stand up and be counted. or not.

The 2010 census form arrived in today's mail, only 3 days after receiving notification from the U.S. government that it was on its way. Do you wonder how much that first unnecessary notification cost us? Let's see... Approximately 113,567,967 U.S. households (according to Wiki) times, oh, what do you say? 10 cents each (time/staff to prepare; cost of paper; cost to mail)? Okay, that would be $1,135,676.70. In fact, according to US Infrastructure, the 2010 census will cost us a total of $46.93 per person or $14.5 billion dollars. I hope China has their checkbook ready.

But I have to hand it to the Census Bureau (no pun intended), they don't want to know much about us this year... just name, sex, age, and race. No questions about education, job and income, religious affiliation, or any other intrusive questions. Could it be they know a lot of us have no job? No income? No education? and they don't want to make us feel bad by asking about it? Or do you think they would rather not know? And religious affiliation, are you kidding? They can't even mutter the word "religion." They do, however, ask whether we rent or own our home, and whether or not we have a mortgage. You would think think they would ask how many of us had homes but lost them to foreclosure? (Haystack Commentary suggests the census form should contain a "living in van down by the river" checkbox.)

And once again, homeless people are not people, as reflected in Question 3, asking whether or not you own your home: "In this house, apartment, or mobile home..." So, what about - in this box? or in this car? or in this FEMA trailer?

They do this year seem a bit obsessed with those of Hispanic, Latino and Spanish origin. Question 8: "Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?" These people are instructed to answer both question 8, and question 9 asking for race because "For this census, Hispanic origins are not races." Hmmmm....... For this census??? And don't you wonder why they don't ask about us with European origin??

I was also a little perturbed that my race was defined only by color - "White". Not caucasian, not Anglo, just White. They could have a least defined it as "White American."

Question 10 is the most interesting question: "Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?" Several choice answers are provided for Person 1 including "In jail or prison." Not included is "at my girlfriend's house", "at a hotel", or "living in van down by the river." Interestingly enough, prior to Question 10 is the statement: "Do not count anyone in a jail, prison, detention facility, etc..."

Perhaps the most idiotic question asks "Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include..." Well, as it is March 16, 2010, I don't know. But there is not a checkbox for "I don't know."

Bless Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann's heart, she is refusing to fill out the census form... well, fully fill out the form, that is: According to CBS News:

Bachmann, a Republican, said her family will only be indicating the number of people in the household, because "the Constitution doesn't require any information beyond that."

I'm with Michele. I will stand up and be counted. But I won't answer question 4: "What is your telephone number? We may call you if we don't understand an answer."