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U.S. Census 2010

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karmagod
Posts: 925 - Karma: 11
Has anyone looked in to this yet? The superbowl commercial was lame and I knew there was a census this year but for some reason I always thought that there was more to it. They only ask like 10 questions and its about your ethnicity and income.

http://2010.census.gov/2010census/

I guess I always had this grand vision about the census, like they collected a whole pile of information about the people of America so they could see how the demographics really were out here.

If I was doing the census, I'd have the normal 10 questions sure. Then I'd have an anonymous survey that asked a ridiculous amount of questions about people's opinions. Where they stand on all the issues: Abortion, drugs, the war, healthcare, race relations, homosexual marriages. There is so many things we could learn about this country, why not go for it?

Thoughts?
Feb 18 2010 6:44PM
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Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333
we could learn a lot  more but it would just take that much longer to count up. counting and entering like a couple million things takes a while.
Feb 18 2010 6:47PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,948
nah. this would fuel tension just for bringing up the subject... the census isnt to figure out how many people are pro choice or how many people support the legalization of marajuana, or how many people like the colour green. It's to allow the government to adequately collect taxes and develop a budget based on how many people are expected to pay them.

and to give all of our "city limit" signs a nice accurate number on the bottom.
Feb 18 2010 6:50PM
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
its 2010 but you can't take it online.
Feb 18 2010 6:50PM
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hoodSlayer
Posts: 900 - Karma: 7
There are entire corporations (i.e. Zogby) dedicated to such polling. They will survey maybe several thousand people at random about various topics like the ones you mentioned and then use advanced statistics and calculus to make models and predict outcomes for the entire population (i.e. when you say surveys on the news that say 30% of people support "x" idea). There is no need for the government to spend money to survey every single person in the United States other than for those basic things.
Feb 18 2010 6:51PM
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karmagod
Posts: 925 - Karma: 11
2010 also has the greatest computer hackers in history that would absolutely love to wreak havoc on this kind of thing.

And DingoSean, I know it's just for taxes and setting up districts but it could be so much more. I would totally be down for a $5 tax increase to have the census every year or something just to know where our country stands on things. I hate inferential statistics. The country would be able to take action on so many more things knowing exactly how many people support legalization, abortion, everything. It would just be so cool in my opinion.
Feb 18 2010 6:53PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,948
Trust me, I understand... it would really open up some eyes too...

that said, you actually think the people of this country are going to comply with such a thing? Some people really dont want the government knowing how they feel on things, and i'm pretty positive, that most people will not answer these serious questions - thus skewing the whole thing.
Feb 18 2010 7:06PM
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DANETRON
Posts: 6671 - Karma: 137
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Feb 18 2010 7:19PM
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