Federal census-participate or joke/privacy invasion??

Do you answer alot of the questions for your federal census when it happens every few years? (In Canada it's every 4 years.)

It never occurred to me until now (after being another non-TE forum), that some people treat the census as a joke or are offended that the govn't wants to know certain info. about them.

Seriously, do many people feel so negatively when the federal govn't administers a census in order to benefit long-term program planning for its own country? yes, of course the statistical summaries/analysis is used by private sector parties, etc.
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I do answer census questions for the survey that is administered nationally every 4 yrs. Depending on the year, I've done a long one, other years a shorter one.

Yes, I answer the questions, and I don't mind at all. As a researcher, I've used census data to look at policy questions that are really important---how many people want a job but have given up looking? How many people are living in poverty? etc. Understanding that stuff helps drive good policy, policy that helps people.

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Originally Posted by salsabike

Yes, I answer the questions, and I don't mind at all. As a researcher, I've used census data to look at policy questions that are really important---how many people want a job but have given up looking? How many people are living in poverty? etc. Understanding that stuff helps drive good policy, policy that helps people.

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I didn't see any of that type of stuff on the census this year....

I don't particularly like answering the questions - but I do.

The Census has been changed with the consequence that communities and planning agencies won't have nearly the information that we need. There is something else called the ACS (American Community Survey) that is sent to a sample of the overall population (approx. 1 out of every 32 households) on a much more regular basis that seeks to address this.

There may well be TE members who get both forms this year, please do consider filling both of them out - the information is far more helpful than many realize.

There is so much info about us out there from online use, credit card tracking, and other private data gathering mechanisms with questionable oversight.

I have no problem with the census. The data is really important in getting resources-private and public-allocated. My work is in aging, and it's very important to know aging and income and housing trends.

As a planning student, i'm now fully aware of how local city councils utilize the info to plan future development etc. Very interesting data :o & is actually quite interesting to sit and ponder :o

I don't see any problems with the questions posed as per the ABS website & my local city council..

www.abs.gov.au
www.gosnells.wa.gov.au

No idea how it compares to what you have in the US.

Census information is also very helpful for geneological purposes. After several decades (70 years I believe), data from the census is released to the public. Our family has used it as a very reliable resource to track down family members to trace our ancestry.

Does this mean that guy who came to my door wanting to know what kind of underwear I had on wasn't really from the Census?

LOL Zen! :D


I think a lot of people have never been taught, and never bothered to think on their own, what it means to be a citizen. And that's not only sad, it's very scary for our future (our present, really). :(

I always find it ironic that the crowd that is usually anti-census are usually the same crowd that are clinging to their constitutional right to bear arms - point out that taking a census is in the constitution and you get a blank stare.

What amazes me is that some of the strong negativity came from university/college educated folks.

Maybe they work in jobs all their lives that didn't require understanding their community composition or sections of the population. :confused:

I don't mind answering questions that help provide data needed to accurately enumerate the population. I do question why they need to know my name and date of birth. They already asked my age on the form, and I'm not sure why they need my name?

For those interested in the wording in the Constitution:
Constitution's census clause (Art. 1, Sec. 2, Clause 3) is not limited to a headcount of the population and "does not prohibit the gathering of other statistics, if 'necessary and proper,' for the intelligent exercise of other powers enumerated in the constitution, and in such case there could be no objection to acquiring this information through the same machinery by which the population is enumerated."

If it weren't for the census, I would not have been able to find details about our families who are long gone. I have sat in dark rooms looking at microfilm to find ancestors that way starting with the 1790 census. (husband's family). The census is a wonderful thing! And yes, what salsabike says is true, we get so many benefits from what they find out in the census! it's a way to keep track of who we are, and what we need; we americans.

I believe there is a federal legislation for Canada that defines the mandate, powers and range of authority of our federal agency, Statistics Canada (well, most federal departments actually each have a piece of corresponding legislation that defines their role and range of authority).

I am not aware of census being in our constitution. However one would need to dig deeper.

Interesting reminder that the census for genealogical research. There must be a statute of limitation to withhold release of person's name with birthdate for several decades...before it gets into the public archives.

