Editorial: Bachmann census idea may have ironic end

Casey O.
01/28/2010 8:40 PM

Brett @ 7:33, I agree with you on that one, but lets go one further, instead of address, we just use zip code :) I was so upset over the last census, I think they even wanted to know what colors everybodies undies were! It was very invasive and I must have had the long one cause I could have written a novel with all the answers I had to give, AND then, they had the nerve to send me another one five years later!

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Casey O.
01/28/2010 6:32 PM

Ben, income may not be on this years census, but it has been on there in the past for those "lucky" ones that got the loooong form....5. What is the latest median household income in the US by race and Hispanic origin? The Census Bureau released income based on the CPS for calendar year 2001 on September 24, 2002. Median household income for all households is $42,228; for White non-Hispanic households $46,305; for Black households $29,470; and for Hispanic households $33,565. These data are also available for families and people. http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/faq.html

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Ben C.
01/28/2010 6:03 PM

What victory Duane? You are claiming victory because Michelle Bachmann is lying? What kind of victory is that? She is purposely misleading people Duane, she is once again creating an atmoshpere of fear, and you want to see that as victorious? When will we stop allowing the extremes from both the Left and the Right create this fear? Look where it is getting us, UMM Graduate is arrested for an illegal access to an officals office, why? Because he has fallen into the rhetoric of the extremes.

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Ben C.
01/28/2010 5:22 PM

John again it is against the law to do so. From the Census website: In addition to removing personally identifiable information, such as names, telephone numbers, and addresses, from our data files, we use various approaches to protect your personal information; including computer technologies, statistical methodologies, and security procedures. Our security measures ensure that only a restricted number of authorized people have access to private information and that access is only granted to conduct our work and for no other purposes. Every person who works with census confidential information collected by the Census Bureau is sworn for life to uphold the law. Violating the confidentiality of a respondent is a federal crime with serious penalties, including a federal prison sentence of up to five years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. ◦We promise that every person with access to your information is sworn for life to protect your confidentiality. ◦We promise that we will use every technology, statistical methodology, and physical security procedure at our disposal to protect your information. John at some point one must set aside fear and trust that our laws work. If we can't do that then perhaps it would be better to relocate.

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Ben C.
01/28/2010 5:12 PM

Again Duane not the complete truth, but if you are someone like Bachmann who base your beliefs on sound bytes I can understand your confusion. Bachmann is right about how the Census was used to identify Japanese-Americans in the 1940s. Since then, however, Congress has passed laws to specifically to protect the information it collects. She is misleading you and everyone else who only believes 20 second sound bytes because she has never told the truth that legally the Census can not be used for that purpose. Duane now that you have the truth and the facts I will fully expect you to not respond because you often hide when the truth is presented.

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Ben C.
01/28/2010 4:01 PM

Duane not completely true. Yes the census was used to some extent but there was a different form used specifically for that purpose. Also, would you not agree that there was a great deal of fear and worry after Pearl Harbor that would lead to the Government doing anything necessary to protect the Country. Duane you yourself have argued the defense of actions taken by President Bush and his administration following 9-11.

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Ben C.
01/28/2010 3:01 PM

Kevin there are no income questions asked on the Census.

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Ben C.
01/28/2010 3:00 PM

Actually John your right it is not for you or me to decide, the ones who decide is Congress. It would be good if we didn't divided out by race, but right now that is the system that is in place. In 1790 the question was about free and slaves and they only counted males. There is hope that questions can change I guess. I would assume though that as long as we continue to view each other by our race including making assumptions about who does what crime and who is here legal and illegal I am guessing Congress will likely keep those questions in.

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Casey O.
01/28/2010 2:40 PM

Kevin E. Kansas City, KS 01/28/2010 12:31 PM and John S. Summerland Key, FL 01/28/2010 1:29 PM.... I agree with both those posts. The more labeling, the more seperation. Get rid of the race and labeling and we can all just be Americans. We will never all be Americans if race and labels are continued to be used and divide. Does it really matter what percentage of the differnet races make what amount of money?

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Ben C.
01/28/2010 1:06 PM

John do you find any of the questions objectionable?

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