more government waste

16 years ago

Okay, got the letter saying my census was coming. Got my census, completed it and returned it immediately. Got a reminder today telling me how important it is that I complete my census. This is ridiculous. This is what happens when the government has absolutely no need to control costs because they have a captive audience of taxpayers they can keep raising the rates on. The thought of the same entity that runs the USPS and the Census getting more involved in health care sickens me. Surely we will not have more cost effective health care with that kind of waste and inefficiency. And if it's anything like the USPS our health care system will become archaic and obsolete because those running it didn't pay attention to how the world around them was changing. Yippee!!

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Comments (19)

country_bumpkin_al
16 years ago
I got one of those today too!
minnie_tx
16 years ago
me too and everyone I know
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des_arc_ya_ya
16 years ago
We got two notices that the census form was coming, then the form itself came. Today we got two postcards thanking us IF we filled out the report. If not, please fill it out.

We did - stop wastin' trees, wouldya!?
softball_80
16 years ago
I did mine last night too. The instructions say 'please fill out and return right away' but I've had it over a week. The questions say to list all the persons living in your house 'as of 4/1/2010'. Those two requests don't seem to go together. My MIL lives with us and is in failing health; it is not impossible that she might not be with us on 4/1. So why doesn't it say to fill it out & return it on or after 4/1?

Just asking.
marlingardener
16 years ago
Last fall a nice lady came by to ascertain how many residences were on our small farm. Then we got a letter this year telling us to expect our census form. The form was hand-delivered by another nice lady. Yesterday we got a card reminding us to fill out our census form, but commending us if we had already done so. I wonder when the thank-you note will arrive!
By the way, the U. S. Post Office is a private entity, not part of the US government.
FlamingO in AR
16 years ago
I had those exact same thoughts yesterday when I got the 3rd piece of mail regarding one census form. Simply ridiculous and I'm worried about the future of our country in a big, big way.
sheesh
16 years ago
I think they are trying to be reassuring about the census and getting people to fill out the form because so many people are being vocal about government intrusion, privacy issues, etc. It costs a lot less to mail these reminders to us in advance than it does to send workers out after April 1 to people who forget or refuse to fill out the form. If they could count on all of us good citizens to be diligent and just fill it out, they wouldn't have to do this.

Softball, I think you can safely wait until 4/1 to count or not count your MIL, without worrying that you'll mess up the census or that someone will knock on your door. All entities such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes, colleges, etc. have an "enrollment" date that is the official date considered for funding and redistricting purposes. I don't know how births, deaths, moves are figured into the census, but I'm sure they have a very accurate formula.
Silverdove
16 years ago
I agree with softball_80. If I'm supposed to provide information about my household situation on April first, then I am waiting until April first to respond.
cate52
16 years ago
Well -- I got the 3rd piece of census mail -- a post card reminder to return the paperwork & a thank you if you had done so already. Shessh..
marilyn_c
16 years ago
Can you name anything the government runs that isn't wasteful?
I haven't even been to the post office in two weeks to see if my census form came. They can mail me until the cows come home and I will send it when I am good and ready, if at all.
rosemaryt
16 years ago
You're only required to answer one question: How many people live in your household. Anything else is fluff.

I plan to answer only that one question. I've had it with our government. Just had it. Our taxes are exorbitant on every level, and it seems like the powers that be are just throwing our money away with both hands.
gwanny2three
16 years ago
I was wondering about that one question rosemaryt....I opened my census and put it away until I have time to naswer all the questions...it's crazy how much they want to know now! I may just answer the ones i want and leave the rest....I can't get in any kind of trouble right? I remember when that was all tey needed to know...how many live in your house!
cynic
16 years ago
Yes, I got the card and thought it's a waste, but I understand why they do it. And I can't understand thinking it's so difficult to fill out. It took a few minutes. Sheesh.

But I also see this is a rant thread so I won't interfere. Rant on, ravers!
kacee2002
16 years ago
I am with cynic on this.
Good Grief people. Just fill the thing out and send it back.It will take all of 3 minutes if that.You could have done it in the time it took you to come here to complain about it.
Geez.
vickij
16 years ago
I agree with kacee2002. Too many people just love to complain about too many things! Get a life!
Kathsgrdn
16 years ago
I mailed my back a few days ago and have gotten a reminder too. Government waste, this is why we are so far in debt...and it's going to get worse.
wildchild
16 years ago
I'm waiting until April 1st if I decide to send it in at all. I have to be sure that I am not dead by then. Also I will have to check the attic to see if Uncle Fester is still up there. Cousin It may be under the house. Some illegal aliens may be hiding out in the tool shed.

I also have to make sure I read the the questions correctly. Apparently the first one is so complicated that they have to remind you about it in question 2 and again in question 10. (Oh if I only had a brain) LOL

After all the care the hired hands too to write the questions I would hate to screw up the count.

Redundant questions, redundant mailing and a redundant government. ACK
sheesh
16 years ago
Personally, I wish all of you who are offended by such a simple thing as the census lived in one area so you could all gripe about it to each other, refuse to answer a few lousy questions, and lose your congressman. Then you'd really have something to gripe about...."Oh, the awful wasteful government took away my congressman! How dare they!"

I hope you're enjoying yourselves. You certainly are amusing me!
joyfulguy
16 years ago
How about spending some of your time working toward getting a single-payer health financing system?

ole joyful

more government waste

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country_bumpkin_al

minnie_tx

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