Yeah I'd say your over-reacting just a bit... Took me about 3 minutes to fill it out and I have no problem with any of the questions. Being that I'm white (they don't say caucasian anymore)out here in the Bay Area, I want to make sure us minorities get counted and get our fair share...whatever that means. David I. -----Original Message----- From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Brian Trout Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2000 1:00 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: NPR (not piano related) Census 2000 Hi List, Have you all filled out your Census 2000 forms yet? Jeezzzz !!! My wife just filled out most of it a little while ago and I feel like I've been to the proctologist!! I realize that it is the government's responsibility to make sure that there is an accurate count of it's citizens every 10 years, but I think maybe they went a little overboard this time. In all due respect,... Who's business is it WHAT my home phone number is??? Why do they go out of their way to see if you're SPANISH / HISPANIC / LATINO ??? They didn't give that kind of attention to any other group. I don't have a problem with the 'Spanish / Hispanic / Latino' group. But let's be blunt here. They're no more or less special than all the rest of us. Who's business is it WHAT my ancestry's origin is? I'm an AMERICAN, HERE & NOW!! Let's get on with the future instead of whining about the past. Since when does the government need to know if I have difficulty remembering or concentrating so long as I shut up and pay my taxes? <sarcasm implied> Since when does the government need to know how well I dress and bathe myself? It may be important to my neighbors and my spouse, maybe my employer, but the government?? GET REAL!! (If I'm truly an invalid, they already know it.) Why does the Census Bureau need to know the minute details of my financial affairs? I've seen federal income tax forms that were shorter. Who's business is it to know what I spend (accurate to the nearest dollar) for electricity, or gas, or water, or sewer, or heating oil on an annual basis??? If I should ever apply for public assistance, then they should be asking, but until then, it's MY business, not theirs! Who's business is it to know what I spend for my rent or mortgage payment??? And the one that really got to me... WHO'S BUSINESS IS IT TO KNOW WHAT TIME I GO TO WORK IN THE MORNING?????? AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say, I'm a little peeved at being poked and prodded at with their little "questionnaire". Does anyone know, am I legally obligated to just roll over and give up every detail of my existence to these people? I know on the cover letter is reminds us that "...Title 13 of the United States Code... REQUIRES that we answer these questions... Anybody know what Title 13 actually says? I don't mind giving all kinds of information anonymously. But I feel like I'm being asked to surrender information which although they say "will not be used by anyone unauthorized to see your form", could probably be seen by most anyone who could convince the stupidest idiot that they thought they had even a vague shape of a reason... <the blood is starting to boil...> Look out for the next Census!! They'll probably want to know what guns you have in your house (including size, model & serial #), whether or not you have kitchen knives that could be considered weapons & sizes and shapes of each, what magazines and newspapers you subscribe to, what church you attend, what "clubs or organizations" you belong to, what internet sites you visit, how often you have sex (and with who), how much you weigh, and maybe even your shoe size!! God help us. And people tell me that big brother is a myth?? I feel like I've just heard the death knoll for personal privacy in the United States of America. Perhaps I've over-reacted. Perhaps not. Rant over... you may now return to your calm and peaceful day... if you've even bothered to read this far... (Seriously, though, I wouldn't mind hearing what others might have to say about this.) Brian T. btrout@desupernet.net
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