COUNT ME IN
Sat., January 16, 12:45 PM
This morning, right after the news, I heard the first discussion of the 2010 census. It isn’t new to me; I filled out my first census form in 1960, when I was in college. I have a specific question in mind, which was not answered on this news program. Though the local director did not mention it, there is a web site. Like most government web sites, it means well, but it needs some refining. Oh, by the way, the web site doesn’t really answer my question either.
There is, however, a copy of the questionnaire, although it cannot be submitted online. The material is mailed to an address — not to any individual — and must be returned by mail. If forms are not returned by the specified date (April Fool’s Day, I think), census workers go into the community to get the required information.
Even though the national count is conducted every ten years, the Bureau of the Census is busy all the time. Sample surveys may be conducted for other departments. For a time, our address was the one being used to collect information for the Department of Transportation. That was in the 1970’s. I’m not sure what they learned. Necessary Improvements to the interstate develop very slowly. The railroad station is finally being built, and it ought to be ready by 2012. “The mills grind slowly…”
The questionnaires change from census to census. In 1790, the first national census, they had to count women and slaves, even though those people weren’t officially people. (I was kind of surprised when I learned that the census went back that far, until I realized that how else do you determine how many will be in the House of Representatives. Of course.) I haven’t heard one word about POSSLQ’s* this time. I think the 2000 census put an emphasis on counting people who don’t have addresses.
I am reminded of the instructions that went with the 1960 form. Since the question specifically asks who is living at that address on a given date — and we were living in a college dorm — we were to list ourselves as children living with a guardian. We asked the housemother (now called resident counselors or something) whether that meant we could call her Mom.
Nothing that I know addresses the question I have had in mind for some time, although the college thing may be close. Every time I do an online questionnaire that asks how many people are in my household, I have to ask myself whether to count Husband. And if I don’t count him, are we married or separated? We are not legally separated, even though we no longer live at the same place. I am just as responsible for his bills as I have been for the last forty-one years. Since an online survey doesn’t go into detail, I often count him. If I say that two people live here and that I am married, it paints a picture of an entirely different household!
Connecticut being in the economic condition that it is, with lots of people leaving in disgust, we may well lose a member of the House. (We lost one after the last census.) But ten years ago we had two strong senators, giving us seniority and a certain amount of clout in the Senate. That is disappearing too. After nearly seventy years, I am beginning to think that maybe I should leave too.
Meanwhile, of course, I shall fill in that form and return it promptly. Because, at the very least, I need to be counted — as an adult, as a senior citizen, as a woman. Thank you very much, those are all the questions we have for you at this time.
*POSSLQ — Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters. It sounded silly enough that Charles Osgood wrote a poem about it.
Come live with me and be my love,
And we will some new pleasures prove
Of golden sands and crystal brooks
With silken lines, and silver hooks.
There's nothing that I wouldn't do
If you would be my POSSLQ.
You live with me, and I with you,
And you will be my POSSLQ.
I'll be your friend and so much more;
That's what a POSSLQ is for.
And everything we will confess;
Yes, even to the IRS.
Some day on what we both may earn,
Perhaps we'll file a joint return.
You'll share my pad, my taxes, joint;
You'll share my life - up to a point!
And that you'll be so glad to do,
Because you'll be my POSSLQ.
Apologies, of course, to John Donne.