Hey, no public library director can figure how to start up their libraries from ground up in terms of languages of materials, age, etc. if it weren't for census data. Otherwise the library would launch the data collection surveys which would be very expensive and not necessarily, still accurate. From our perspective, we need data right at the level of the knowing the range of a community's educational level. So money is properly spent on content understood by user groups.

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Originally Posted by Bike Chick

Census information is also very helpful for geneological purposes. After several decades (70 years I believe), data from the census is released to the public. Our family has used it as a very reliable resource to track down family members to trace our ancestry.

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Of course reliability is relative with the older census info. :) I had a fleeting moment when researching my family, where I went from being 1/4 Swedish, to being 1/4 Dutch. I actually gasped, and then a stranger doing research also, asked me why. When I told her, she looked at the info and pointed out that my grandfather was a boarder in the home, and so likely the door-to-door survey was answered by the wife of the owner of the house, who knew he wasn't from the US, but didn't really know where he was from. It was also a shock when the 1880 census listed my great-grandmother as "bedridden" and "insane". :eek:

I love the census as a genealogical resource! I sure wish the 1890 one had survived, it is vital to 2 of the 4 branches of my ancestry.

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Originally Posted by Blueberry

I didn't see any of that type of stuff on the census this year....

I don't particularly like answering the questions - but I do.

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Most people just get the short form. There are a lot more questions on the long form.

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Originally Posted by ilima

Most people just get the short form. There are a lot more questions on the long form.

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Interesting. I had heard that they shortened the form, so I just thought it was *that* much shorter. I've gotten the long form before and I remember spending hours filling it out.

ETA: After a little research, it looks like the census is short form only. They're relying on the American Community Survey for the remainder of the data. Apparently, the response to this is also required by law.

I never considered not filling it out. What's the point of this type of protest? They really do use the data; i.e., we got new congressional districts, based on the census data.
Maybe I am naive about privacy issues, but I just don't worry about this stuff. For some reason, every few months DH's Amex card is used fraudulently. I think it's because he buys an incredible amount of stuff on line, instead of going to a store, especially things for home maintenance. He just checks his account daily, and if there is a problem Amex takes care of it.
Many, many years ago, before the internet, I went to get a credit report because I was turned down for a small loan from my credit union to finish my masters. It turned out, that they had one of my parents' bills on my credit record. My dad and I have the same first 3 letters of our first names and similar SSNs. That, along with having the same last name did it. Although it took a little screaming from dad to have the credit bureau fix this, it's the only time I've had an issue with identity.

If you use one of those little "discount" or "buyer's club" cards at your local grocery store, drugstore, the data miners have way more personal information about you, including your name, than the census ever collects.

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Originally Posted by withm

If you use one of those little "discount" or "buyer's club" cards at your local grocery store, drugstore, the data miners have way more personal information about you, including your name, than the census ever collects.

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Exactly. But then how else are you going to get the specials? It's a racket.

And if you've ever turned in a health insurance claim, then anyone who wants it can get your entire medical history.

The loyalty cards are just a way for the stores to bring their data-mining in-house. They were getting it all from your bank/credit card company before, this just makes it more economical and more comprehensive for them.

Honestly I don't care if they know that a 50-year-female from my zip code who buys organic parsley sometimes buys store-made cookies, too. :rolleyes: I'm a lot more concerned about who has access to my medical records. But there's nothing I can do about that, short of paying cash for all of it and choosing a doctor who doesn't participate in HIPAA... of whom there are very, very few nowadays.

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Originally Posted by tulip

Exactly. But then how else are you going to get the specials? It's a racket.

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You are absolutely right. It really annoys me that we have to give in to this scheme. It's only a matter of time before really blatant targeted direct marketing kicks in. It's pretty creepy to even think about it. It's only one step away from stalking.

Interesting, now I want to go poking around census records.

I don't have any problems with the census. As others have mentioned, the marketing data out there digs way deeper and is for less useful purposes. At least we can try and get roads and schools out of the census.

I'm always very cautious with my personal data, just because it's already "out there" doesn't mean I want to add to it, however naive that may be. I'm a Veteran and got the letter from the VA a couple of years ago telling me "oops, we let all your personal data get stolen, our bad". So I'm a little gun shy about giving out my info to the government.

