2010 Census

First, I am not going to get all political or righteous or whatever regarding the census itself. I plan to fill out the basics of what is required and no more, and do my part. I also pay my taxes and obey laws (well, say 95% of them–I may do 5-7 miles over the speed limit from time to time). Wait. That’s not the point of this post.

The point of this post is to gripe. Yesterday, I received a letter in the mail regarding the census. In looking at the envelope, I figured it was the questionnaire that has been promised in oh-so-many TV commercial jingles. So, as I do all my mail, I open it. What do I find? A letter, printed on paper (of course) stating that in about a week I would receive my census document(s). Wait. What?

If I have this correct, I just received a letter that told me I was going to receive a letter. Does anyone else think this is completely freakin’ asinine?

How much (of my tax!) money was spent writing, producing, and shipping a letter to let me know that I would soon receive a letter? How much paper was used on the letter & envelope–presumably to hundreds of millions of people? According to the interwebs (which are never wrong, of course), 1 ream (500 sheets) of paper uses about 6% of a tree. So, somewhat conservatively, let’s says 100 million households in the US. 100m / 500 = 200,000 reams of paper. 200k * 6% of a tree = 12,000 trees. Really? This was necessary? I think it’s just plain stupid and ridiculously wasteful, and when it comes right down to it, sad for the repercussions imposed on future generations.

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