It's Census Time!

It's time to stand up and be counted, because the Census is back. A national campaign to boost U.S. Census participation started yesterday in Times Square, and over the next few months advertisements will be rolling out encouraging people to fill out the 10-question forms. But why should you spend your precious time filling out more forms?

Along with showcasing the city's diversity, the Census could help earn the city some much-needed cash, according to US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. "Especially in these tough economic times, when cities and states and counties are cutting back on services, $400 billion of federal funds for education, for transportation, for human services, for medical programs, for senior services will be badly needed and will help create that safety net that we all want," Locke told NY1. The city has a good track record of participation. About 55% of residents participated in the 2000 Census, and volunteers are already knocking on doors to top that number.

However, not everyone is so eager to participate. Though US Census worker Omar Henriquez insists that "There's no reason whatsoever to be fearful of participating in the census," many illegal immigrants (and Rep. Michele Bachmann) are worried that they will be arrested and deported if they fill out the form. Officials, however, insist the process is 100 percent confidential.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on January 5, 2010 12:50 PM

Comments [rss]

potsmoker

same goes for prisons, upstate prisons are overcrowded with urban disenfranchised and improverished because their census headcount gives those prison industry commuities a greater share of government $$$.

so i think i proved my point, eliminate the census and dole out services equally and accessible to all citizens and non citizens alike in a fair and equitable manner, no pork, no bs no numbers games!

potsmoker

the census is a trick.

historically the census was to count things that had greater importance. white landowners and slaves.

a greater power and leverage was given to a better head count when doling representation in government and distribution of federal money. this brought the rise of the idea that a slave was only counted as a fraction of a free white landowner.

sure, count yourself in the census, because you believe that you wont be deported, because you believe that government spending will be allocated where there is greater need. but the reality is, once a talking head on msnbc or a sicko bathroom man sex loving congressman gets the idea that his constituents could get a better share of government spending, they will all blame it on the illegals who dont deserve a dime, and nobody will correlate a reasoning that says the census got me deported, but down the line you might be deported for something or anything based on the whims of congress, the next rush limbaugh or a racist white cop.

and i dont smoke pot.

FJF

Why should non-citizens be considered when determining representation in congress? I know this would probably benefit New York, but it still doesn't seem right to me.

Darrell

because the census as other duties such as determining how federal money will be distributed for certain programs.

NannyState

Slaves were counted when the census began so it stands to reason that non-citizens today get the same treatment...by census takers that is...nobody will be auctioned...except on wednesday. Wednesday is auction day and I wouldn't miss it for the world...that's how I got my wife...yeah, she'll be counted...