The Virginian-Pilot
©
CHESAPEAKE
Taxpayers will spend $14 billion to survey themselves for the 2010 Census.
If that sounds like a bone head idea in tight times, blame the Founding Fathers. The Constitution requires a head count every 10 years to make sure political power is properly distributed. Revenue and representation are based on census data.
The gear-up for 2010 started several years ago at the U.S. Census Bureau. Forms won't be mailed out until March, but a $340 million publicity push began Monday with a cross-country promotional tour launched from New York's Times Square. Census offices are opening this week in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach - part of a 500-office network that will handle the 1.2 million workers needed to conduct the count.
Locally, about 4,000 people will be hired for temporary, part-time work this spring. Jobs will last two to seven weeks. Pay starts at $13 an hour.
Technically, the new hires will be known as enumerators, but census takers will do. Their work begins after April 1, the deadline for returning the 10-question form; responses cannot be filed online. Census takers knock on doors to prod those people who didn't comply.
By the way, the census is mandatory on both ends. Just as the government is required to conduct it, every resident is required to respond. Those who don't can be fined up to $100. Those who knowingly give false answers can be fined up to $500.
Prosecution is rare, though, said William Hatcher, a regional census director who helped cut the ribbon Wednesday morning on Chesapeake's office, located in a strip mall on South Military Highway in Deep Creek.
"We're not in the enforcement business," Hatcher said. "We're in the cooperation business."
That's the point of the advertising blitz. For the cross-country tour, a convoy of trailers and vans will travel 150,000 miles to promote the census. TV, radio, print and billboard ads are in the works, including pre-game spots in the Feb. 7 Super Bowl show, starring Ed Begley Jr. and costing $2.5 million.
Benefits will be the theme. Census outcomes draw voting district lines and determine the number of representatives each state gets in Congress.
Perhaps more important, "This is where you get the bucks," Chesapeake Mayor Alan Krasnoff said Wednesday.
Over the next 10 years, the 2010 Census will decide the fate of more than $4 trillion in federal funds that will be divvied up for schools, roads, emergency services and more. But in past counts, just two out of three households mailed in their questionnaires.
That's where the census takers step in.
"Don't make us come to you," Hatcher said. "But if you do, at least answer the door."
Joanne Kimberlin, (757) 446-2338, joanne.kimberlin@pilotonline.com
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The census is a political tool.
The census is a political tool used to ensure districts are drawn up in a way which political parties can maintain power. It is one way of preventing the true will of the people from being exercised at the polls. Politicians want your vote. But only in certain districts. The way of a district is drawn up can create a powerful voting block, or a weak voting block. This tool is especially used by Republicans because their are a great deal of poor, a small number of rich and a diminishing middle class. Their pool of voters is shrinking but so this is just another tool to help maintain power.
they'll get
2 responses from me:
two, male/female
period.
Subject: Reminder to Call my Mayor
Perhaps more important, "This is where you get the bucks," Chesapeake Mayor Alan Krasnoff said Wednesday."
Let's rephrase that to actually read, "This is how the cities get MORE taxpayer dollars."
Even the next sentence refers to "federal funds" aka "taxpayer dollars".
Just a thought...
Perhaps the VP could include the time and place to apply for these positions, as well as what, if any, requirements there are for these positions. Seems like relevant information to include in this article.
good thought
Thanks for pointing that out. The information was in print but not online. We just added it. -Patrick Wilson, online news desk, The Pilot.
The U.S. Constitution
The U.S. Constitution, Article I, Sect. 2, Clause 3 states that a census of the entire population, citizens and non-citizens alike, be made every ten years. Remember, no matter what a census worker asks, you really only need to tell them how many people live at your address. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, you do not have to answer that anything about your financial status. The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.
Not true
That's not true. They can technically fine you if you do not answer all the questions. This law hasn't been enforced so probably nothing would happen in reality:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/13/usc_sec_13_00000221----000-.html
The United States Government at it's best!
Those who don't can be fined up to $100
Does this mean that I can donate $100.oo and tell you buzz off!!
Blame?
Don't blame the Founding Fathers. All they required was a head count, and the early censuses (pre-1850) simply recorded heads of household and numbers of household members in various age categories. These days, they want to know everything about you but your shoe size - of course it costs billions of dollars.
Ancient history
"The Constitution requires a head count every 10 years..."
When did we start going by that old document, again?