wantiing all kinds of data not intended by the founders. Someone actually took it to court. The court, very liberal at the time, took the expansve veiw and ruled they could ask virtually anything they want based on the little end of the paragraph which says "in such Manner as they shall by Law direct".

They have carte blanche

39 Balls to that. I'm writing (&NUMBER) on the damned thing and sending it back.

40 Census officials say children are undercounted because people in hard-to-count groups, including immigrants and minorities, tend to have more children in their families and because many people do not list babies on the questionnaire.

If you can't understand babies are people...

Sounds like "Census officials" think "immigrants and minorities" are incapable of reading and following the directions.

I will grant that a metric crapload of people living in America are incapable of reading and following directions (don't worry, ACORN will make sure your ballot is marked for "Obama") .  But assuming that they're all "immigrants and minorities" and that all "immigrants and minorities" all meet this description is really disgusting.

41

BTW...2 weeks after I got my 12 page form, I got another. Then the phone calls every night at dinner. I lied and said they were "in the mail". 1 week later the calls started again.

So I filled the form w/bullshit...and they quit calling when I mailed it and it hit the system.

42 I would strongly suggest, for those living in urban areas or historically liberal districts, to just not send it back at all.  The census has become a tool for states to gerrymander increasingly ridiculous districts.  I won't be sending it in, and enabling some politician to carve away a conservative district by splitting off part of this liberal one.

43 Normally I check "Native American" because I was born here.  I have never been to the Caucasus in my life.

44 A friend of mine's father whenever asked to choose his race on any form would put down "The Irish Race," this would drive county clerks in California mad, and he would always insist upon it, threatening terrible and bloody oaths upon them. Personally I have no problem asking ethnicity. though I consider that many Americans such as myself are so divorced from where their ancestors came from, to write: American. Personally, to disentangle my ancestry is complicated enough, that it would take several lines to fill out ethnicity. But that in itself indicates what my "Race" is: American. Race is defined as: A local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics. Well me and mine are only genetically transmitting our characteristics to Americans, regardless of the nature of their parentage. What comes out is an American, regardless of hue or physical feature. So it is an honest answer.

45 The only people they care about counting are minorities anyway.  I have yet to see a census ad here in texas that wasn't in spanish, other than the tv spots and that ridiculous letter.

46 The real problem is ACORN telling every free-loader on the system, that the way to get more is to "estimate high" on the census.

47 "Pleiadian working under deep cover."  I may look Scandi, but my blood runs a deep purple. 

48 You people need to learn about demographics.

The fraction of people in this country who share your sentiments in matters like this is rapidly dwindling down to nothing at all [see here and here].

This is your future.

The sooner you realize that, the better off you will be.

.

49 I got my letter telling me I was going to get a letter also yesterday. Hey when am I going to get the letter telling me I am about to get but fucked on health care?

50 I choose "D.  Moron"

Moron-American is more accurate

Seriously, I like this idea and will be doing such.

51

Glad you guys are on this.  I opened my notification letter this morning and went on an immediate mental rant (there being nobody around to hear me rant out loud). 

What happens if we refuse to answer the race questions?  Are the Men in Black coming after us?

52 Wonderful idea.

53

In my college journalism classes, we had to fill out information cards every semester. I started checking "other" under race and writing in "Callipygian" (look it up; you'll laugh). The next semester, that question was gone from the cards. I like to think I was responsible for that.

I hope I get a form. I intend to misbehave.

54

Hey when am I going to get the letter telling me I am about to get but fucked on health care?

Let me put it this way:

That shower door of yours?  Needs a deadbolt lock.  Stat.

55 Was this always the purpose of the census?  To see who should get how much govt money?

56 I'm going to write in Typical White Person

57 I wonder if I'll be getting more letters in every language known to mankind. How do they know I speak English, hmm? Can't discriminate, you know - and can't waste a good chance to waste more money.

58 Do dead hobos buried in my basement count as tenants?

That'd be Other - American - Zombie, The Dems best constituency.

59 I plan on putting down the same thing I did when asked ethnicity while attending San Diego State.  I put down "Martian".  The reviewer looked and said "No you're not!".  I replied, "Prove it".

60 55 - no, to see who should pay the most taxes. Remember, the government didn't start handing out money until later generations needed to get re-elected.

61 Main Entry: cal·li·pyg·ian Pronunciation: \ˌka-lə-ˈpi-j(ç-)ən\ Variant(s): also cal·li·py·gous \-ˈpî-gəs\ Function: adjective Etymology: Greek kallipygos, from kalli- + pygç buttocks Date: circa 1800

: having shapely buttocks

62 Sounds like "Census officials" think "immigrants and minorities" are incapable of reading and following the directions.

That's because they are incapable of it.

The means of both the black and aboriginal hispanic IQ bell curves lie about a full standard deviation below where they'd need to be in order to support basic literacy.

Which is to say: About 75% of all black and aboriginal hispanic children can never grow up to read Archie or Richie Rich or Donald Duck comic books - it's beyond their innate intellectual capabilities.

.

63 I was thinking of corralling up some of the ink markers I have around the house, to draw a picture of a big penis over the race-based questions.

64 Does bludgeoness-hobo slayer count?? 

65 Fuckin-A Right!!! This is one of the first things I've taught my children. No color, no "other race".. you are American. Consider this a done deal!

66 I'm brown and born in Tallahassee. 

I've had so many conversations like this

What are you?  Are you....? <interrupts> American.
No.. I mean where are you from?  Tallahassee.
No.. I mean ..what is your nationality?  American.
Oh you mean... where are my parents from?  India.

I did this even when I was a Democrat/liberal.  I guess inside was a conservative all the time.

67

When I was a little girl I asked my mother what we were, as everyone I knew came from somewhere else.

She said "You're an American" so on the words of my late mother, that's what I'm putting down. If they ask, I'll tell them I got that information from my Mom.

68 I started doing this 40 years ago in college.  Other, AKA Anglo American or Confederate, but American works.

69

Well if this is going to happen im all for it. I had originally intended to write the number of people in my household in bianary or hexadecimal. but knowing them they would think 0111 means ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTEEN!!!!

70
I wonder if they have to count and report write-ins.

"Cockholster," anyone?

"Barbed Cock of Satan?"

71

No need to SELL/BUY fishing licenses, if they plan on outlawing it shortly after opening day. Fuckers.

Try taking a fish out of my hand. I'm fun employed trying to feed my family!!! Drag me away in cuffs while I scream that. Should go virile, and create great publicity for barry sotero.  I'll take one for them team, I've been "a guest of the mayor" before. Maybe get some dental care while I'm there!

72

Personally I have no problem asking ethnicity. though I consider that many Americans such as myself are so divorced from where their ancestors came from, to write: American.

Well, I used to say Mexican American, because it's true. But it triggers things.

And I really don't look at all Mexican and don't speak much Spanish, so if I'm dealing with anyone in person, I end up getting attitude or at least questions.

I'd rather put multi-ethnic because it's true and yet is a nice way of saying "none of your business".

73
And, by "report," I meant publish with an associated tally.

74

I hope he wises the hell up.

He won't because he won.  He's doing exactly what he wants to do.  He doesn't care if we burn.  In fact, that'll be awesome because it will bring about Utopia even faster.

