Whose brainchild was this: Census 2010!?

Please bear with me … this has nothing to do with wine today …but I just can’t stop thinking of what kind of foolishness would result in something so stupid from a government body that talks about stopping waste … and then sends out something that is a complete waste. Here goes…..

Having just returned from a business trip, I needed to go through my mail. Now .. what do you think I found?

A letter addressed to “Resident at” and my address. So what was in the letter?

(contents)

“Dear Resident:

About a week from now, you will receive a 2010 Census form in the mail. When you receive your form, please fill it out and mail it in promptly.

Your response is important. Results from the 2010 Census will be used to help each community get its fair share of government funds for highways, schools, health facilities, and many other programs you and your neighbors need. Without a complete, accurate census, your community may not receive its fair share.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Groves

Director, U.S. Census Bureau”

Then in six languages “Go to 2010census.gov for help completing your 2010 census form when it arrives.”

OK … that’s great. I have no problem with the Census or filling out the form.

What I have an issue with is the stupidity of spending approximately $125 million (say 250 million letters at .02 for the paper, .o5 for the envelope and .43 for postage – conservative estimate) to send me a letter to tell me I am going to receive something in the mail (keep in mind that there are countless ads on the television right now as well as website doing the same thing at likely several additional millions of dollars). Why couldn’t this message have been sent with the Census itself?

Help me understand Census Bureau … what is the purpose of the letter? What did you think spending an additional $125,000,000 to send this out would accomplish?

Wouldn’t it be better to save $125,000,000 and instead distribute that to various states to provide a “fair share for highways, schools, health facilities, and many other programs”?

Certainly only a small amount, but at least a good start.

What did the letter accomplish? Absolutely nothing … no value whatsoever. What did it cost? Minimum $125,000,000 not counting labor.

For a country that is struggling to find ways to provide healthcare to its citizens, it sure seems like a dumb thing to do.

Sorry for the interruption .. back to wine next blog.