Federal census-participate or joke/privacy invasion??

[Blueberry]

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.

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.

[Catrin]

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.

[tulip]

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.

[crazycanuck]

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 & is actually quite interesting to sit and ponder

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.

[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.

[Zen]

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?

[OakLeaf]

LOL Zen!


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).

[Cataboo]

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.

[Possegal]

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.

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".

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.

[tangentgirl]

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.

[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.

[ilima]

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.

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

[Blueberry]

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

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.

[Crankin]

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.

[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.