75
Heh.

Other:  Kenyan-Indonesian-Soviet-Marxist

76 For those of you who are Southron and had ancestors that started a war over abuses like this, the Southern Legal Resouce Center has advised citizens to mark box 9 "Confed Southern Am".  If everyone else is going to have protected minority status, so should we. 

77 He won't because he won.  He's doing exactly what he wants to do.

The retard really believes that being POTUS makes him our supreme ruler. 

78 78
Heh.

Other:  Kenyan-Indonesian-Soviet-Marxist

Posted by: MikeO at March 09, 2010 10:25 A

WINNAH!!

79 I am German/Irish/English/French/Scottish and some tribe of American Indian.  I'm pretty sure there's pirates and horse thieves somewhere in my family (you gotta know my dad and his brothers).  Heh, maybe I should write down "Pirate/American".

80 "Soul Stealer"  ??

81 epic. got my form yesterday and was going to throw it in the trash. this seems a bit more constructive while still appealing to my subversive, inherently uncooperative nature. thanks for the notion. i can't believe i stopped by here first thing and got something useful. enough of that: can we get a 'diamonds in uranus' thread going to make up for this one?

82 I am German/Irish/English/French/Scottish and some tribe of American Indian. I'm pretty sure there's pirates and horse thieves somewhere in my family (you gotta know my dad and his brothers). Heh, maybe I should write down "Pirate/American". Posted by: katya at March 09, 2010 10:28 AM (pe0C4) When it asks for address write: Bunk 6A Row C Re-education Hut Beta Prison Camp , Your Town, Your State.

83 I also got my propery appraisal letter yesterday. After two years of static worth, my house is worth less this year. What a great day to be American!

84 I'm temped to right "JUDEN". This racial and ethnic classification shit is for Europe and the Middle East, not here.

85

Want to meet them in person?

Mossad-Jooooo

86 I put Gay American.

87 Beck is reading the census questions on the air.  didn't GWB have a census during his term.  The last time I remember thinking "geez they are asking so many personal private information questions"  but, at the time I wasn't paying as close attention to the politics of it all so i might have filled it out.  Can't remember.

88

Antimatter, beats paying more taxes while not being able to sell your house.

Trust me.

89 I can't tell whether or not this thread is supposed to amount to gallows humor.

If not - if you guys are simply flailing around in search of ordinary, run-of-the-mill, garden-variety snark - then you have no earthly idea of the forces which are aligning against you.

Again: LEARN DEMOGRAPHICS [by starting here and here].

.

90 Sounds good to me.

I planned on leaving it all blank except for the number of people in the house anyway.

No way am I going to put down my telephone number, we all use cell phones and don't even own a house phone. Thankfully there is a cell tower every 20 feet in MA so it's not worth the extra cost to get a landline.

91 I just opened my letter and I just love how these assholes feel the need to remind us that if we don't fill out the census we wont get our "fair share" of government funds. Everything is "fair share" with these commie pricks. Never mind that the government doesn't have any funds to share.

92 I'm of  mostly Italian ancestry so I always put Latino.

93

I just opened my letter and I just love how these assholes feel the need to remind us that if we don't fill out the census we wont get our "fair share" of government funds. Everything is "fair share" with these commie pricks. Never mind that the government doesn't have any funds to share.

 

"But I stole this for you", said the pluderer. "Why do you not take it?"

94

Hey, Katya I think we're related. However, I don't really know what I am. My 13 times great grandfather was on the original Jamestown crew. Mix in about a hundered others including several indians and god knows what since 1619. I don't know of anyone who showed up since the revolution. What does that make me? An American, period.

Which questions have required answers? Just the number of people? and race is American? I'll go with that.

I'm already used to ignoring the forms they like us to fill out concerning number of children so they can put money in the public schools by district---mine go to catholic school and their share doesn't need to go to the public school to be wasted so they can bite me

95 Never mind that the government doesn't have any funds to share. Posted by: Mal at March 09, 2010 10:34 AM (Z+qzA) sure they do: Your funds!

96

Where's my manners. I guess I should have put up a link for the article on the demise of sport fishing in the United States. Here it is.

I hope the state of Pennsylvania, with it's pristine high quality trout streams which lure millions of dollars of revenue from tourists, is the first state to succeed from the union.

Yeah, if I can't fish in the Allegheny for nasty carp I am going to revolt.

Also, when Kayaking on the Allegheny I saw a carp eat a chipmunk. They are vicious fish.

97

Sen-Sen?

No thanks, I'm a Tic-Tac guy.

98 But how will we know that race doesn't matter unless we dwell on it?

99 Back in college we had to fill out forms for the medical department.  They asked what religion we were.  A friend and I thought that was a bit intrusive so I left it blank and he filled in "Druid".

Under the place where it said; "Person to contact in case of an emergency": I put "A DOCTOR!"

100

What other questions are on the census?

 

101 My in laws are Italian and live in NYC. It took me years to get my mother in law to understand that I wasn't a "something". It confused the hell out of her. But what are you, she kept asking? Irish?

102 didn't GWB have a census during his term.

2000.  Clinton.  I also believe there was one when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

if we don't fill out the census we wont get our "fair share" of government funds.

In 2000, I was living in a college town (year 'round) that offered bribes to students, even dorm rats, who filled one out as if they were full-time residents and returned it via City Hall before a deadline.  If they could bump up their classification from "25,000-49,999" to "50,000-whatever" they were eligible for more and bigger "grants" for shit like buses and flower pots for Main Street.

103 Under the place where it said; "Person to contact in case of an emergency": I put "A DOCTOR!" Posted by: Nighthawk at March 09, 2010 10:41 AM (OtQXp) Addendum: A Doctor who gradiated from an American Med School and one with less than 25 letters in his/her last name.

104 Good idea.  I've been using "American" for all my ethnic questions for my employers and insurance forms.

105

If not - if you guys are simply flailing around in search of ordinary, run-of-the-mill, garden-variety snark - then you have no earthly idea of the forces which are aligning against you.

OK, Denethor.

You may proceed to the pyre.

106 Another idea, why not put your state or commonwealth?

People use to identify themselves by their home state, AKA, I am a Virginian or a Fucking Yankee.

No wait, Yankee isn't a state. I am a fucking New Yorker. 

Identity by state, honest and even more fuck you!

107

Gabe, you old rabble rouser you...

I like this idea. All my grandparents were immigrants from Ireland, and I'm sure as hell proud to be Irish. But I'm an American first. Had those same grandparents not moved, and considering when I was born (not to mention Irelands' economy until the last decade or there-abouts), Lord knows what I would have done with my life. Wasted away in some Irish village drinking in the pub every night, with little or no job prospects?

I don't know, but the fact they did move, and because of that  I've seen and done a lot of things,  makes me respect them even more. But they moved here, the United States, and gave my parents the fresh start with all the opportunities that they themselves weren't born with.

Being an American is what made me what I am. Had I been born and raised in Ireland it would have limited me severly, unless I emigrated. If I could have.

So here's to America, and being an American first.

 

108

Under the place where it said; "Person to contact in case of an emergency": I put "A DOCTOR!"
Posted by: Nighthawk at March 09, 2010 10:41 AM (OtQXp)

Addendum: A Doctor who gradiated from an American Med School and one with less than 25 letters in his/her last name.

it's funny you should say that. My friend is in med school and we were talking about how he will probably be more successful than minority doctors he graduates with because older people, especially the baby boomers specifically request white male doctors.

