DYSPEPSIA GENERATION

Read it.

We’re still a few years from the 2020 census, but federal agencies are already bracing themselves for the barrage of nosy questions they’ll fire our way. Well, actually, they’re bracing for the growing expense of getting us to answer those nosy questions. If the Census Bureau doesn’t get off its butt and make some already recommended changes, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) warns, the next nose-counting is likely to cost a bundle without being especially reliable.

As the GAO notes in a report published yesterday, the average cost of counting each household has risen, in constant 2010 dollars, from $16 in 1970 to $94 in 2010. That’s probably in part because the response rate has declined over that period. This just may—I’m speculating here—have something to do wth a muttered, “you gotta be kidding me” after a glance at the form, then a flick toward the trash.

The Census is a prime example of government bureucrats taking a legitimate government function and expanding it into a football stadium complete with luxury boxes.

The Census Bureau acknowledges that it faces growing resistance to lengthening surveys (both short and unbelievably long) and census takers. Part of its response, unveiled last year, is to bully us. What the Census Bureau should do, suggested Tasha Boone, Assistant Division Chief for the American Community Survey, is to write “YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW” in bigger letters than ever on the envelope.

Why more government workers don’t find a second career in marketing is a mystery to me.

The Constitution requires a count — nothing more, nothing less — of the people of the United States every ten years; it does not authorize a collective body cavity search of the American people.

The GAO also emphasizes that it’s made 121 suggestions regarding Internet surveys, research and testing, and improving IT management and security. “The Bureau needs to take action to address the recommendations GAO has made in prior reports. If these actions are not taken, cost overruns, schedule delays, and performance shortfalls will likely diminish the potential cost savings that the Bureau estimates will result from redesigning the census for 2020.”

So…We should pretty much just count on high costs and “performance shortfalls” then, eh?

Oh, and those nosy questions, of course.

UPDATE: A commentor referred me to this delightful response to Census nosyparkers, which I recommend to all.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 21st, 2015 at 14:19 and is filed under Your tax dollars at work - and play.. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.