Census "stuff"

[2Aggies]

Thought I'd start a topic about the next biggest waste of taxpayer dollars. I find it hard to accept the Census Bureau claims that spending 2.5 mil in a Super Bowl ad would save taxpayer money. Someone in the ad department got free tickets to game! The CB claims that if just 1% complete the census from the ad it will save 85 mil. The cost of the ad came out of the 338 mil budget for advertising.
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0210/022410cdam2.htm

The most astonishing number in all the rhetoric is this - wait for it - the 2010 census is going to cost us...........(drum rolling)
14.7 BILLION. Now this is just a government projection, so we know it will be more.

Now of course we don't have 14.7 bil so we are going to ...you guessed it, borrow the money.

The irony of the whole thing is that the people most likely to not voluntarily respond o the census (thus costing the taxpayers the bulk of the expense) are the very people the census is trying to include in government $$$ support and representation. They are also most likely not to vote.

Unlike, the census of the past, this year I will NOT be providing any personal info. I will provide the basic name, rank, serial number type info and that's it.

Interesting listen here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsDhkPym01k

[ragman]

2aggs,  I think that video may go down as video of the year.  Well maybe not the the BS going on.

I forwarded that video, something that I usually don't do because I hate junk Email and try to keep the jokes and political stuff to a minimun. 

I'm with you Name, rank and serial number.  If I happen to be home or on the phone with them I almost always have a digital tape recorder with me that I use in parts of my work.  I'm going to inform them I'm taping them when I ask them the pertinent questions.   

[clover]

These are really sinister questions

http://2010.census.gov/2010census/how/interactive-form.php

What it's about

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/26/census.redistricting/

[deadserious]

My entire family has always declared themselves native americans.  We were born there, it can't get any more native than that.

The government has certainly expanded the reach of the census to unconstitutionally gather personal and private information about it's citizens. Oppression one small step at a time.

[clover]

http://www.trivalleycentral.com/articles/2010/02/20/arizona_city_independent/news/doc4b7add1cefb7a730753801.txt

[deadserious]

http://www.trivalleycentral.com/articles/2010/02/20/arizona_city_independent/news/doc4b7add1cefb7a730753801.txt

There should not be a form at all.  A checkmark in a census worker's notepad should be sufficient.

[clover]

If I was planning to move or open a business in say......Las Vegas Nevada........this is where I would look first.

http://www.hellovegas.com/Census.Cfm

We've come a long way since 1789

[deadserious]

If I was planning to move or open a business in say......Las Vegas Nevada........this is where I would look first.

http://www.hellovegas.com/Census.Cfm

Am I the only one that finds it disturbing that the government tracks this information?

Imagine how much more devastating it would have been if Hitler had a database tracking every jew in the country?

[clover]

How much does your healthcare provider and credit reporting agencies know about you? I'm guessing it's more than the 10 questions asked by the Census Bureau. 

I fear big business
more than I fear big brother

[deadserious]

I don't trust either... but if I had to chose the one I trust the least, it's the one that makes the rules.

[clover]

Then I guess we're in agreement

http://www.publicintegrity.org/articles/entry/1953/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/26/gop-rep-steve-king-defend_n_478493.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/26/AR2010022602864.html

[ragman]

On the other hand....if business did not try to protect themselves the ones who make the rules would put them out of business.  http://news.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view/20100227massachusetts_health_insurers_suffer_terrible_year/srvc=home&position=also  

Last year was grim for the state’s health insurers as two of the four top firms posted losses, while the others reported only modest profits, according to state Division of Insurance filings.

There has to be a balance and sometimes it swings one way or the other.  If Congressman X wants to make a decision on a bill, don't you think he should have the benefit of counsel (lobbiest) who know that subject?  If not there is no telling what they would dream up that would be devastating to our economy.  Where would the technical advice on any industry come from?  The opinions of the man on the street and the unions are sometimes only in their best interest at the moment.  Just saying...

[clover]

If the poor insurance industry hadn't spent an average of 30 million a month "lobbying" Congress it might have been a better year.  Undoubtedly the Great Recession forced a lot of people to cancel their health insurance too

I would consider the unions to be a lobby too...wouldn't you?

And of course the lobbies provide all that wonderful information for free.....as well as contribute to the campaign coffers of their bought off representative   the fact that there are 8 lobbyists for every representative ought to alarm a few....wouldn't you think?

Last but not least you referenced the "guy on the street"...that would be you and me my friend..........and we're the only one's without a corporate jet and a 30 million dollar budget to assure our needs are met.  think about it.

[ragman]

Clover,  A few years ago GW brought the heads of different energy companies in for a private talk on how to solve dependence on Middle East Oil. He did this instead of using Lobbyist.  As a result congress tried to subpoena information about what was said, who attended ect.  Not exactly a situation that a business executive wants to be in and not an atmosphere where they can be honest.  

So if you can't do it that way, just how do you get information from the people in the actual business?  The only legal way is through lobbyist.  So love them or hate them they play a role in solving problems.  
I'm not a big defender of lobbyist but I do want the leaders of our country to have the best information available.  Then they can decide to take it or leave it.  

the fact that there are 8 lobbyists for every representative ought to alarm a few....wouldn't you think?

 No I don't.  There are a lot of different subjects and expertise and I wouldn't expect a lobbyist to be have a good knowledge in more than a few.  If you want to draw up legislation about Widgets don't you think you should consult some one from the Widget industry before final decisions are made?  

[clover]

The GW "private" meeting included Enron and 2 lobbyists.  (1)The meeting was held in the people's house in private (2) we invaded Iraq not long after that. (3) Enron's expertise can teach us all we need to know about how to run an energy business.

From what I can see there is no further need for discussion:
Your points are; special interests groups are not only acceptable but serve a valuable service.  The unions are special interest, along with the man on the street, but don't deserve a viable voice, their "opinions", how did you say that, "are sometimes only in their best interest at the moment".

Question:  If that's how it should be why the f&%k should the dumb ass people even have a vote.