109 Race: 400 yard dash.

110 Instead of "America" what about "America, Fuck Yeah. Buck'o five all paid up"

111 The Democrats are race-obsessed.  And if you are not as race-obsessed as they are, they call you a racist.

I'm putting down Hillbilly.

112

It took me years to get my mother in law to understand that I wasn't a "something". It confused the hell out of her. But what are you, she kept asking? Irish?

My husband is from South Philly so people ask if he's Irish or Italian. Uh...more German than anything, but a mix, and most of them were here for a couple hundred years already, so...you know...

113 I've always written in "Human" on such forms, and the person taking the form has always crossed it out and written down what they saw. (Human is the Race, the other stuff is just ethnicity and not relevant to the enumeration.)

I'm glad they won't be able to do such summary editing on this one.

114 t's funny you should say that. My friend is in med school and we were talking about how he will probably be more successful than minority doctors he graduates with because older people, especially the baby boomers specifically request white male doctors. Posted by: Ben at March 09, 2010 10:45 AM (wuv1c) It's funny you should bring that up. When I had my physical for the Navy, since I was over 40 ( I got an age waiver since I am a Dr.) I had to get a digital rectal exam. The female Navy Doc I had said she could go get the male Dr ( some old fart ) if I wanted. I said hell no--go for it Doc.

115

I'm all for championing colorblindness. I was raised that way - in fact everyone from my generation was (born 1965 and after).

We were taught 'judge a man by the content of his character, not the color of his skin,' and we believed it. Made sense.

But something happened, the rules changed, and one day I looked around and it seemd I was the only one still marching to that drummer.

So, I'm torn about this. I don't think race matters, but it seems the rest of the country does. If we're going to divvy up the goodies by tribe, maybe I have to pump up my numbers.

 

116 Ooh Mama AJ, what parish is he from? lol I'm from St. Monica's!

117

Article at HA. apparently they are making changes to the healthcare bill that would require health care penalties for part time workers as well.

Raise your hand if you work for or run a company that will have mass firings if this thing passes.

118

Now IÂ’m not calling anybody a racist, but the form I got seemed more focused on race than Archie Bunker at a Death Row Records reunion. HereÂ’s the Ten Question Short Form they sent me:

1.) Are you Hispanic?
2.) Are you Latino?
3.) Are you Chicano?
4.) Are you Meztizo?
5.) Are you Tejano?
6.) Are you Latin American?
7.) South American?
8.) Central American?
9.) Spanish?
10.) What–don’t you want your cut of the booty?

11.) Oh, yeah; we almost forgot–how many people live at your house?

I wouldn’t really care, except I know this is all about their obsessive fixation with Racial Bean-Counting in order to hand out Race Favors in violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Martin Luther King Day comes but once a year–but Anti-Martin Luther King Day lasts all year long, thanks in part to the census.

But at least itÂ’s not as detailed as the old Long Form:

4,983.) How long have you owned your pet gekko (to the nearest hour)?
4,984.) How did you meet? (Attach extra pages if necessary. No staples.)
4,985.) Your gekkoÂ’s bowel movements; would you describe them as
a.) rare
b.) intermittent
c.) frequent
or
d.) more often than Sandy Berger uses the little boyÂ’s room at the National Archives.
4,986.) What–you don’t want your cut of the booty?

119 107 Under the place where it said; "Person to contact in case of an emergency": I put "A DOCTOR!"
Posted by: Nighthawk at March 09, 2010 10:41 AM (OtQXp)

Addendum: A Doctor who gradiated from an American Med School and one with less than 25 letters in his/her last name.

Posted by: nevergiveup at March 09, 2010 10:42 AM (0GFWk)

True enough- but this was in 1976 so that wasn't so much of a factor.

120

Under the place where it said; "Person to contact in case of an emergency": I put "A DOCTOR!"

Funny story.  My wife was looking over a job application from a candidate. In the space where it asked a number to call in case of emergency, the applicant wrote 911.

Not sure it was snark, though.

121

My husband is from South Philly so people ask if he's Irish or Italian. Uh...more German than anything, but a mix, and most of them were here for a couple hundred years already, so...you know...

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 09, 2010 10:49 AM (Be4xl)

Well, to tell the family secret, my grandmother was Dutch...

122

Race?

No thanks, I'm all tuckered out.

123

20 years ago when I was still in college I started checking Other and writing in American-American.

Never heard anything for the idiots, so I continue to do it. This year I will be answering only the basics. The rest is none of their business.

124 I said hell no--go for it Doc.

Now that's living the AoSHQ lifestyle.
By the way, what the hell is a digital rectal exam?

125 My handle is my answer.

126 #48

 Nothing says troll like a post with no name and a start with "You people".

"The sooner you realize that, the better off you will be."

How pray tell will we be better off? 

Do you suggest that we should relax and let another "group" run the show?

That worked out real well for Rhodesia.  Should we try that here?

127 #60 - Go Aztecs! '83 here

128

Yeah, if I can't fish in the Allegheny for nasty carp I am going to revolt.

Bite me. Had a brother-in-law who actually fished in the Delaware River. When told he had terminal cancer his only wish with the short time left was to last 'one more' fishing season. He didn't.

I was being 100% serious. I like fishing for nasty carp. They are so hard to real in and are like fucking sea monsters.  It's a real accomplishment to get one.

However where I live in the Allegheny River Valley, you can't eat any of fish.

I will be really pissed if they ban inland fishing, i may have been exageratting about revolting, but I can't imagine this will pass.

For one the states depend on fishing license tax revenue, especially states like PA with out Ocean access, our many many many rivers and streams, and even lakes.

129 But seriously, last time I eported for jury duty, the loudmouth baliff who obviously enjoyed yelling and cajoling we slobs who reported took pains to call out people and made note of what info they had left off of the forms that they had received and returned prior to reporting. She called me up as well, but she wordlessly handed me mine, where race was left blank. I then selected 'other'. 

130 digital rectal exam? Posted by: Mal at March 09, 2010 10:53 AM (Z+qzA) They shove a finger up your ass!

131

BlackOrchid, you confused me for a second there, because we're in Louisiana so we have parishes instead of counties!

Ahem.

Mount Carmel. His mom lives right by the church.

132 I am BEOWOLF!

Thats all they need to know.

133 I'm putting down Hillbilly.

That's "Appalachian-American", thank you.  (I'm half.)

apparently they are making changes to the healthcare bill that would require health care penalties for part time workers as well.

Good news for students who voted for Obama! No more part-time jobs!  Just take out more loans you won't have to repay!

134 If these guys (govt.beaureaucrats) are scared of typical gun rights voters , they really don't want to piss off sport and commercial fisherman as well . Talk about massive civil disobedience . Well , except for those fundamentalist catch and release pussies . They're not real woodsmen , anyway .
How'd that hunting ban work out in England ? Not too well . And that in a nation that has been thoroughly emasculated .

135 #26. ''If you can't understand babies are people...''
...you must be a liberal, socialist dimokrat. 

FIFY

136 do they ask if you own guns on the census?

