Census Misinformation: DId anyone else not receive their survey?

[hlthe2b]

I did not receive my form--probably because I now use a PO Box, given how much junk mail I receive and that I travel frequently. I went to the Census website and called and found the following misinformation being disseminated by the MSM:

1. That you only had until April 1 to mail it in--not true, you have until April 15, though you may be visited in the meantime
2. If you did not receive you can not just get a new one now. You can, if you misplaced and know your census number (who the hell would know their census number). You must wait to see if you get a replacement sent automatically by the 12th and if not, then call again.
3. Homeless can be surveyed if they call in. (something I had always wondered about). I hope shelters put this word out.

While we are happy that a heck of a lot of RETHUGS are refusing to answer their census, I'm likewise worried we won't adequately survey those leaning progressive:

For instance, one heck of a lot of folks like me use PO Boxes. If they live in single family residences, they might be surveyed in person (that is if they can find anybody at home when the come). However, it does not appear that there is any consistent and systematic (fool-proof) mechanism to link PO Boxes to physical addresses, especially for multi-family dwellings like high rise condos or apartments.


So, perhaps DUers can spread the word that those who have not received a survey should call on the 12th or before the 15th. This is so important.

The number for the english line is 866-872-6868. If you go to their website, there is a spanish language number as well.


--Just my public service announcement for the day. ;)

[NJmaverick]

1. and if any freepers or teabaggers are lucking- BEWARE! The Government is using the census forms

to gather information on you and make it easier to round you up into the FEMA death camps:evilgrin:

[LoZoccolo]

4. They want everybody's age for the death panels too! n/t

[sandnsea]

2. Rural areas were hand delivered

I couldn't quite figure out how they decided which rural areas got hand deliveries, but not all forms came in the mail. Is that possible with your location?

[hlthe2b]

3. No, I'm in central Denver, less than 2 miles from the Capitol--LOL

[OregonBlue]

9. I live in a rural area and have still not received the form. We checked at the post office and they

told us it would come but so far nothing. We are a poorer area of Oregon, lots of retirees so it's important we get counted.

[sandnsea]

14. It should have been delivered by now

Do you have a contract carrier? I think contract carriers all got delivered by census workers, as best I could tell.

If your home is difficult to find, or not obvious from the main road, it also might have gotten missed.

You should probably call the census direct. If you think you might be in the Eugene area, I've got that phone number.

[hypocrisyandlies]

5. Thanks for the info.

I never received a census and when I called they said they would call me back and let me know why or send me a new one. Haven't heard from them yet. I'll call again on the 12th if I still haven't heard anything by then.

[sinkingfeeling]

According to this news story, forms were not mailed to PO boxes.

http://www.gazettejournal.net/articles.php?artid=4264

Residents who receive their mail through post office boxes will not be receiving a U.S. Census form through that outlet. According to Robert Groves, director of the U.S. Census Bureau, residents who do not have a physical mailing address will be counted by a Census-taker who will visit their homes between May 1 and approximately the end of July.

[cherokeeprogressive]

16. That's exactly what I was told by the census worker who came to my door.

He's still in my basement...

:hide:

[Lebam in LA]

18. LOL

:evilfrown:

[livetohike]

6. Good info!

I completed my form the day I received it and mailed it back. I received a 2nd form this past Friday along with a note reminding me that I had to mail in the form. So I completed the 2nd form and mailed it from a different post office.

[elocs]

7. You needed an actual street address to get a census form,

they did not sent them to P.O. boxes.

[hlthe2b]

8. They will never catch me at home..

Not to mention that my neighborhood has lots of high rise secured condo buildings, where a census taker would find it difficult to gain access. :shrug:

I will call on the 12th nonetheless. If they now have a mechanism for the homeless can do so, I would think those of us who elect not to receive mail at their physical address, but instead to use a PO Box could call as well.

[hlthe2b]

10. That's my point... It would seem they could match mailing addresses

including PO Boxes linked to a physical address. When I opened my PO Box, they had to verify my physical address,a policy that was put in place for security purposes after 911. If mail is inadvertently sent to the physical address, it is forwarded on to my PO Box.

This really seems to be a major weakness that could have been corrected.

[marmar]

11. There are also Be Counted Centers where you can pick up a form.....

.... often at public libraries. But if you go to http://2010.census.gov/2010census/ you can type in your zip code and find the closest one.

[hlthe2b]

13. Direct link to Be Counted sites--enter your zip code to find location

http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/bcqac-textview.php

I find the census site to be a typical bloated and time-consuming Fed site to navigate. The link above takes you directly to the area where you can find the "Be Counted" site for your area, if you did not receive a census.

[nc4bo]

12. Man - some got none but most around here got 2. One w/name + addy

the second addressed to "Resident" w/address.

I couldn't help thinking there's some money being wasted with the double mailings. :shrug:

[UTUSN]

15. & the SECOND one is NOT supposed to be ignored if the 1st one was sent in

I caught a certain amount of grief for "I couldn't help thinking there's some money being wasted with the double mailings."

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8074491&mesg_id=8074491

[nc4bo]

17. Geezus with the possible tea(ist) question LOL

We both mail ours (mom lives in her own house, me/hubby/kids in our own but share the same 2 lots) out then get these.

Oh lawd - I think I'll put a quickie foil + rubberband lid back on that can o' worms ;)

ETA: Had to clarify why I said "both" LOL

[tavalon]

19. We received ours and one of the pages was torn in half and was missing that half

I tried to call to get another one but didn't get the right phone number.

[hlthe2b]

20. You CAN call to get a replacement for the missing sheet

As I assume you have the census survey number on the rest of the materials you did receive.
Call as per the number above:
(866)-872-6868

[dixiegrrrrl]

21. I got none, 2 neighbors got 2.

We all live on the same street, mailman delivers to us all at same time.
One neighbor offered me her 2nd one, then noticed it had her address on it.
she said she tossed it, since she had filled out the first one and mailed it 2 weeks previously.

The government knows where we live. They get the Soc. Sec. checks, the tax forms here right on schedule, like clockwork.


I figure if the census corporation wants information bad enough, they will figure out a way to get it.


btw...did you know that Lockheed Martin has a " six-year, $500 million contract to capture and standardize data for the census. The contract includes systems, facilities, and staffing."

But ACORN's contract to help with the census has been terminated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_United_States_Census

[hlthe2b]

22. re:

"I figure if the census corporation wants information bad enough, they will figure out a way to get it."

Wow, I would think DUers would be willing to do whatever it takes to get their information counted in the census. We do want to be represented, don't we? That census information is incredibly critical to local and state services--not to mention representation, especially when redistricting comes up. :shrug: