tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post6025009623110562525..comments2024-03-26T16:46:21.764-04:00Comments on Doctor Grumpy in the House: Dear U.S. Census Department,Grumpy, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09858110332436246760noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-42675090424233147812010-04-06T16:18:21.509-04:002010-04-06T16:18:21.509-04:00My letter actually showed up AFTER the census form...My letter actually showed up AFTER the census form did.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01164409211154373731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-83398026625950827252010-03-13T19:47:36.760-05:002010-03-13T19:47:36.760-05:00lmao! without you, Dr. Grumpy, i'd never have ...lmao! without you, Dr. Grumpy, i'd never have opened that letter.... ;-)student dr. blazehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17307156914515136574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-34350564989964773892010-03-12T22:07:06.169-05:002010-03-12T22:07:06.169-05:00thank youthank youLisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-62753125816269304792010-03-12T20:18:53.410-05:002010-03-12T20:18:53.410-05:00We have already gotten two of the blasted things. ...We have already gotten two of the blasted things. I mean, I know the government wastes my money but you'd think they'd try to be a smidge less blatant about it.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08982841698817100549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-57441072061738550722010-03-12T10:15:50.290-05:002010-03-12T10:15:50.290-05:00The anchors just talked about this on Good Morning...The anchors just talked about this on Good Morning Sacramento, this morning. I also thought, what a waste of money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-55147981576315085682010-03-12T00:27:55.192-05:002010-03-12T00:27:55.192-05:00and mine ended up in the recycle bin in 10 seconds...and mine ended up in the recycle bin in 10 seconds flat.pharmacy chickhttp://pharmacychick.blogpharm.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-68319510864590472762010-03-12T00:10:24.248-05:002010-03-12T00:10:24.248-05:00Thank you for saying the same thing I did! I thoug...Thank you for saying the same thing I did! I thought it was the census info to fill out - no - it was the waste of money and time letter to tell me the form is coming - typical government wastedaniellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04460011312097894940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-86087677630078515512010-03-11T23:56:35.989-05:002010-03-11T23:56:35.989-05:00I'm counting a big household this year. By law...I'm counting a big household this year. By law, anyone living in my house on the morning of April 1st should be counted on my household census. So I'm counting my unofficial pseudo-foster kid, who (I guarantee you) would NOT otherwise be counted anywhere. I'm also counting two baseball players who live in the U.S. 9 months out of the year but travel all the time, who would not otherwise be counted.thegooddrlaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08435755211517374081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-13078027571174792982010-03-11T22:16:05.714-05:002010-03-11T22:16:05.714-05:00I was also surprised when I got that. WTF?I was also surprised when I got that. WTF?Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13564731989568599206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-78998972981248371712010-03-11T22:06:53.062-05:002010-03-11T22:06:53.062-05:00I also got the letter and had the same response. ...I also got the letter and had the same response. Maye there is some research to back up sending the letter, but I have to think that if one of those commercials or letters could direct you to a website that would allow you to fill out the damn form online, that would probably increase the response rate a whole heckuva lot more than the letter. Then and only then send the letter to those who have not responded yet...and then the form. I actually had someone also come to my house the other week JUST TO REMIND US that the Census was coming. Send me a link...want my e-mail address?!?! My guess is that yet another letter including the form will come in the mail and there will one of those 80's forms that you have to use #2 pencils on. I can see it now...given the state of the economy and tax revenues, there will be debates raging about hanging chads at town halls all over America!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-13544014775457390132010-03-11T21:40:43.047-05:002010-03-11T21:40:43.047-05:00I received the reminder letter at my apartment (a ...I received the reminder letter at my apartment (a temporary address) that was labeled "To Resident At ." I can't "Return To Sender" on that one. I'm actually moving within the next few days back to my permanent address. I will not be here when the Census arrives. I guess if someone else moves into my apartment, they can fill it out. *shrugs*<br /><br />Word Verification: inseloqu<br />It sounds need.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-36317957645654305032010-03-11T18:20:49.683-05:002010-03-11T18:20:49.683-05:00Like maggie, I don't remember if we got that r...Like maggie, I don't remember if we got that reminder letter or not.<br /><br />Our (short) Census form was hand delivered. After I filled it out, and mailed it in, the Census Taker (or another one) came back to ask about our mailing address. Our mailng address is a Post Office Box, and <b>NOT</b> our actual residence location. Mail is never delivered to our physical house.<br /><br />We also own the house next door. Nobody occupies that house, except our stuff. The Census Taker hung a Census Form on the door knob there. I filled out the number of occupants as 00 (that is ALL that I filled out on that form), and sent that one in as well. When the Census Taker came back asking about our mailing address, she said that I had done the correct thing for that house.<br /><br />First try WV reing -- Would that be re ing, or rein g?<br /><br />Second try WV polib -- is that liberation for Polish?<br /><br />RSDSRSDSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-33039310423187977242010-03-11T17:19:43.112-05:002010-03-11T17:19:43.112-05:00The Gov't already spent 300 mill on a TV spot ...The Gov't already spent 300 mill on a TV spot during the Superbowl advertisting the census. How much more could millions of flyers cost taxpayers?<br /><br />Pfffft... the fools...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-64714116258553676062010-03-11T16:07:14.770-05:002010-03-11T16:07:14.770-05:00Don't remember if I got the letter, but the ce...Don't remember if I got the letter, but the census form was HAND delivered earlier this week!maggienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-70669763146270107672010-03-11T14:43:12.180-05:002010-03-11T14:43:12.180-05:00I got the same letter and it was the correct addre...I got the same letter and it was the correct address but the wrong city!!Which city will be counting me. Our government at work!! Makes me question how well they will handle health care.