137

Oooohh, this just reeks of Bart Simpson. I'm in! They'll be arresting me soon because I can't afford ObamaCare anyway.

138

Well, to tell the family secret, my grandmother was Dutch...

GASP!!!

Watch what you say, folks, we've got one of those in our midst...

139 This is just going to result in undercounting white people, I predict.

140 They shove a finger up your ass!

HAH, stupid me, I was thinking digital vs. analogue.

141

How do they know I speak English, hmm?

Race: Uruk.

Occupation : Kri-krisur.

Marital status : Ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg durbataluk, ash nazg thrakataluk, urg burzum ishi krimpatul.

Portion of income devoted to healthcare expenditure : Obama u bagronk sha pushdug Communist-glob bubhosh skai!

142

I hope the state of Pennsylvania, with it's pristine high quality trout streams which lure millions of dollars of revenue from tourists, is the first state to succeed from the union.

All the fucking money we spent getting rid of acid rat.to get the fish healthy enough to eat....shot right in the dick by the magic negro. Great

143 Race: 400 yard dash.

Heh.  The Virginia Railway Express commuter line that runs to the west has "Broad Run" as its final stop.  This shows on the electronic signs on their trains (I've never been on VRE, but I've seen their trains while riding MetroRail).

I sent them an email years ago saying that "Broad Run" is insensitive and offensive to women and that they should use the term, "Women's 200 Meter Dash," instead.

I never got a response.

144 OK, this is a serious question.  Although I am completely in agreement with the sentiment about us all being "American" and I find these racial bean counting exercises to be divisive, I don't follow why it's unconstitutional. 

Can someone explain that to me? 

This is from the U.S. Constitution Online:

The Constitution includes the phrase "[An] 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." Congress first met in 1789, and the first national census was held in 1790.

There was actually some debate about whether how and on what time table a census should have been held. In early 1790, several Congressmen argued against a census prior to the next election. Some in the Congress, who advocated an immediate census, noted that those who did not want one were the people from states which were generally regarded as being over-represented in the Congress based on the initial figures provided for in the Constitution. Others were concerned that the questions to be asked in the census, while others felt that more questions should be asked to get a better picture of the citizenry.

For example, on February 2, 1790, Samuel Livermore of New Hampshire lamented that the question about profession would be hard for his constituents to answer, since some had three or four professions, depending on the season. Connecticut Representative Theodore Sedgwick, on the same day, wondered why the questions were not extended further - "The state of society could be ascertained, perhaps, in some degree, by observing [the] proportions."

The final bill, Statute 2 of March 1, 1790, provided that census marshals be appointed, directed to "cause the number of the inhabitants within their respective districts to be taken; omitting in such enumeration Indians not taxed, and distinguishing free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, from all others; distinguishing also the sexes and colours of free persons, and the free males of sixteen years and upwards from those under that age." The act directed that the names of the heads of families be recorded, the number of white males sixteen and older, the number of white males under sixteen, the number of white females, the number of all other free persons, and the number of slaves. Failure of an assistant marshal to make a return, or to make a false return, was punishable by a $200 fine. Failure of a marshal to do the same was punishable by up to an $800 fine. The questions about profession, and other information Representative Sedgwick spoke of, were not made part of the final census. Census day was set at the first Monday in August, 1790. Failure to cooperate with a marshal or assistant was punishable by a $20 fine.

Doesn't the U.S. Constitution leave open the manner of head counting to Congress and isn't it pretty clear that racial counting (and gender counting) were part of that? 

What are we going to accomplish by failing to list our race or gender?  

145

As long as we're announcing our almae matri:

Fulmont Raiders!

146

My children are half red-neck (me) and half Sicilian. Makes for a grumpy kid. Anyway, last week my middle son couldn't decide what birthday dinner he wanted; pulled pork barbque and cole slaw or spaghetti and meatballs. I found that amusing in a genetic sort of way. Fried Hobo would have been the solution but they are getting hard to catch. Since I was cookin',  he got the pork.

 

147

I'm putting down Hillbilly.

I believe the correct term is Mountain-William in Government-speak.

148 #132 - well done.  Take those entitled govt workers down a notch and stand up for privacy.  I like it.

149 What are we going to accomplish by failing to list our race or gender? 

Teach them fear.  They're too fucking stupid to understand anything else.

150 149 ~ Entropy, I like your style! 

I think I'll just fill it out with random Elvish (or whatever) from Tolkien, with a dash of Klingon.

151 "Describe yourself in 25 words or less" "Concise"

152 I like to write in "Human" whenever a form asks for my race....

153

What are we going to accomplish by failing to list our race or gender? 

 What are we going to accomplish by listing our race and gender?

154 I'm putting down Hillbilly.

Slack-Jawed or Mouth-breathing?

155 I don't think anyone would have a problem if all they asked were number, sex, and age. They are asking a lot more. Color meant something then as blacks were only counted as 3/5 of a person. Now, to get a count they do not need the color. Then they needed the color then to GET a count.

156 What are we going to accomplish by failing to list our race or gender?  

Posted by: Y-not is not a Concerned Christian Conservative but still has questions at March 09, 2010 11:09 AM (Kn9r7)

Not unconstitutional, but unlawful. 

157 I was going to answer Evil Joooooo.

158 Do they ask about religion?  I think it would be great if there were a strong Druid resurgence. 

159 In my salad days I considered fish and game laws to be just informal guidelines .
Despite being a scrupulous observer of those aforementioned laws for the last 20 plus yrs. , I can easily return to those carefree days .

160 @167
But how is it unlawful? 

The final bill, Statute 2 of March 1, 1790, provided that census marshals be appointed, directed to "cause the number of the inhabitants within their respective districts to be taken; omitting in such enumeration Indians not taxed, and distinguishing free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, from all others; distinguishing also the sexes and colours of free persons, and the free males of sixteen years and upwards from those under that age."

161

Hey Y-not, we are just picking one small point that we all agree on. We are Americans, not just some ethnic-dividing statistic.

I'll answer the Census. But I'm going to go along with this.

And I really, really doubt it's breaking any law.

162 @172
Fair enough! 

163 distinguishing also the sexes and colours of free persons

I'm kind of a pinky-ecru, unless I've been in the sun.

164

"Describe yourself in 25 words or less"

Wilford Brimley-esque.

165 Texan

166

distinguishing also the sexes and colours of free persons

They had to have color to ENUMERATE. Black was 3/5 and white was 5/5.

167 For one the states depend on fishing license tax revenue, especially states like PA with out Ocean access, our many many many rivers and streams, and even lakes.


Not to mention the gov't tree-humpers losing all of their revenue for conservation efforts.

168 But how is it unlawful?

It ain't me.  I think the sane peoples' argument is not that it's unlawful, but that it's illegitimate.  If you can't base decisions on race, if all races are equal, why do the feds want to know our race?

169

I'm down with this.  Seriously, my maiden name was Italian (thanks to Dad) but my mom's family was all over the place racially and ethnically.  If I answered  it comprehensively it would take an entire line.  Same for my kids naturallly.

We're a product of the great American adventure -- so American it is!

170 I'm kind of a pinky-ecru, unless I've been in the sun.

Posted by: HeatherRadish at March 09, 2010 11:19 AM (mR7mk)

pinky-ecru?  You sound French.

