Federal census-participate or joke/privacy invasion??

[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.

[shootingstar]

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.

[Pax]

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."

[Biciclista]

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.

[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.

[shootingstar]

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.

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. 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.

[Pax]

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

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). 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.

[OakLeaf]

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

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.