Letter: Long version of census a waste of time, money

Monday, April 3, 2000 | 8:42 a.m.

Many Americans -- and rightly so -- are objecting to this expanded Big Brother intrusion into their personal lives. But those not responding fully to the survey are subject to repeated follow-ups by census takers (and a possible $100 fine). Approximately half a million clipboard recruits will begin knocking on doors late this month to collect missing information, the effort continuing through early July.

A longtime friend called me recently after he had researched the cost of the first census in 1790. His findings: The first census cost 11 cents to tally 10 people. (Yes, we know today's dollar is but a shadow of its 1790 counterpart, still ...) This year, for every 10 people counted, it would cost over $164! Maybe for 2010, we should put the census crew back on horseback and equip them with quill pens!

FRANK M. PELTESON

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