171

Hey Y-not, we are just picking one small point that we all agree on. We are Americans, not just some ethnic-dividing statistic.

I'll answer the Census. But I'm going to go along with this.

And I really, really doubt it's breaking any law.

I will most definately do "American" or "Native America" as i am native to america, as our my parents.

172

Both my children have 'American' on their birth certificates.  When the lady came in (congratulating us in Spanish, no less!!) to fill out the birth certificate, I said "Put down 'American'."  She looked at me in confusion and started in "But..." and I stopped her and said "American!"  She tried to hint that we were caucasian, but in the end she wrote in 'American'.  Same story with the second child.

We are Americans.

173 This comment is just to announce that sometime in the near future I will be making a comment.  Unlike the census letter I received yesterday, this comment didn't cost the taxpayer anything. 

174

I'm temped to right "JUDEN".

That's the right idea, but your choices are more like Hutu or Tutsi.

.

175

We were taught 'judge a man by the content of his character, not the color of his skin,' and we believed it. Made sense. But something happened, the rules changed, and one day I looked around and it seemd I was the only one still marching to that drummer.

It was all lies, all a fraud.

All of it.

The Powers That Be were not happy with their electorate, so they elected a new people.

.

176

Describe yourself in 25 words or less

Second-person pronoun. Contains eight letters (three vowels and five consonants, with 'y' acting as the latter). First person: Myself. Third person: Himself/herself/itself.

There. That's 25 exactly if you count "second-person" and "y" as one word each.

177 Dang, right beat me to it.

178 Posted by: right at March 09, 2010 11:26 AM (EquV1)

Posted by: Joanna at March 09, 2010 11:27 AM (7+WuG)

NEEEEEERRRRD!

179 I got that stupid letter yesterday and was once again impressed at our brilliant government's wise use of taxpayer funds to send everyone in America mail to tell them they'd be getting mail.  I can't believe American Express, Mastercard, Visa and all the utility companies haven't adopted this useful and cost-effective strategy.

For this census, I will check "other" for race and write in "human," as I did on the last one. 

180 Was listening to Beck.  He got some crazy woman caller and then my computer lost the transmission.  But now I find out it was michelle malkin?  wonder if a lot of people lost the transmission?  As near as I can tell from Beck he is talking about maybe having to write an apology to Malkin.  Wonder what she said and what he said?  He said "since he gave the CPAC speech" he has been being "stabbed in the back" and people seem to want him to fit in a nice little box.  As near as I can tell, guess ole michelle wants beck not to interview Massa?  And objected?  I'm not paying that close attention but geez, these labels are killing our country.  So if you want to be a lib or a conservative you have to behave in predictable ways or else theya re going to go after you or you won't pass this "purity" test you all talk about.   someone mentioned some bill sponsored by lieberman and mccain that coupled with the patriot act would further deter freedom of speech?  haven't heard this mentioned but the one time and don't have time to check it out.  Has anyone checked it out?

181 .. But if we all do this, how will we know where all the militant Latinas live?

182 Ecru - greyish-pale yellow or a light greyish-yellowish brown

Heather?  Maybe you should see a doctor.  Sounds like kidney problems or jaundice.

183

Other ideas for "race" --

Post-racial

40-meter dash

Bannon

184 Do you suggest that we should relax and let another "group" run the show? That worked out real well for Rhodesia. Should we try that here?

Sounds like we're on the same page.

The United States is about five years away from being Venezuela, and about 10 years away from being Zimbabwe.

That's why I made the point about snark -vs- gallows humor.

This [our looming demographic catastrophe] is the most serious crisis which has ever faced our nation - it's much, much worse than what happened in 1861.

.

185 One of my lib friends, when he filled out the last census, where it asked for ethnicity said "good old fashioned American mutt".   We were like "what?"  especially since he is a uber uber uber lib/progressive.   But he said "that is the honestly best answer".

186 .. But if we all do this, how will we know where all the militant Latinas live?

Again, my guess is that you're trying to be snarky, but that's PRECISELY the purpose of this exercise.

187

Legal?

I don't wear a seatbelt, I exceed the speed limit, I throw away florescent bulbs in the trash can, I do not seperate my yard waste, I removed the muffler from my bike, I tore the tag off my mattress, I do not list my interest income on my tax return.

I'm suppose to be ascared of the census bureau getting butthurt because I filled out their quiz wrong? I was told it would not count toward our grade.

188 btw, if they don't like the way you answer the census they come to your house a lot until they are happy.  He would never let them in and this frustrated them.   In the end the "supervisor" told him she was filling out his form for him and that was that.  So he was like "ok then, since I didn't fill it out I am writing a letter to say it should not count".   Never actually got a response to the letter nor did he know if his census "counted".     But, they can just fill out all the census forms the way they want if they don't like what you wrote, what is to stop them?   Beck said it is only 6 questions and random.  Everyone I know got pages and pages to fill out and everyone got it.

189 I got the pre-letter letter, then a woman appeared at my door Saturday to personally deliver my Census form.  How is it that since that mailing out the forms was good enough in the past, but under Obama, we have to spend extra money on hand delivery and commercials?

190 My form is going right into the shitcan.

191 I think it is being delivered personally so that if you don't fill it out and throw it out the person who delivered it to you personally can sign an affidavit saying you got the form cause they personally delivered it.

192 Oh, if anyone wants to use Elvish, here's a list of phrases to use:

http://tinyurl.com/l39jc

I have decided to describe my profession as "assassin" (don't ask me for details....you're violating my 5th amendment rights, pal), myself as a "sea-elf", my husband as "human" and our kids as "halflings". 

It also has handy phrases for "none of your business", "what did you say?", "are you joking?", and "much wind pours from your mouth". 

193 How is it that since that mailing out the forms was good enough in the past, but under Obama, we have to spend extra money on hand delivery and commercials?

He's creating jobs, silly.  The economy will take off like a rocket.

194 At the risk of being the only moron who actually gives a damn about the census, let me offer this.

The census bureau is sending out the short forms (just like they did in 2000). Those forms ask nothing new or different than what has been asked in previous years. Yeah, I'm a moron interested in family history so I spend a lot of time reading those old censuses. Historically the race question fell into 3 classes: white, black or mulatto. They've asked the age question since 1800. In fact the only census that didn't ask much of anything other than the names of the head of household and the number of people living in the house was the 1790. Every census since the first has asked something concerning the people living in the household. So frankly, this census is no more an invasion of your privacy or an intrusion than any previous one.

With regards to the race question. One of two outcomes will occur. If you put Other:American, the census bureau may just ignore it and create a new "race". The other option which I really hope they won't do is that when something on the form is incomplete or incompatable, they'll send some yahoo to your address and ask you the same damn questions that you should have answered the first time. Sounds like an even larger waste of tax dollars. The bonus, however, might be that you get to add to your Dead Hobo collection -- Special Collector's edition Census Worker if one does come to visit.

Summary: Middle finger to the Feds = More money wasted.

195 I think it is being delivered personally so that if you don't fill it out and throw it out the person who delivered it to you personally can sign an affidavit saying you got the form cause they personally delivered it.

God you people are naive.

The Marquis of Queensbury rules are so deeply imbedded in your psyches [and the Darwinists would argue that they're imbedded in your DNA, as well] that you have no hope of realizing what these people are up to.

