NPR (not piano related) Census 2000

[Robin Blankenship]

Clinton wants all this info so he can feel our pain. Don't worry, we do have
the best government that China can buy.
Robin
----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Trout <btrout@desupernet.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2000 4:00 PM
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
>
>
>