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US rural people tend to trust the government less, so I could definitely see them getting undercounted. The census should really have an option for refusers th

US rural people tend to trust the government less, so I could definitely see them getting undercounted. The census should really have an option for refusers that collects an absolute minimum of information. The Constitution only asks that people be counted, not that they be broken down into categories. At least it's just the short form now. Prior to 2010, one out of six people got the long form, which had ten pages of questions for each person in the household. Here's a pdf: https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/programs-surveys/decennial/technical-documentation/questionnaires/2000_long_form.pdf https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/programs-surveys/d...

Braxton1980 2y ago
I believe the long form survey you are talking about is the acs survey If you receive it you are legally required to respond. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/top-questions-about-the-survey.html https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/top-questi... Considering cenus data is used to determine representation numbers just counting people could lead inflated numbers if that information can't be verified.
- DennisP 2y ago
  It used to be a "long form" every ten years, now it's the ACS every year.[1] I didn't realize until now that they'd continued the long form in another, um, form. Technically you're required to respond, with a fine of $100 per question if you don't (with 50 questions). However, in the past half century the government has not prosecuted or fined anyone for failing to respond.[2] [1] https://www.prb.org/resources/continuity-and-change-in-the-u-s-decennial-census/ https://www.prb.org/resources/continuity-and-change-in-the-u... [2] https://www.easidemographics.com/web/do-i-have-to-complete-the-american-community-survey-acs https://www.easidemographics.com/web/do-i-have-to-complete-t...
Braxton1980 2y ago
>US rural people tend to trust the government less, so I could definitely see them getting undercounted Isn't this more complex? Do they mistrust the census bureau? I say this because their mistrust seems to ignore politicians who align with their views. The same people who control the government. For example ask a rural person if they trust "Ron Desantis" or "Greg Abbott"
- saulpw 2y ago
  I'm currently reading The Art of Not Being Governed by James C Scott, which is all about how "hill people" the world over have much in common with each other: like illiteracy, oral traditions, living in difficult geographies, frequent moving, different names for the same geographic features--these "uncivilized" traits deliberately obfuscate themselves and make it more difficult to be found, counted, assessed, taxed, conscripted, and in general forced into submission/subservience to the state they are co-located in. "Rural" doesn't quite cover this group, but certainly has overlap with it.
mmooss 2y ago
> US rural people tend to trust the government less I'm not sure of that at all. Cities have many poeple who are members of black and brown minorities, unpopular religions, undocumented people, and immigrants - those are groups that might prefer to avoid government attention and often are very suspicious.

Braxton1980 2y ago

I believe the long form survey you are talking about is the acs survey If you receive it you are legally required to respond. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/top-questions-about-the-survey.html https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/top-questi... Considering cenus data is used to determine representation numbers just counting people could lead inflated numbers if that information can't be verified.

DennisP 2y ago
It used to be a "long form" every ten years, now it's the ACS every year.[1] I didn't realize until now that they'd continued the long form in another, um, form. Technically you're required to respond, with a fine of $100 per question if you don't (with 50 questions). However, in the past half century the government has not prosecuted or fined anyone for failing to respond.[2] [1] https://www.prb.org/resources/continuity-and-change-in-the-u-s-decennial-census/ https://www.prb.org/resources/continuity-and-change-in-the-u... [2] https://www.easidemographics.com/web/do-i-have-to-complete-the-american-community-survey-acs https://www.easidemographics.com/web/do-i-have-to-complete-t...

Braxton1980 2y ago

>US rural people tend to trust the government less, so I could definitely see them getting undercounted Isn't this more complex? Do they mistrust the census bureau? I say this because their mistrust seems to ignore politicians who align with their views. The same people who control the government. For example ask a rural person if they trust "Ron Desantis" or "Greg Abbott"

saulpw 2y ago
I'm currently reading The Art of Not Being Governed by James C Scott, which is all about how "hill people" the world over have much in common with each other: like illiteracy, oral traditions, living in difficult geographies, frequent moving, different names for the same geographic features--these "uncivilized" traits deliberately obfuscate themselves and make it more difficult to be found, counted, assessed, taxed, conscripted, and in general forced into submission/subservience to the state they are co-located in. "Rural" doesn't quite cover this group, but certainly has overlap with it.

mmooss 2y ago

> US rural people tend to trust the government less I'm not sure of that at all. Cities have many poeple who are members of black and brown minorities, unpopular religions, undocumented people, and immigrants - those are groups that might prefer to avoid government attention and often are very suspicious.