Census, Urgency and Accountabillity

Today, I completed the 2010 Census. In ink. In 2010. I read the form about 6 times searching for the web site to complete the Census, the 2010 Census. After I completed the demographic information about the 3 people who inhabit my personal space every day, I was prepared to answer additional questions. According to http://www.census.gov/ (who has a Facebook page and a Blog) the census impacts: People and Households and Business and Industry, by forecasting the populations future needs. This caused me to question how the government or any person for that matter can determine my specific community needs based on my age, gender and ethnicity? I anticipated questions about education and/or employment or career information. Apparently Education will not allow strategic development of appropriate services in neighborhoods. Employment experience would not provide valuable forecasting information about the skills and expertise of a city. In my head echoed voices from my childhood of people in my African American community that said the Census equated to Big Brother knowing your business.

These voices were followed by the Census commercials, which budget estimates place at costing $140 MILLION (http://2010.census.gov/news/pdf/advertising_budget.pdf) telling Americans that the Census would help identify where new schools and jobs were needed. As soon as I thought about the government helping households and industry I thought, what would someone believe my house required. Consisting of a 29 Year-old African American/Black or Negro woman with a 4 year old African American daughter and her 23 Year-old African American brother; Single Black-female, 1 black female of a single parent household, 1 creepy Uncle in the backroom. Who determines what my community receives? Someone who views my Census responses stereotypically?

• Welfare District Budget and Re-Assignment Activities
• Low-Income Childcare Services
• Free-Low Income Health Services
• Increased Small Business Loans Earmarked for Bars, Deli's (specializing in 40 oz. beers), etc.
• Introduction of Half-way Houses and Offender Services

Or will some of the services that are truly beneficial to my household result from my participation in the Census?

• Operating Recreation Center
• Creative Arts School for a 4 year old who is claiming she will be the First Female President that is also a Professional Ballerina.
• Library's, Supermarkets, Public Transportation Routes, etc.
• Jobs
• Access to Small Business Loans
• Student Grant Allowances

As I thought if this it reminded me of what a close friend who will remain nameless (for now) said a few days earlier. She asked, 'Where are all the people who maintain the streets and beautification in the cities nicer neighborhoods'. I looked at her and said, 'It's us'. She looked utterly surprised and I can understand why, our parents and grandparents maintained the neighborhood. Early in the morning the adults got up and maintained their homes and their neighbors homes; during the week and on weekends. Entire families tackled seasonal maintenance on coordinated days throughout the year. The entire community pitched in an collectively took responsibility for their community.

Lacking in our society on so many instances is a lack of accountability to home and family and business and industry. Providing developmental services and not poverty enabling and sustaining programs would re-introduce the values of individual, community values. Values coupled with accountability can lead to developmental opportunities which can lead to the straightening of communities at a grassroots level that with resound in the strengthening of America's workforce. In 2000, the United States Census Bureau employed over 800,000 Americans, the 2010 employment figures have not been finalized, however the anticipated number will top the 2000 figure.

Because the 2010 Census can impact the financial stability of over 800,000 American households directly, so can the decisions made from the responses of Millions of American families. But in addition, if the government fails to provide for a communities needs, that the individuals, households, business and industries living, playing and earning within those communities maintain its wealth of inherently specific human capital.