I received my census form in the mail yesterday with a nice note from the Census Bureau urging me to fill it out as soon as possible. The argument the Census Bureau used to get me to fill out the form said (in its entirety but my emphasis added):
“Your answers are important. Census results are used to decide the number of representatives each state has in the U.S. Congress. The amount of government money your neighborhood receives also depends on these answers. That money is used for services for chldren and the elderly, roads, and many other local needs.”
So, fill out the form or your neighborhood might be cut off from the federal till!
The good news: It really did take less than 10 minutes to fill out.
The loophole for a legal challenge: The letter is dated March 15, 2010 with the admonishment: “Please compelte and mail back the enclosed census form today.” The census, however, is asking about residents and family members living in my home (“domicile”) on April 1, 2010!