Regarding the upcoming U.S. Census...

Suppose you suggest to a congressman that given our budget crisis, we could save some money by dispensing with the 2010 census. I guarantee you that he'll say something along the lines that the Constitution mandates a decennial counting of the American people and he would be absolutely right. Article I, Section 2 of our Constitution reads: 'The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.'

What purpose did the Constitution's framers have in mind ordering an enumeration or count of the American people every 10 years? The purpose of the headcount is to apportion the number of seats in the House of Representatives and derived from that, along with two senators from each state, the number of electors to the Electoral College.

The Census Bureau tells us that this year, it will use a shorter questionnaire, consisting of only 10 questions. From what I see, only one of them serves the constitutional purpose of enumeration -- namely, 'How many people were living or staying at this house, apartment or mobile home on April 1, 2010?' The Census Bureau's shorter questionnaire claim is deceptive at best. The American Community Survey, long form, that used to be sent to 1 in 6 households during the decennial count, is now being sent to many people every year.

Here's a brief sample of its questions, and I want someone to tell me which question serves the constitutional function of apportioning the number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives: Does this house, apartment, or mobile home have hot and cold running water, a flush toilet, a bathtub or shower, a sink with a faucet, a refrigerator, a stove? Last month, what was the cost of electricity for this house, apartment, or mobile home? How many times has this person been married?

After each question, the Bureau of the Census provides a statement of how the answer meets a federal need. I would prefer that they provide a statement of how answers to the questions meet the constitutional need as expressed in Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. ... Americans need to stand up to Washington's intrusion into our private lives. ... Unless a census taker can show me a constitutional requirement, the only information I plan to give are the number and names of the people in my household.

Economist Walter E. Williams

The Big Fix

• In violation of Article 1, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution, President Barack Obama has assumed complete control of the 2010 Census.
  
  
• In violation of Title 8 Section 1325 of the U.S. Code, Mr. Obama has ordered federal border patrol officials to scale down enforcement so that the Census will be artificially swollen by the influx of millions of illegal Latinos.
  
  
• Mr. Obama has adopted a further means to guarantee the outcome so that the redistribution will serve his agenda. A whopping $14 billion has been set aside for the Census. With this money, Mr. Obama has obtained the services of “Census partners” - - organizations that will assist the Commerce department in the head count. A lion’s share of the $14 billion has been set aside for a “community-based” organization that specializes in fraud and deceptive practices.

Why would Mr. Obama go to such extremes for the sake of the Census? The answer is simple. The tally will re-chart the political map of the country. It will determine which states gain seats in Congress and which ones lose them. It will divert billions in federal funds to states and cities with the greatest number of illegal aliens. And it will forever change the racial composition of the home of the free and the land of the brave.

OBAMA’S CENSUS WILL FOREVER CHANGE THE COURSE AND COMPLEXION OF MODERN AMERICA