2010 Census anyone? (living in, statistics, vacation)

[MrSaturdayNight]

Hi, I just have a quick stupid question...did anyone else get the 2010 Census in the mail? It says my "response is required by law" Does that mean exactly what it says? If I don't fill it out and send it back does it mean im breaking the law? Sorry I have never gotten one of these before so I am clueless about the circumstances.

Thanks for the replies in advance!

[leilaniguy]

I doubt you'll be shot at dawn or sent to Guantanamo, but if you don't fill it out and return it an enumerator will stop by to gather the required information.

[Sweetbeet]

It is in your best interest to fill it out. Last time around, many people in Hawaii did not and the state lost millions in federal aid.

Why would you not want to be counted? The info is all confidential (and there's really nothing much on there anyway, even if it were to get out).

[hotzcatz]

Well, they want the names of the folks living in the house. Ages of the folks, a phone number (in case they wanna ask questions, I guess) and ethnicity. They only let you fill in one box on the ethnicity unless you want to write stuff in. It's not hard and it's postage paid, too. Doesn't fit real well in the slot at our small post office, though.

[eureka1]

I dunno the Hawaii figures but our county in California is figuring $7000 lost revenue for every resident who isn't counted. Why not fill it out.? I'm doing ours today.

[Alohikea]

I have been hearing ads all morning on 105KINE which I am streaming. I guess they don't want Hawai`i to again lose millions of dollars.

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by Sweetbeet

It is in your best interest to fill it out. Last time around, many people in Hawaii did not and the state lost millions in federal aid.

Why would you not want to be counted? The info is all confidential (and there's really nothing much on there anyway, even if it were to get out).

For folks that are fortunate enough to have multiple residences, it gets somewhat tiring to fill out several census forms and it doesn't make much sense for individuals to be counted numerous times.

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

They only let you fill in one box on the ethnicity unless you want to write stuff in.

That's not entirely correct. Since the 2000 Census, folks are allowed to select one or more boxes when it comes to describing their race/ethnicity.
CensusScope -- Multiracial Population Statistics

[Sweetbeet]

Re: multiple residences - I don't think you're supposed to be counted in more than one place. I think technically you're supposed to report where you were living on 4/1/2010 (that would be a regular domicile, not a vacation residence if it's not your domicile - if you had two places where you spend 6 months each year, I'd report wherever you were on April 1st). I think - but you can ask a census worker how to handle that situation.

[aqua0]

I wonder why don't they obtain the info from the IRS? Or is inter-departmental communication still too much to ask...?

I'm also wondering if the racial profiling in the census forms helps to obtain more funding.

[LaDominadora]

Uncle Sam does require you to fill out the census form or they will send someone out to make sure you do. Sort of like not showing up for jury duty.

I don't believe the boo boo about "funding" for all who do fill out the census. It's not like the government mails you a personal check. All they do is give a block grant to the city for them to squander the loot.

I can understand the government wanting to know the racial/ethnic, gender and age makeup of it's population. Every nation on earth pretty much keeps those statistics on their populations but they should leave out the bribes about missing out on federal money. That's a bogus claim