.

196

Apparently I didn't rate a letter, but I did have the honor of having my census form hand delivered by the same lil ol lady who GPS'd my front door last year.

 

197 Since the basic idea behind the census is determining apportionment of congressional representation, I simply entered the number "3" on the form and nothing else. There are three people that live in my home. That's all they need to know and all anyone should provide them. The rest is data mining non-sense that is irrelevant to the census. Unbelieveable that it costs billions to get a simple headcount.

198 211  No shit, Rob.  Can't those lazy bastards get whatever else they need by reading our emails? 

199

Summary: Middle finger to the Feds = More money wasted.

Posted by: Gumbyblue at March 09, 2010 11:46 AM (19Ujn)

So ummm, what about all the areas of the Country where people don't speak English? Or all the very, very bad parts of town? They gonna put out warrants for arrest for all the 'gangstas' that won't answer the Census? Or say, lie on their responses even if they DO fill it out?

Sheeiiit!!!

Good luck with that.

200

@132

That's AWESOME!  Love it.

As far as response is required by Federal Law, I have one that trumps that.  There's this pesky little thing called the Fifth Amendment Right against Self Incrimination.

I'll ride that sucker all the way up to the Supremes, if required.

201 So ummm, what about all the areas of the Country where people don't speak English? Or all the very, very bad parts of town? They gonna put out warrants for arrest for all the 'gangstas' that won't answer the Census? Or say, lie on their responses even if they DO fill it out?

That's truly a great idea!  We have to get word to the oppressed peoples in the urban zones that The Man is going to use returned census forms to hunt illegals and make headway on executing outstanding warrants.

202 O/T:  Apaprently the construction worker unions are protesting at ground zero cause they want "more development" of the site.  Seriously, it should just be a park.   Who would want to work in a building built on a grave yard that is an automatic target?

203

God you people are naive.

And you're suggestion is???

 

204 So, writing in the household number in Roman numerals, citing race as Virginian, and shooting a few holes in the rest of the form is a good or bad idea.

205 So now I've gotten two mailings and a "home visit" telling me to fill out a form that won't even be available until next week. Efficient little bastards aren't they?

206 Posted by: Gumbyblue at March 09, 2010 11:46 AM (19Ujn)

Doesn't really address the question why they want to know.  We're a colorblind country.  We don't make decisions based on race.  Blah blah blah.

207

If you can't understand babies are people...

 

 

Unless you choose to abort one.

208 So, writing in the household number in Roman numerals, citing race as Virginian, and shooting a few holes in the rest of the form is a good or bad idea.

Yes.

(Geez, Jean.  You of all people!)

209 "209 I think it is being delivered personally so that if you don't fill it out and throw it out the person who delivered it to you personally can sign an affidavit saying you got the form cause they personally delivered it.

God you people are naive.

The Marquis of Queensbury rules are so deeply imbedded in your psyches [and the Darwinists would argue that they're imbedded in your DNA, as well] that you have no hope of realizing what these people are up to.

.

Posted by: at March 09, 2010 11:49 AM (kyg+f)"

Ok, if I am naive then educate me as to why I am so naive?

210 So, writing in the household number in Roman numerals, citing race as Virginian, and shooting a few holes in the rest of the form is a good or bad idea.

Heh.  I should've added:  Does English confuse you because you translate all boolean constructs into NANDs in your head?

211

God you people are naive.

The Marquis of Queensbury rules are so deeply imbedded in your psyches [and the Darwinists would argue that they're imbedded in your DNA, as well] that you have no hope of realizing what these people are up to.

I'll probably be sorry for asking, but what is it that you think "these people are up to?"

212

As someone whose family is into Genealogy, I will say that Census data is a great resource for digging into your family tree - especially the branches that may not be "directly" related to yours.  It is also good for people who are doing historical research (we researched the families who owned our house many decades ago).

Since the "official" records are sealed for 70 years, many times there is no one left to answer very basic questions.  Also, if you know a couple of pieces of information, it makes it much easier to know if you are on the right track when doing research.

I'm not saying that EVERYTHING that the Census asks for is relevant, but there are things that are very helpful for people other than those in the government....

213

Race = Night Elf Mohawk.  Rarrrr!

Note that dead hobos buried in the basement don't count as residents, but live hookers tied up in the basement do.

Grim

214 the comments are holding at the large quote.  You have to literally go on and off the site to get back to the thread.  Whenever this happens I wonder why it is happening.  It never happens on the ONT

215 Away with you, sockpuppet!

216 Are the comments acting up, or is it just me?

Same here.

217 Are the comments acting up, or is it just me?

I'm getting it, too.  I blame Bush.

218 the comments are holding at the large quote.  You have to literally go on and off the site to get back to the thread.  Whenever this happens I wonder why it is happening.  It never happens on the ONT

Just reload (F5 for IE, Ctrl-R for Firefox) and keep an eye on the vertical scroll widget.  The widget is taller when the page only partially loads.

219 entrophy, don't forget about throwing away batteries and paint.

220 According to an entry in 'the Corner' on NRO, 'American' was counted, and showed an increase from 1990 to 2000. Having said that, since Delaware gets to keep one rep in Congress no matter what, and we aren't likely to gain another, the point for me is moot. I love the teaser for gettting in on federal gravy money. That right there is hope n' change.

221 Just reload (F5 for IE, Ctrl-R for Firefox) and keep an eye on the vertical scroll widget.  The widget is taller when the page only partially loads.

Posted by: MikeO at March 09, 2010 12:11 PM (lBmZl)

At at the bottom of the page.  Omputercay Erdnay.

222
FUBAR,

Huh?  I am also apparently Etardray as I cannot understand you.

223 "234 the comments are holding at the large quote.  You have to literally go on and off the site to get back to the thread.  Whenever this happens I wonder why it is happening.  It never happens on the ONT

Just reload (F5 for IE, Ctrl-R for Firefox) and keep an eye on the vertical scroll widget.  The widget is taller when the page only partially loads.

Posted by: MikeO at March 09, 2010 12:11 PM (lBmZl)"

Been having a lot of odd problems.  Made three lasagnas over the weekend and froze them.  My techies are coming over.  So feeding them meatballs and spaghetti for dinner and then paying them with a bottle of wine and a huge 9 X 13 lasagna.

224 American.

Diversity is perversity.

225

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, TX at March 09, 2010 12:07 PM (8qNlr)

I understand your point. But at this time and age, you should be able to track down anyone (almost), at least on a geneology search.

What we are saying is enough is enough. No matter our ethnicity, we are Americans. And again, I will answer the questions on the Census. But what does it matter, outside of how old my kids are, as to where they came from and what race?

If they assimilated, then they are Americans.

My parents did. And so did generations of peoples before them, whether Irish, Japanese, Mexicans or whatever.

This is what we are protesting against.

226 #132: ok, i'm convinced. now i'm back to my original impulse: throw the thing in the trash. works for jury duty letters, no reason it won't work for this, too. and it'll give the paper-shuffling do-nothing government-funded busybodies something to do. everyone wins.

227 @214

They aren't going to arrest... they'll just send teams of census workers to get the questions answered as best they can. They have the fancy little GPS handhelds to ensure that every house gets counted.

