Get Counted in Census 2010

For months now, you've been hearing it, reading about in your gas, phone, or water bills. I am talking about the 2010 population census count. It is March 1^st and we're finally going to get the forms that allow us to tell how many people live in our homes, and what services we will be provided with.

By the middle of this month, most Americans would have gotten this ten question form that helps determine how over $400 billion in federal fund will be distributed to various communities across the United States. As soon as you get your form, do not hesitate to fill it out and mail it back so that your family will be counted!

Why should I mail this back, you ask? In case you are not aware, census data impacts several things in our communities and state. For one, the numbers of seats our state gets in the House of Representatives depend on the number of people in our state. For instance, California currently has 53 members in the U.S House of Representatives. These are people who represent us in Congress along with our Senators. If you don't get counted, that number could change.

Next, data collected from the census count are used to determine how much federal money will be given to your state for infrastructure and services such as schools, hospitals, senior centers, emergency services, job training centers, and many other projects. The more people that are counted, the bigger the fund that will be allotted for these services. In other words, if we are not counted, then no money will be given on our behalf for these services. That will be a big loss, as we know we can't do without well-funded hospitals, schools, and the likes.

Another important benefit of filling out and mailing back the form is that the data gathered can be used to advocate for causes that are important to us. For instance, in a certain community, a large number of people who are visible via their census forms can attract certain politicians who would want favors. If this certain community comes out in mass and supports a politician, that politician would owe a favor to the community, giving them some sort of power to request for certain local services. However you look at it, census data only works for our benefits.

One of the reasons people shy away from census count is because they fear that this is a way to identify immigrants who may not have proper documentation. This is far from the facts. Your immigration status has nothing to do with the census count. It is a constitutional requirement that inhabitants of this nation should be counted every ten years, so that funds are re-distributed by the federal government according to numbers of people in an area.

So, when you get your form, please fill it out and mail it back promptly to ensure you are counted. Don't blame anyone but yourself if your community fails to get adequate funding due to inaccurate census count. Be a proud member of your community. Get counted!

Sources: www.census.gov