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Originally Posted by Pax

I'm always very cautious with my personal data, just because it's already "out there" doesn't mean I want to add to it, however naive that may be. I'm a Veteran and got the letter from the VA a couple of years ago telling me "oops, we let all your personal data get stolen, our bad". So I'm a little gun shy about giving out my info to the government.

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Pax, at least the govn't does disclose (or is forced by the journalists) to admit occasional inappropriate disclosure or loss of personal data. There are controls all over the place right down to the whole records management process on how a govn't agency secures the data, retention and destruction of that data (but obviously not for census). A govn't agency knows that they are held acccountable to the public, the taxpayers, the electorate.

I'm speaking like this because some professional librarians become certified records managers and do have to implement policies and procedures how to manage/restrict access to that data. So within the federal govn't, I have far greater confidence of better vigilance. After all the bureaucrats have to protect their butts from journalists watching and reporting like hawks.

It can be surprising what happens in some private companies...EVEN IF there is legislation that requires private companies to protect "personal" information. Far greater naivete. It gets even murkier when a private company that is an international firm, has your personal info. on a server outside of the country. :eek: There are have been concerns raised here in British Columbia about this. Do you think any private firm, private sector firm even wants to disclose any inappropriate practices re personal info.? Only when a whistleblower will reveal..

I also have spent time educating employees in some jobs about basics on our privacy laws here in B.C...because some of my jobs involved records. Canadians and Americans have greater awareness of privacy protection requirements, people from other countries do not.

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

...Canadians and Americans have greater awareness of privacy protection requirements, people from other countries do not.

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I understand this well, I work in a major university library and have International students and patrons who will hand over their identity on a silver platter. I came into work one day to find a new student hire had left her passport and copies of her social security card and drivers license in the box on my door (where any patron/staff/visitor has free access). :eek: She didn't have a clue what she'd done, when I explained it to her she just smiled and said "okay". I'd like to be that unconcerned about it again...I miss the 70's.

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Originally Posted by Pax

I'd like to be that unconcerned about it again...I miss the 70's.

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Naw, got nuthin' to do with the '70s, except that we were younger then. We have a name for it now, "identity theft," is all.

I miss being 17... except that I don't. Now, I'm concerned about my ability to get medical care, and the hassles I might go through protecting what little money I have. Back then, I was concerned about what my friends might think of me. Just how most of us grow older...


But really, am I the only one here who's distressed by how easily available our medical records are? (Medical identity theft is a huge issue too, you know.) Honestly, I have no doubt that data miners have a field day on TE. I hope everyone stays here, and worrying about data mining is so 20th century anyway, but anyone who's concerned about data mining better not be posting on any online forum. Seriously.

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Naw, got nuthin' to do with the '70s, except that we were younger then. We have a name for it now, "identity theft," is all.

I miss being 17... except that I don't. Now, I'm concerned about my ability to get medical care, and the hassles I might go through protecting what little money I have.

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There is less tendency for Canadians to deal with private sector parties for medical insurance coverage since our health care system is completely different. Of course, it doesn't guarantee completely our data is sealproof protected.

Medical identity theft is real..just ask any physician.

As for data mining: Though there's the pressure professionally to post employment history in LinkedIn and elsewhere on Internet when job hunting, I still am not comfortable for reasons of stolen identity or misunderstood identity. But alot of my colleagues are posting their employment history with a certain amount of detail.

The justification on the other side is some transparency makes one more 'approachable' in terms of work-related networking and other types of social networking. Or whatever one writes/presents on the Internet is a form of evidence for one's achievements. In certain fields (including mine), employers expect nowadays to see some form of online publication or online product as some evidence for one's Internet literacy and basic ability to work with certain web software even from a design perspective. In a way, some of the evidence, can also be self-protection also combined with real publication in hard copy documents..since web content on the Internet can disappear.

But then we can move into ranting about content theft, plagarism and copyright violations.. :)

It was filling out the 2000 census that I found out I'm in a mixed marriage. It was the first time I'd ever had to label us that way. DH laughed. "Uh, yeah," he said, shaking his head at my obtuseness.

Roxy