Comments on: Rep. Bachmann Refuses To Fill Out 2010 Census

[ejvalpey]

When you are collecting data on 307 million people for massive aggregate analysis, it is simply farcical to imply that there exists some kind of governmental invasion of privacy to collect demographic information in addition to head counts.
This information, once collected, goes well beyond contributing to the development of optimal public policy and districting. It is also integral to academic research we all benefit from (including all future Americans and their future elected representatives). To oppose the collection of aggregate population data is to oppose the pursuit of knowledge and the improvement of the American condition.
The irony, of course, for this campaign against information, is how trivial a problem it is for statisticians to make qualified estimates for those who follow this call in refusing to answer. As the results are made public and are easily verifiable, who cares who is hired by the census bureau?

[catnipp2]

whether or not I've had a child, my fertility status and where my grandparents came from (info taken from a census questionaire website) is not needed to figure out how many people live in this country. I do not care about social programs. You want to tell them everything about yourself down to your bra size because you want to hide your head in the sand and deny any invasion of privacy, you go right ahead. Don't look to any of us who stuck to our rights for help when things don't turn out in a sunshine and daisies way.

[SweeneyT]

Way to go, Michelle! There are thousands like you who will not be divulging any more info than names of the occupants of the household.

Looking at all these posts, there are a lot of liberals afraid of you, Michelle. Keep up the good work!

[Xthe17th]

The United States Constitution NO LONGER authorizes a census. That's right. The word "census" does not appear in our historical charter document until Article 1, Section 8 in regard to direct taxation which was then REPEALED by the 16th Amendment. Instead, Article 1, Section 2, paragraph 3 reads, ??the actual Enumeration shall be made?within every subsequent term of ten years in such manner as they shall by law direct.? This is for the purpose of REPRESENTATION.

There is a big difference between these words, ?census? and ?enumeration,? and our wise founding fathers had good reason to be particular in their selection. Webster?s Dictionary defines census as: ?1. in ancient Rome, an official enumeration of the people with special reference to the value of property and estate for the purpose of determining the rate of taxation" and, "2. an official enumeration of the people of a nation, state, district, or city together with the collecting of statistics concerning their property, nativity, age, sex, occupation, etc.? HOWEVER, the definition of the word ?enumeration? in this same dictionary is simply: ?1. the act of counting or numbering.?

Now, take a look at Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment which reads, ?Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers counting the whole number of persons in each state?? There you have it: ?numbers? and ?counting? but no mention of property based taxation, rates, or social demographics. The original un-amended Constitution only allowed for apportioned direct taxes which were independent of one?s personal data.

Regardless of what you hear in the media or what name the bureaucracy gives to itself, every ten years the United States has an Enumeration. ?How many people live here?? That?s all it was ever intended to be. Please consider this along with your Fourth Amendment privacy rights when a Census worker comes knocking on your door with long-form paperwork and a GPS recording device.

[Dixie1200]

Section 141(f)(2) of the Census Act requires that not later than 2 years before the next census, the questions to be included on that census be submitted to Congress. In March 2007, the subjects to be included on the 2010 Census and the American Community Survey were submitted to Congress. Source: www.census.gov
So if I have this right, Congresswoman Bachmann actually APPROVED the questions on the 2010 census and is now claiming they are unconstitutional?

[lalady6]

You are not required to provide anything more than the names of your family members residing in your house. If Obama keeps this up and continues to try and intimidate people into submitting to his will I can see this coming to a very bad ending. Hopefully Congress will block this crap before it becomes an issue.

[ozus]

I have lived in another country where a census was conducted. It was purely anonymous with sealed envelopes handed to the collector. The only check was that you returned a form, not whether you filled in all of the boxes. The people who conducted it were average citizens, hired just for the collection - they did not belong to any single organization. If the US census was conducted the same way, there would be no problem.

[KennyA47]

I applaud the Representative from Minnesota for her STAND. I will be one of many joining her in providing only what is required by the Constitution of the United States. If all Tea Party participants follow her example this will send a powerful voice to our Congress.

We are the People and We are tired of having government shoved down on throats. As far as fines, so what....I survived Viet Nam and I can survive the $5,000 threat.

[Jonah712]

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Our Constitution mandates a census be taken every ten years and compilation of all information should be CONDUCTED with UTMOST
INTEGRITY. Accuracy and confidentiality should be paramount. As an
Independent voter and amateur genealogist, I am appalled that ACORN may have an active role in enumerating the 2010 census! The Census Bureau should be nonpartisan and non-political agency and past allegations of fraud against ACORN raise serious concerns about the organization. Congress should investigate ACORN's questionable voter registration activities and any organization that has been subject to multiple allegations of misconduct should not participating in the 2010 U. S. Census.

There are multitudes of internet videos that reveal evidence of ACORN's fraudulent practices. Just go to youtube.com and search ?ACORN fraud?. Do we want an organization like this compiling confidential information on American citizens? I, myself, would be very reluctant to give personal information to ANYONE that I suspect may have been associated with fraudulent or criminal activities. We know that millions of Americans would be inclined to give less than accurate responses to the census questionnaire. The 2010 Obama census could very well be considered the most inaccurate enumeration in U. S. history.

What a legacy!

[Xthe17th]

The United States Constitution NO LONGER authorizes a census. That's right. The word "census" does not appear in our historical charter document until Article 1, Section 8 in regard to direct taxation which was then REPEALED by the 16th Amendment. Instead, Article 1, Section 2, paragraph 3 reads, ??the actual Enumeration shall be made?within every subsequent term of ten years in such manner as they shall by law direct.? This is for the purpose of REPRESENTATION.

There is a big difference between these words, ?census? and ?enumeration,? and our wise founding fathers had good reason to be particular in their selection. Webster?s Dictionary defines census as: ?1. in ancient Rome, an official enumeration of the people with special reference to the value of property and estate for the purpose of determining the rate of taxation" and, "2. an official enumeration of the people of a nation, state, district, or city together with the collecting of statistics concerning their property, nativity, age, sex, occupation, etc.? HOWEVER, the definition of the word ?enumeration? in this same dictionary is simply: ?1. the act of counting or numbering.?

Now, take a look at Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment which reads, ?Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers counting the whole number of persons in each state?? There you have it: ?numbers? and ?counting? but no mention of property based taxation, rates, or social demographics. The original un-amended Constitution only allowed for apportioned direct taxes which were independent of one?s personal data.

Regardless of what you hear in the media or what name the bureaucracy gives to itself, every ten years the United States has an Enumeration. ?How many people live here?? That?s all it was ever intended to be. Please consider this along with your Fourth Amendment privacy rights when a Census worker comes knocking on your door with long-form paperwork and a GPS recording device.

[rowdyyates68]

Really?? Hypocrisy you can put on just one group in Washington?? I think you need to look much deeper then that. Washington as a whole is full of lies and hypocrisy if you only look at the GOP your only seeing half the picture. Open your eyes and start seeing the whole truth. We the people need to take our country back for all of them.

[rowdyyates68]

of course you would say the same about Barney Frank, right?