Count 'Em Up

Reader's Digest | March 2010 | Steve Mackinney

[MosesKnows]

Count ‘Em Up

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In 1790, it took 650 Census workers to count 3.9 million people – 6,000 people per census taker. (Quick Study: “Census 2010”)

Today, it takes 650,000 census workers to count 308 million people – 474 people per census taker. Today’s census workers have so many more advantages. Census by mail takes care of two-thirds of citizens, while cars, telephone, and computers cover the other third.

If we made today’s census workers ride horseback and use pencils and scraps of paper like they did in then, could we get productivity back up to 1790 levels?

[MosesKnows]

The level of productivity in 1790 coupled with the progress in data gathering and logging indicates that no more than 50,000 census workers are required, not 650,000.

I think corruption in counting requires far more workers and far more cost.

What do you think?

[C19fan]

The whole issue is the census went from just a count to collecting all sorts of data not mandated in the Consitution. These workers probably are dealing trying to collect this extra information. This information does have a lot of value in the social sciences but I can understand why people feel violated being asked the questions.

[maddog55]

Eliminate the illegals and we could cut the time down significantly.

[HIDEK6]

This information does have a lot of value in the social sciences

"Social" means "non-".

[dumpthelibs]

Giving the goobers and Commies in DC any more info than they are entitled to is self destructive. Leftists will turn the info on us like a hammer to take more of our freedoms under the guise of social justice and entitlement programs for their supporters

[True Republican Patriot]

How much money has OBOZO appropriated for this Latest Ripoff? An interesting number to go along with each Census Worker counting only 474 Citizens is how many Dollars will it cost per Counted Body!!! Bet its up in the Thousands of Dollars!!!!!!! OUTRAGEOUS!!!!

[drubyfive]

The whole issue is the census went from just a count to collecting all sorts of data not mandated in the Consitution.

Having studied census records for my ancestors, I know that they have collected info about language, occupation, home-ownership, etc. since at least 1880.

[C19fan]

Be interestnig to compare Census forms over time. I am sure like everything in the gov’t its jut gotten bigger and bigger over time.

[The Sons of Liberty]

Today, it takes 650,000 census workers to count 308 million people

In 1790 they probably had only three or four questions - names and ages of people in the household, etc. Today they want a history, -far from what was originally intended and in reality a gross invasion of privacy.

[cripplecreek]

How many adults and how many children. Maybe with a male/female distinction.

[MosesKnows]

not mandated in the Consitution

That is akin to "not empowered by the Constitution". The major problems facing the nation are caused by government exercising Powers not herein granted by the Constitution.

Just a reminder:

Article. I. Section. 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

The power doesn't exist if the power is not specifically granted by the Constitution.

[The Great RJ]

I worked in an administrative position for the 2000 census and managed recruiting and entering the application data for field workers. While literally thousands of people applied in our district, they each had to go through an FBI background check before being available for recruitment lists. Once they passed this stage we had a crew of callers to contact each and ascertain whether they would be available during the hours and time period needed. We managed to recruit only about 20% of those who applied, but in some areas, notably Indian reservations, we were hard pressed to find enough enumerators who qualified. All this was needed just to follow up on mailed forms that were not returned.

I was not impressed with the full time census workers. I have never seem such incompetence in my entire life. While I believe the census is rife with political cronyism

[malia]

Have census takers always been paid?

[Never on my watch]

Let’s just count people who file tax returns and their dependents.

[MosesKnows]

I have never seem such incompetence in my entire life

The Associated Press would appear to agree.

Audit finds US census preparations wasted millions

[Rca2000]

Well...they did NOT get it from us!! We answered the questions as to how many live here, our ages and such...but did NOT answer they VERY invasive questions about everyone’s work history, income levels, etc.

They called here, for about a month, and we all just ignored them. Finally...it looks like they have gone away.

After all...they know what ‘they need to know for a CENSUS” from us. They do NOT have the need to know anything else!!

[Rca2000]

Well...they did NOT get it from us!! We answered the questions as to how many live here, our ages and such...but did NOT answer they VERY invasive questions about everyone’s work history, income levels, etc.

They called here, for about a month, and we all just ignored them. Finally...it looks like they have gone away.

After all...they know what ‘they need to know for a CENSUS” from us. They do NOT have the need to know anything else!!

[TYVets]

I was not impressed with the full time census workers. I have never seem such incompetence in my entire life. While I believe the census is rife with political cronyism

Those are the very reasons 0bama wanted direct control of the census almost as soon as he took office. (/s)