It's Only The Census - -So What?

Most of us a vaguely aware of the federal census taken ever 10 years, but we don't think much about it. We should think about it, a lot! In 2000 we the tax payers spent $4.5 Billion to count the people residing in the United States. Please note I did not say citizens residing in the US. More on that in a minute.

The census is a very important undertaking. It's impact is far reaching and profound. The government makes decisions on allocations of funds based on the census. We make social policies based on the census. But the most important thing we do with the census is reapportion each states representation in the House of Representatives. Every ten years there is a jockeying for position as sates fight the census over whether or not they will gain or loose representatives in congress. Some states go up and some go down. As a result of the 2000 census 12 seats changed from one state to another.

Money and power will always will generally start a good cat fight every time, right?

In 2000, we spent $4.5 Billion to do the census, that is $15.99 for every man women and child in the US. That's right is cost the Federal Goverment (you and Me) $32 to find out there were 2 people living in my house. As a reference we, in 1970 we spent $1.22 per resident to get the job done. Also don't forget that the vast majority of us are counted by a form we receive in the mail. So where is all that money spent you ask. It is spent trying to prove that the census is wrong! Politicians everywhere are saying wait you missed some of our people, we need to do outreach. Homeless and illegal immigrants are afraid to be counted, we must go to them and make hem understand.

Did I say illegal immigrants? Yes I did. You see there is no place on the census form to say whether or not you are a citizen. We are making representation decisions and deciding where our tax money should be spent based on the head count of illegal immigrants in our country.

Am I the only one that sees a problem here? Oh this is wrong in so many ways!