Anti-Census Campaign Is Epic FAIL

[babylonsister]

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/political-media/anti-census-campaign-is-epic-fail/

Anti-Census Campaign Is Epic FAIL
Greg Sargent


Don’t look now, but the anti-census campaign being pushed by some figures on the right is an epic failure: A spokesperson for the U.S. Census bureau tells me that the number of census forms that have been returned incomplete is less than one percent.

Figures as diverse as Glenn Beck and GOP Reps Paul Broun and Michele Bachmann have all declared that they will only fill out the U.S. Census question asking how many people live in their households, and will boycott other questions. Their argument: Answering that one question is the only thing the U.S. Constitution requires, and the other questions constitute an unacceptable, Big Brother-style encroachment on our liberties and privacy.

Fortunately, no one is listening to them.

Census Bureau spokesperson Eun Kim tells me that just under 80 million census forms have been returned thus far. Of these, roughly 600,000 have been returned incomplete, Kim says. And a significant chunk of these could be errors, as opposed to the handiwork of people following the lead of Beck and Bachmann. At any rate, that’s less than one percent.

By the way, to reiterate, the claim that the U.S. Constitution only mandates that people answer that one question is delusional. Here’s the relevant chunk, from Article 1, Section 2:

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.

As you can see, the Constitution mandates that people fill out the Census along the lines dictated by Congress — “in such manner as they shall by law direct.” So those GOP Reps who are claiming that they are not required to fill out the full census, as dicated by law, are in effect saying that the lawmaking body they belong to is illegitimate.

[Kerrytravelers]

1. Wow. So over 99% of us will be locked up in Re-education Camps!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. No, 99% will be the guards for the camps

while those who didn't fill out the form properly will be the inmates. Bwahahahah .... :evilgrin:

[Kerrytravelers]

11. Pfft. What do you know, you European Socialist!

:rofl:

[marmar]

2. I was actually kind of hoping THEIR followers would listen.....

..... and redistrict themselves right out of existence.

[proudohioan]

3. Yeah, so was I!!!!

[Kerrytravelers]

5. If this news leaks out, perhaps Bachman, et. al. will go on a whirlwind campaign.

It's not too late. She could redistrict herself if she just tries hard enough! :patriot:

:rofl:

[4lbs]

4. Furthermore, the latest 2010 National Mail Response Rate is at 68%. This almost matches the 67% at

the same time in 2000.

Final 2000 National Participation rate was 72%. Once the census workers finish their canvassing over the next few months, this year's final rate will likely match that.

[proudohioan]

6. I just don't get all of this hysteria over the census.......

Do people not realize that the Federal Government has been doing a Federal Census EVERY 10 YEARS SINCE 1790??????

And what in the HELL do people find so incriminating in the 2010 Census, anyhow? This is one of the shortest and least intrusive census' ever done. I remember filling out the 2000 Census and it asked many more questions, such as did I own or rent and what my occupation was. The 2010 census didn't even ask that!!!

However, the worst paranoia propaganda that I've seen was an advertisement on the Weather Channel's website:
Protect yourself from identity fraud during the 2010 Census - only $4.95 for the first month....
brought to you by one of those "free credit report" places like Equifax. Go figure!

[babylonsister]

7. The hysteria was created by the wingnuts, specifically Bachmann, months

ago. Go google her; you're in for a treat. She is delusional, and those that don't have an independent thought in their brain appear to be, too. Luckily it also seems there aren't too many of them.

[proudohioan]

8. You mean America's favorite corporate welfare queen?

Oh yeah, she's a treat alright! "Obama is a SOCIALIST and wants to redistribute YOUR wealth" all while taking government subsidies (welfare) for her families' farm to the tune of approximately $25,000 per year for the past 10 years; yeah, how's that socialism thingy working out for you and yours, Ms. Batshit crazy!!!!!!!

What a peice of work! I hope that all of her constituants listen to her, ignore the census, and lose representation!

[thereismore]

9. Yes, but what about the forms that are not returned at all? nt