My point is that the quicker we get it done, the less money we have to spend on those workers, on lost handhelds, etc.

And as I'm thinking about it, the more accurate we are with the answers, the less likely Acorn-like organizations can screw with the data before submission.IIRC, the timetable looks like:
March 2010- short forms mailed out (concerns households on 4/15)
April through August 2010- home visits
December 2010 - preliminary report submitted

Haven't visited the website in a while so I could be off. Like I said, I'm interested in family history and after all the bitching and moaning, I decided to see what they would be asking in this one. Same basic questions thay have always asked since 1850 or so. But consider this. In 1860 & 70, they asked the value of personal and real property. In 1900, they asked the number of children had and how many were still living. In 1920, they asked the age when you were first married (didn't matter if you were still married to the same person or not.) In 1930, they asked whether you owned a radio. Since 1850, they have asked where you were born. Since 1880, they've included where your parents were born. Age was always asked (except 1790) and the names of all members of the household have been in the census since 1850. Education of the enumerated was also part of the census: Can read, can write, or both? Idiotic? etc.

So like Teresa said (22 these data are a boon for those of us interested in family history.

228 I used to do this back in college during a communications class where we took surveys for extra credit. I always had the urge to check off "Native American," myself, but usually ended up writing in "American." If they wanted to be honest, they should phrase the question like this: "What do you look like?"

229

Describe yourself in 25 words or less

an emphatic appositive of you or ye

230 Race: American I love it! Almost makes me willing to fill out the Census. You betcha I'll put that in!

231 O/T:  Wow guess Malkin and Linbaugh are in the same camp against the Becks of the world since Rush is saying no one should get involved with Massa as he is a fringe nut.  Guess that is a smack at Beck.

232 Hobbit?

233 HOLY SHIT home IP unbanned!  Thanks Ace!!

234

I'm not reading 250 comments, probably said before, but I'm writing in 'Global Citizen'.

235

Describe yourself in 25 words or less

My favorite color is blue. If I had to choose one kind of food, it would be anything BBQ. I don't have a preference for

236

I read a bunch of very entertaining huffing and puffing above, then skipped down to make a couple of notes from the world of grown-ups.

1. There have been organized Census protests for at least 40 years, none of which has achieved enough mass to do anything but improve the emplyment prospects of California comedy troupes and SuperBowl ad salesmen. So we either Tea-Party this line of complaint (late to start for 2010) or become part of the comedy act. I'm reading some great comedy here.

2. There are indeed penalties for refusing to answer, or being a sophomoric smart-ass. Consult your attorney before you make a bold stand for liberty. If I know AOS revolutionaries, we'll all be on here screaming bloody murder through the entire process, but not a one of us would be willing to show up in court on a federal summons. That's just the way it is.  You fuck up their game, and these people will happily--and without personal risk--get vindictive as hell. My highest respect to anyone who will actually play that out, but face it, you're just letting off steam. You ain't gonna do shit if they threaten your home equity.

3. Those letters had a purpose. They didn't really need to have any message at all. They represent a list of possible physical addresses, a bunch of them, and all the ones that get their mail at PO Boxes, hotel desks, dorm mailrooms, UPS Store maildrops, etc, are not documented physical residences--not every inhabitable spot is represented on a "mailing list" by a street address. So the postal service returns those, and census is supposed to make up, from the returned ones, the list of places that must be physically visited by canvassers to verify that they are places people live. This was designed to prevent fraud. However, Census is so far behind in its list process that the second full set of mailings has now gone out with the physical addresses on them, and the canvassers will be used for random checking and looking under bridges instead of for targeted verification, which is something you would want to support.  

253 comments, and nobody knew that. Morons sure do live in the virtual.

 

237

Am I the only here that got a little teary at that “I am an American” video?

 

I have never really thought about this before (filling out race on forms) but now that you have raised my awareness I am definitely going to answer “American” on the census form and also any other time I am asked the question.

 

And, count me among the number that did not rate a letter telling me I would be getting a form. Though maybe it will show up today?

238 You fuck up their game, and these people will happily--and without personal risk--get vindictive as hell.

They can kiss my ass.

I was ready to go to court over the ACS three years ago, and they backed down after I returned the form with "REFUSE" on all the questions I didn't want to answer.

I'll be more than happy to go to the mat over it this year because:

1.  I've wasted most of my life living within my means, and I'm sick of paying for other people's feckless profligacy (and I'll be about a hundred times sicker of it come 15 April)

2.  I don't consent to being governed by these self-styled rulers

3.  My give-a-shit factor is rapidly cratering

239

They sent you a letter telling you they were going to be sending you a letter.  Yup, that's government efficiency in action alright.

And as far as eliminating waste, fraud and abuse from medicare I've got a great first step there.  Fire Congress.  Second step?  Fire the President and all his cronies.  More than enough waste, fraud and abuse right there to pay off our national debt.

240 So the postal service returns those, and census is supposed to make up, from the returned ones, the list of places that must be physically visited by canvassers to verify that they are places people live.

Really, comatus?  So, having these "pre-letters" returned by the Post Office offers some advantage to simply working with the actual census forms returned by the Post Office a week later?  FAIL!

241 I often check the "other" box and write in American. I am American. Get rid of the goddamn hyphens. That's the liberals attempting (and so far succeeding) to Balkanize  us.

242 Dorsai

243 Hi, Rum!  How you doin'?

244 Funny...my mom just called, guy came to her door and hand delivered the census form (my mom lives in bfe; that they went out there to hand deliver it says a lot).  She said her form only contained 10 questions...

245

comatus @ 253: I didn't know any of those details.

But here's a puzzler: The State of New York sent out a letter to employers a few years ago. The purpose of the letter was to inform everyone who paid the company match on employment taxes that the state borrowed money from the federal government, and the feds charged the state interest, and the letter said this was legal, and the state could pass that expense on to employers, and the letter said this was legal, too. The letter also said to expect another letter int he mail for the charge I'd have to pay.

The second letter came. It said I owed $2.53 (two dollars and fifty-three cents) with a remittance address and a voucher form and instructions as to what I should write in the memo field of the check.

The third letter came with an enclosure. The letter reviewed the past two letters and said that they didn't need to charge employers after all, thanks for your cooperation, we're refunding your payment. The enclosure was a check for $2.53.

So, aside from taking these letters at their faces, what was the point to all of that?

246 Hi, Peaches! I'm well! How are you? Let me just email ya. I have to run out in a bit!

Btw, I'd trust the Census more if it wasn't the Dems running the roost right now.

247

Lol.. love your response to the census btw.  When they sent me mine I filled it out completely.  I put in my name, address, and phone number (all info they already had) and on every other question I wrote in nunya.   

When one of their reps called me and asked me what nunya was, I responded, "simple.  It stands for none of your damn business".  When they brought up Title 13, Chapter 7, subchapter III, section 221 and threatened me with a fine, I simply pointed out that they could only fine me $100 provided I refused or willfully neglected to answer those questions to the best of my knowledge.  I pointed out that I had done neither.

I had answered all of those questions, and to the best of my knowledge my answer of "none of your damn business" was the correct answer to all questions concerned, since the information they requested was indeed none of their damn business. Since I did not falsify my answers, I could not be subject to a $500 fine either under the same title and section.

