Don't Count Out The Census

The year 2010 is here, and if that doesn't sound high-tech and futuristic, then maybe the process of writing your name and address on a sheet of paper will take us back to reality. More specifically, the census has started up again. The Census Bureau begins shipping out its forms in March.After one quick look at it,it MAY seem like the most basic of forms to fill out. It consists of 10 questions, all of which are noninvasive. It asks for your telephone number, the number of people living or staying in your house and the type of housing (house, mobile home or apartment) you live in. There's nothing in here that compromises our privacy in the least. People have this lingering fear that by filling out a census form, they are sacrificing their privacy. There are many who experience this heightened sense of paranoia by filling out form that asks for the most general information. Even giving an address makes some people act hysterically. The government can overstep its boundaries at times, but in this case, all it is doing is a routine process of head-counting that has been around since the Constitution. Also, isn't it possible for the government to obtain your information many other ways? Bank accounts, airline travel and property taxes are just a few ways your personal information is available to third parties. If you're indeed worried about giving out general information, then you have more problems than takilng the census. Honestly, how much harm can a simple form that asks what year were you born in and how many people live in your household do? You've given more information to grocery stores for a savings card than you have with the census. Some may equate census takers with being peskier than dinner-time telemarketers. Unlike telemarketing, the census takers are trying to do something noble. They're doing the dirty work of calling people up and going door-to-door. Filling out the census form is easy, important and safe. Each person's participation is essential not only for themselves, but also for their state's representation. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share any information answered with any person, including other federal and law enforcement agencies. All Census Bureau employees have to take the Oath of Secrecy. This is a life oath to protect the confidentiality of the data. To a lot of people that may mean a hill of beans, but the consequences are steep enough to keep all data recorded in secrecy Penalties for unlawful disclosure are $250,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both. By refusing to be counted or participate in the census, you are giving up your right to be part of your community. This is the same case that arises during elections-some people, who say they want change, don't go out and vote-thus, making their arguments invalid by not participating in a long-standing tradition of head counting. Taking part in this process is just the few civic duties we have as Americans. This goes all the way back to the Constitution that stated every person living in the United States must be calculated every 10 years. It must include age, race, ethnicity, citizens and non-citizens. People also don't realize just how much depends on the census. More than $400 billion is allocated nationwide to states, counties, municipalities and school programs based on the results of the census. Infrastructure and education are a few things that receive funding based on census data. The U.S. Congress uses the census numbers to determine how many seats Wisconsin and other state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. In fact, Wisconsin losing a seat in the House in 2000 should be a reminder that the census shapes federal legislation that will affect Wisconsin. We need good census data to guide policy and track major changes at a critical time like now.