If this isn't a blatant example of government waste and stupidity

[elsporko]

It seriously seems like a ridiculous waste of money to mail out a letter announcing that forms will be mailed.

People don't read notices and letters, or signs, so they really aren't going to pay any more attention to some letter that comes informing them to watch for the census forms. I highly doubt it will result in a higher rate of returned forms.

They think it will save 510 Million dollars. Every person who doesn't fill out a census form requires somebody to come to their home to ask them the questions. The more people are aware of the census the less likely they are to forget about it. Hell, look at what the forms have got us doing right now, talking about the census. I bet everyone in this topic will remember its coming.

I'm sure if people who are against the letters have a way to save more then 510 million dollars the census will gladly use that system, but as it is the forms are not a waste of money.

[powerboy]

I also find that it is stupid that they sent out the notices

[telecom_goddess]

This post is just to inform you all that I will be making a post in this forum soon.

:: P

LOL now that's funny!

Yeah I got one of those letters too...and the vacant mailbox that the apartment complex says was ours and turned out it wasn't lol.

Whatever happened to the days of the census enumerator anyway? They used to knock on your doors no matter what.

[telecom_goddess]

No stamps needed; a postage-paid return envelope is included.

Snicker...ok blas you HAVE to fill it out now no more excuses

[MadMike]

This post is just to inform you all that I will be making a post in this forum soon.

:: P

And I will soon be making a post, informing you all the I will be making a post to inform you all that I will be posting. Where does it end?

All jokes aside, I can see why someone might think it useful to send out the notices if they believe that it will make people more likely to send the forms back. But even with the statistics (and I find statistics to be dubious at best), it seems to me that if someone has no intention of filling out a census form, they'll most likely ignore the notice too.

When I got the envelope with the notice, I figured it was the actual form. I've since received the actual form, and I will most likely send it out with the next batch of bills, but if I was someone who wasn't going to fill it out, I would have trashed it without opening it. Then I would have done the same when the actual form came.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

Except that the note isn't targeting those who don't want to fill it out, it's targeting those who miss it and would've filled it out if they hadn't. I'd wager that's a healthy percentage of non-respondents if not the majority.

[Rapscallion]

They think it will save 510 Million dollars.

I've yet to see a saving that reduced a budget. Every time I've seen a 'saving', it's meant the money was spent elsewhere in the same organisation.

Rapscallion

[elsporko]

So the money is spent on something other then enumurators and then in ten years they can expect to use less money. How is saving money going to hurt anything?

[Boozy]

I completely believe that sending these notices out will improve the number of census returns and save money in the long run.

I just think it's ridiculous that it works. Human beings are just ridiculous.

[Talon]

This post is just to inform you all that I will be making a post in this forum soon.

:: P

Many packets died to bring us this message

[gremcint]

Someone probably complained and kicked up a fuss because they weren't prepared and therefore we get this.

[Fryk]

What they need to do is send out a message telling everyone who doesn't fill out the form that the census guy is coming, and would they please not shoot him or laugh when their dog wants to eat them.

[insertNameHere]

Except that your experiences are as everyone's anecdotal at best and (in this case at least) painfully external. In this case we're dealing with people who's entire job it is to run the numbers, and we have about as much evidence as can be wanted to say that they have and this produces the best end result. Plenty of things in life don't make sense at first glance, doesn't mean they're wrong.

That is the great thing about 83% of statistics, they are made up. and or if you run them a certain way well you get to change the results of the "facts". Or you could just plan suck at your job. I need to point out the incident years ago with the mars rover I believe it was, anyways the thing crashed into the planet instead of setting down nicely, because they forgot to flip a switch that made it run on Inches/Centimeters. Either way wrong mode, or improper conversion done and millions if not billions of dollars and don't forget the time we waited for it to arrive WASTED.

Also, well the government makes fun spending decisions, such as instances of paying the children of illegal aliens to go to school.

[Ree]

That is the great thing about 83% of statistics, they are made up.

I'm sorry, but the irony of that statement made me chuckle.

[MadMike]

That is the great thing about 83% of statistics, they are made up.

Yeah, 75% of all people know that!