So far I haven't heard back from them, but I'll keep you posted.. lol.

 

248 O/T:  are all these union members marching on Washington DC being paid to march?

249 I'm having an awful lot of trouble coming on this site.  I google and click and it says "service unavailable".  then I came on through Malkin's site and this thread stuck.  wondering if it is just me.  Is this what happens when someone is banned?  Never been banned anywhere so I'm not sure what banning means or how it works.  But, it is so difficult to come on here through google.  wondering what is going on.  this isn't the only site I'm not able to get.  One of my favorite sites is unavailable through google completely.

250

246  right

Government money is an infectious disease.

Or, to go all Bible thumperish- For the love of government money is the root of all kinds of evil. 

And while I'm thumping- in the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25, the master gave to his servants according to their abilities, not according to their needs.  The results showed it was the wise thing to do.

 

251 Curious, a lot of us are having problems today, not just you.  And not just this site.

252

Peaches @260, Don't believe me. Talk to anyone in the list-management business. The idea was that they did not want census forms to be just floating around like absentee ballots or something, available to be filled out by the ACORN Mayor's Special Committee, or Millard Fillmore. It was not a bad idea; in fact in reflected a certain sense of responsibility, concerning the real purpose of the enumeration. No one cared; you didn't even understand.

The FAIL comes with them not doing anything with the results. This is because the persons now going through the motions are unaware of the purpose of the original practice. Expect this to happen a lot as Young Moderns take over.

As I say, don't take my word for that. Think it through, look up a couple things, and ask a pro. There's a lot about the real physical world that we on-line chatmavens sort of take for granted. This is how the slick get over on you.

253

I'll probably be sorry for asking, but what is it that you think "these people are up to?"

Your destruction.

The eradication of you from the face of the earth.

 

254 BUT I LIKE ME!

255

My point is that the quicker we get it done, the less money we have to spend on those workers, on lost handhelds, etc.

Screw that.

The expect me, by their fiat, to devote my time to filling out their bullshit forms.

They won't pay me for it. I didn't agree to it. I am not a slave.

So, if they want their bullshit, they'll pay. Maybe not pay me, but pay. Damn straight I try to drive up the costs wherever possible. Send me 3 people to my door and 14 final notice forms, THEN I'll fill it out.

Hell, I resent IRS 1040EZ forms. I should get $15 refunded for filling it out for them. What would you do if a business told you "Now bill yourself for the amount you owe us"?

What are they going to do, raise taxes? We're on the wrong side of the Laffer curve. It'll cost me, but it'll cost them more, so they'll pay for it. No welching, no enabling. I can afford it, I'm not in debt a years salary to the Chinese.

256 It occurs to me that you don't have to open mail, you don't even have to be able to read. You don't have to answer your door or your phone. I'm gonna write the number 1 on the envelope and drop it back in the out slot. "Obama, I hear voices, and they don't like you."

257 I have been writing in "American" on polls for several years now. Maybe if enough of us do we can stake a claim as a minority group suffering discrimination.

258 Does that mean Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Hondurans, Salvadorians and any others I have forgotten (AMERICANS) no longer be forced to learn and participate in Cinco de Mayo celebrations? 

259 There's a facebook page;  2010 Census - Write "American" for Question 9; Race - Other

260 255 comatus

Thank you! 
However, you didn't say if we had any useful options.  Are there ways to fill it out that will be to our benefit, such as reducing the resources given to illegal immigrants and cutting back on gerrymandering?  Or should we just do as we're told and stay out of trouble?

It has always bothered me that "other" races get 27 choices depending on tiny differences in their birthplace or even pure opinion (Hispanic/Latino) and "whites" get one regardless of if we were born in the USA or Armenia or even Iran (Iranians are aryans).

And one peevish rant: I think anyone who describes themselves as, say, "African-American" instead of "American-African" should get the ability to vote in Africa, not in America.

261

Just FYI:

The 2010 Census isnÂ’t for counting Americans, itÂ’s a tactic for districts to acquire more federal funding.  Counties are looking for ways to compensate for providing health care and school services to thousands of residents who donÂ’t pay taxes.  ThereÂ’s no section on the form for “citizenship”; in other words, there will be a lot of illegal alien bean-counting.  Illegals donÂ’t have the right to be here, but that wonÂ’t stop officials from using fraudulent data to pad their numbers.

In addition, the information, according to an investigative report in the WSJ, will be used to:

‘…determine the apportionment of House members and Electoral College votes for each state.  To accomplish these vital constitutional purposes, the enumeration should count only citizens and persons who are legal, permanent residents. But it wonÂ’t.

Instead, the U.S. Census Bureau is set to count all persons physically present in the country—including large numbers who are here illegally. The result will unconstitutionally increase the number of representatives in some states and deprive some other states of their rightful political representation. Citizens of “loser” states should be outraged. Yet few are even aware of what’s going on.

What this means is more Gerrymandering of districts based on minority (and illegal alien) population.  This is un-Constitutional, but thatÂ’s not stopping the Dems (again) from pulling this blatant violation.

When I get my little Census greeting hereÂ’s what I will do:  I will answer Question #1 , and thatÂ’s it.  As for the rest, I will write in a succinct “I refuse”.  As to the question pertaining to “race”, I will write in “American”.

If a government thug shows up at my home, I will tell him/her that they are trespassing, and to leave the premises.

262 I am an American but I can't figure out how that's a race. So I'll have to answer "some other race- mongrel".

263

I couldn't decide earlier today.  Now I have.

Texan.  Hopefully a Republic again.

264 Describe yourself in 25 words or less Reflexive 2nd-person singular object pronoun.

265

I'm an American... Bitches.

 

I added this to my Facebook status:

I firmly reject the census' unconstitutional attempt to divide us by race and our ancestors' national origin. On your census form, check "Some other race" for question 9 and write in "American". Pass it on

Bring it on.

266

 

137 digital rectal exam?
Posted by: Mal at March 09, 2010 10:53 AM (Z+qzA)

They shove a finger up your ass!

 

Now THAT'S a relief. I was thinking that it involved a laptop and some vaseline.

267

208 At the risk of being the only moron who actually gives a damn about the census, let me offer this.

The census bureau is sending out the short forms (just like they did in 2000). Those forms ask nothing new or different than what has been asked in previous years. Yeah, I'm a moron interested in family history so I spend a lot of time reading those old censuses. ...

I agree in that, for the sake of future generations that you enter the names and birthdates of everyone in the house. I've done a lot of geneological research and I've learned a lot from censos forms. Yes it's an invasion of privacy but it's nothing that they don't already know from numerous public records.

 

268 "The bad news is the government has every single bit of my information already.  The good news is that its spread out through multiple government agencies which means they will never be able to connect the dots."

Oh, they'll connect them all right. I'm in law school, and today the rep from one of the legal info companies showed us a new feature called - no lie - PeopleMap. It literally maps out  people and their connections to other people using what appeared to be a database of every federal and state criminal, professional, property, family, tax and other records and licensure (driving, game license!!!).

Here's the sick thing - the goverment on its own *had* been too sluggish to develop this capability, but the free market (or technically guild) incentives of lawyers have resulted in a tech race between legal publishers which has led to stuff like this.

269

Number 9, that was hilarious.

 

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