During the SuperBowl there was an ad for filling out the 2010 Census. The fiscal cheapo in me was outraged that our federal tax dollars were being spent on such an expensive television ad (directed by Christopher Guest whom I find very funny). I want to see more funny beer commercials of dudes freaking out over spilt beer or half naked godaddy girls. I don’t want a boring commercial about a government form that I know I should be filling out. Do I need an ad to tell me to file my taxes?
Then I googled around a bit and learned that there was a justification for this expensive ad… If an additional 1% of viewers completed their census, it would save $25-30 Million in followup costs. Ok… nice. I get it. BTW, how many SuperBowl viewers do you think WON’T complete their census?
I can accept the funny cost savings math, but I can’t accept the fact that the federal government is so backward that we have to complete our census on paper. Why not electronic? Their defense is security and hackers. Lame excuse given the fact that I just completed my personal property declaration online and I just finished reviewing all of my online banking and investment accounts via Mint.com.
There are so many ways to collect census data. Send each citizen/head of household a pin#. Designate a location where each person(s) can go to fill out their census’ online (voting locations, schools, Target). Or simply fill it out online at home. Offer a tax credit for completing it. I used the example of Target because in order to work at a Target, you have to fill out your application online.
The security argument does not hold water and as tax paying citizens we should demand a better way and more efficient way to get this done.
