Did You Fill Out Your 2010 Census?
In case you haven’t noticed (dripping sarcasm), the 2010 Census is upon us. Really, who hasn’t noticed? There’s been a barrage of advertisement reminding us to fill out our census form. ”10 Years. 10 Minutes. 10 Questions.”
Who Do These Census People Think They Are?
Well, the short answer is, they are the federal government. Y’know – the same people that brought you the IRS and the Marines. Some point, at some level, you probably ought to at least listen to what they have to say.
The slightly longer answer, is that our forefathers, in their infinite wisdom, thought it would be a good idea to keep track of how many & where people were living. Here’s what the United States Constitution has to say:
Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers… . The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.
– U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 2, Clause 3
The basic responsibility of the Census is to take a head count to determine (1) congressional representation and (2) direct taxes. We do this so representation and taxation will be proportional. In our contemporary America, however, the Census asks a few more questions to gather statistics that help formulate public policy and most effectively distribute federal funding for educational and entitlement programs.
There are many groups out there that disagree with the extra-curricular activity of the Census, and argue that anything past a head count is beyond their duties as proscribed by the Constitution. I’m not here to have a Constitutional debate, but if you’re so inclined you can read more about opposing viewpoints from the Tenth Amendment Center, SHTF Plan, and the U.S. Census website.
The 10 Questions of the 2010 Census
Taken directly from the U.S. Census website’s interactive sample form, here’s the 10 questions asked on the 2010 Census:
- How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home as of April 1, 2010?
- Were there any additional people staying here as of April 1, 2010, that you did not include above?
- Is this house, apartment, or mobile home: owned outright, owned with a mortgage, rented, occupied without rental payments?
- What is your telephone number?
- Provide information on each person living here (Last Name, First Name, MI)
- What is the person’s sex?
- What is the person’s age and date of birth?
- Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?
- What is Person 1’s race?
- Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?
Duty of the Citizenry
That’s it – 10 questions. I filled mine out easily in under 10 minutes. So take the time to fill out the census, lest our government run even less efficiently and effectively than it already does!
Have you returned your 2010 Census form? Was all the advertising overkill, or necessary? Any questions you feel were overbearing, or perhaps other questions they should have included? Let us know in the comments below.
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