Would the census work better with a social networking component?

If we could think up a way to prevent multiple accounts for one person without a chance of identity theft; it could work..

Well the census is trying to answer one main question: how many people are there here? It’s also trying to answer the ages, gender, and race of those people – and that’s it. Social networking is a venue that’s rife with fake accounts, as well as inherently disadvantageous to the less fortunate and the elderly. So I’m going to go with… really, really, no.

I’m not bothered by the census. I was into genealogy for a while, and found my ancestors’ records in the 1790 census. Revolutionary war soldiers. They did a lot for more our country than some Teabagger with a fanny pack and “Government hands off Medicar!!!!” sign.

Sorry, I digress. There is a door-to-door census component. Can’t get more social than that!

@jaytkay Only if you don’t fill out the paperwork.

Inasmuch as things can be tracked on the internet, sure. They could use peer pressure to get more respondants, but that moves away from cold, hard, analytics. As slowly as it took the government to bring in up-to-date, specifically targeted military ads, we’re a long way from seeing them find a succesful way to use the internet.

I don’t know.

But they say “response is legally required” or whatever on the envelope. How do they moderate that, and what are the consequences for shredding it?

what are the consequences for shredding it?

Not prosecution. Does not happen.

But your congressional district might be eliminated. Your area gets fewer federal funds.

Government haters will not see those as negatives, so they should shred their census forms.

Please.

If you don’t fill it out, a person comes to your door. Just fill it out. You give up more info on your utility bill.

@mrrich724 They would really have no way of finding it out if you’re just shredding your own – the legal consequences would be more for those that take mass amounts of census forms and tamper with them in a premeditated attempt to rig the results.

LOL, I already did it. I was just curious. . .

Maybe the President could invite non-respondents over for dinner. I don’t think one-on-one dialogue would alleviate non-respondent concerns. In fact, I think it might increase them! If someone already thinks the gov is out to invade privacy via a piece of paper, then sending someone to engage in conversation will make it really seem like the gov is spying and digging for info.