Will Your Answers To the Census Stay Private? 902
Hugh Pickens writes "James Bovard writes in the Christian Science Monitor that Americans are told that information gathered in the census will never be used against them and the House of Representatives, in a Census Awareness Month resolution passed March 3, proclaimed that 'the data obtained from the census are protected under United States privacy laws.' Unfortunately, thousands of Americans who trusted the Census Bureau in the past lost their freedom as a result. In the 1940 Census, the Census Bureau loudly assured people that their responses would be kept confidential. Within four days of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Census Bureau had produced a report listing the Japanese-American population in each county on the West Coast. The Census Bureau's report helped the US Army round up more than 100,000 Japanese-Americans for concentration camps (later renamed 'internment centers'). In 2003-04, the Census Bureau provided the Department of Homeland Security with a massive cache of information on how many Arab Americans lived in each ZIP Code around the nation, and which country they originated from — information that could have made it far easier to carry out the type of mass roundup that some conservatives advocated. 'Instead of viewing census critics as conspiracy theorists, the nation's political leaders should recognize how their policies have undermined public faith in government,' writes Bovard. 'All the census really needs to know is how many people live at each address. Citizens should refuse to answer any census question except for the number of residents.'"
first post? (Score:5, Funny)
I don't have anything to worry about right?
I agree (Score:5, Funny)
And the fact that Glenn Beck has said the same thing makes me feel dirty. Ugh.
Only Box the Census Taker Will Check For Me is... (Score:2, Funny)
[ x ] Gun Owner.
If he's smart enough and fast enough.
Re:Those that make the laws... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:There are no other questions (Score:4, Funny)
What if I'm only humanoid.
Re:Only Box the Census Taker Will Check For Me is. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Just don't. (Score:1, Funny)
Thats ok. We know where AC posted from anyways. We are still watching you.
With Love
Your government
PS Ignore the pizza van that has been down the street for a few days
Is this posted by the same Hugh Pickens... (Score:2, Funny)
that lives with his wife in Ponca City, Oklahoma? The one who has a degree in physics? The one who spent several years in Peru working for the Peace Corps? The one who planned to go to Mongolia (aka Red China) in 2009?
http://www.peacecorpswiki.org/Hugh_Pickens [peacecorpswiki.org]
Re:first post? (Score:3, Funny)
RUNNER!
Census Data private? (Score:3, Funny)
Will Your Answers To the Census Stay Private?
No.
--- Captain Obvious
Re:Useful to whom? The racists who care about skin (Score:3, Funny)
I am not at all seeing your point. How does A1S2 of the Constitution prohibit asking demographic information?
Did you forget to quote an extra clause which says "and don't ask about race, because that doesn't jive with my preconceived notions of what the Constitution should say, even though it doesn't"?
Re:Useful to whom? The racists who care about skin (Score:4, Funny)
Wow. I want whatever census form you got.
I remember doing the census in 2000. It was a small booklet taking about a week of evenings to complete. I don't remember the questions off hand, but I do remember having to do a lot of research. There was a lot more there than the obvious questions of how many people at this address, how old are they, what are their ethnic origins.
And after taking the time to complete and return the census form, I still got a phone call to answer all the questions a second time.
I haven't opened the form for 2010 yet, but I'll make this wager.
When I get home tonight, I'll open my census form. If contains only the 10 questions you list above, I'll post a link to youtube for the video of me eating my census form.