Stand up to Washington’s intrusion
To the Editor,
The Census Bureau estimates the cost of the 2010 Census will be from $13.7 billion to $14.5 billion. It will be the most expensive census ever. With the economic crisis this country is in, did we really need to have to spend that much money for a 10 question survey?
Article I, Section 2 of our constitution reads: “The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct.”
What purpose did the Constitution’s framers have in mind ordering an enumeration or count of the American people every 10 years? The purpose of the head count is to apportion the number of seats in the House of Representatives and derived from that, along with two senators from each state, the number of electors to the Electoral College.
The Census Bureau is using a shorter questionnaire (10 questions) as opposed to the long form (American Community Survey) that is now being sent to many people every year. Only the first question, “How many people were living or staying at this house, apartment or mobile home in April 1, 2010?” serves the constitutional purpose of enumeration.
Americans need to stand up to Washington’s intrusion into our private lives.
What to do? Unless a Census taker can show me a constitutional requirement, the only information I will give are the number and names of the people that live in my home.
“Whensoever’s the General Government (Washington) assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force.” Thomas Jefferson.
Chris Arndt on behalf of the Bureau County Tea Party
Princeton