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-34764017426356232332010-03-11T13:16:24.346-05:002010-03-11T13:16:24.346-05:00I agree it's a waste of money.I got the inane ...I agree it's a waste of money.I got the inane letter plus a census lady knocked on my door at 8:00 am Tuesday to remind me to fill out the form. So now we have TV spots, radio ads, billboards, letters, and workers coming to the door to remind you to fill out the form. I love government redundancy. But this lady was at least nice. 3 years ago, shortly after the birth of my son, my house was randomly chosen for a "voluntary" census. That woman was horrible. The first time I "met" her, she was lurking in my garage, didn't introduce herself, was wearing no ID, dressed in ratty denim shorts and a torn T shirt. When she started asking personal questions I told her she needed to leave. I was in shock when she finally introduced herself. She looked more like a homeless person than a government worker. I would have trusted the homeless more! After telling her I wouldn't be responding to the poll she was taking she left but returned almost daily and called daily - always waking up the baby i had struggled with for an hour to get to sleep. Morning and night this lady would call or drop by. Out of anger and pure frustration I continued to refuse to participate. She ended up asking my 15 year old to supply our income info. When he told her to not-so-kindly take a flying leap and i reported her to the census bureau for harassing behavior for a VOLUNTARY mini-census she finally stopped - after 3 months! It became a running joke on how many times she'd call or come by. Now any time I hear the word census I have a Pavlovian response and need xanax and BP medicine. Then I begin giggling uncontrollably. Beware of the "voluntary" census. I'll just stick with the q 10 year census and be happy. At least billboards don't drive me to near homicide. Anyway, what stranger lurks in someone's garage anyway?Chris Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03736983887503070576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-69847382861988232732010-03-11T13:11:14.163-05:002010-03-11T13:11:14.163-05:00Go you mitzi! Thanks for the citation!Go you mitzi! Thanks for the citation!OMDGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17937425894428802591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-44747407540791184652010-03-11T12:53:42.601-05:002010-03-11T12:53:42.601-05:00i received my letter and was very happy that it ap...i received my letter and was very happy that it appears the government is using an evidence-based protocol for census distribution.<br /><br />there is actually very good evidence that pre-notification significantly increases the response to mailed surveys. read the Cochrane Review abstract here: http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/mr000008.html<br /><br />"The odds of response were substantially higher with pre-notification (1.45; 95% CI 1.29 to 1.63; P < 0.00001, I2 = 89%)."mitzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13549851592098446559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-30187876632267374642010-03-11T12:52:45.183-05:002010-03-11T12:52:45.183-05:00This is just government doing what government does...This is just government doing what government does and sucking at it to boot. For all those of you who think its a good idea, I hope you get the long form.was1noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-6202866149882711372010-03-11T12:03:44.458-05:002010-03-11T12:03:44.458-05:00We've been laughing about that letter for a we...We've been laughing about that letter for a week now. <br /><br />There's probably some study stuck in some govt drawer that says that sending out two letters generates better response than just one.<br /><br />I certainly hope so, anyway.The Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15157821003454766570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-11593793446081175982010-03-11T11:28:33.576-05:002010-03-11T11:28:33.576-05:00My local news stated it cost Billions to send that...My local news stated it cost Billions to send that letter to Millions in the USA!! what a waste of our $$$$Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-88884457368602262472010-03-11T10:46:30.834-05:002010-03-11T10:46:30.834-05:00>>there is probably research to back up the ...>>there is probably research to back up the fact that response rates are higher if they send this sort of letter. And it probably cost less than attaching a $2 bill to every census, which is what we do in our department (there's a literature on that as well....).>><br /><br />Exactly. It's much cheaper for citizens to fill out and return the paper census form vs. the door-to-door in-person interviews planned for those who don't complete the mail-in census.<br /><br />Case in point: my SO received his census alert letter several days ago. It sat, unopened, in a huge pile of all mail that is not a check or a bill, until I told him what it was. He actually thought the letter was the census and was planning to fill it out "when he had a moment". Ha ha. Now he knows the census is coming next week and is planning to complete and return it immediately, because he does not want anyone from the government knocking on his door (just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you...).Outridernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-33461457600919061362010-03-11T10:35:43.015-05:002010-03-11T10:35:43.015-05:00Well, in a slightly different but also similar way...Well, in a slightly different but also similar way, I got a reminder to "hand in all illegal firearms before 1 April 2010" (at your friendly police department who would then know that you like having illegal stuff that are no mean feat to acquire).Pikkewynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06573283588413706212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-39994836997461656422010-03-11T10:21:52.046-05:002010-03-11T10:21:52.046-05:00I got that same letter on Monday. Thought the same...I got that same letter on Monday. Thought the same thing too. It was just like the letters for those stimulus checks a few years ago. <br /><br /><br />Don't tell me your going to send them, just SEND them!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-64560421088978869352010-03-11T10:12:34.714-05:002010-03-11T10:12:34.714-05:00Hate to be devil's advocate here, but there is...Hate to be devil's advocate here, but there is probably research to back up the fact that response rates are higher if they send this sort of letter. And it probably cost less than attaching a $2 bill to every census, which is what we do in our department (there's a literature on that as well....).<br /><br />On the other hand, since this IS a government agency, you're probably right that it was a waste.OMDGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17937425894428802591noreply@blogger.com