Our Valuable Health Information

The Census Bureau really wanted to talk to us.

A few weeks ago, we received a packet in the mail from them saying that we'd been selected to participate in a health survey. The information collected in these surveys is vital to gaining valuable information to help the government decide how to allocate its health education funding. Blah, Blah, Blah.

We decided we did not want to participate. Frankly, I think it's a waste of government money - first in gathering the data and then in disbursing funds for health education. Plus, I just didn't want to give a government agency my family's health information.

According to the letter, we had until the next Tuesday to inform their office that we wouldn't be participating.

Well, on Monday afternoon, we were visited by a Census Bureau representative. Dave respectfully but firmly told her we would not be participating. She responded in kind, but warned us that someone would probably contact us again.

We were away for a few days, but when we returned their was a packet from FedEx on our porch. Inside, there was a xeroxed booklet informing us how valuable the data from these surveys is. And a pen. As in, "Oh, good, now that I have a pen I can fill out the survey!" The next day, we received another FedEx packet with the same booklet and a refrigerator magnet. That afternoon, we received a visit from a different person from the Census Bureau. He received the same answer from us. The next day, another Census Bureau official arrived. We did not back down.

Did I mention that the Census Bureau office is 1 1/2 hours away. So, we had 3 visitors, clocking a total of 9 hours in car time (and mileage) to see us. Plus, 2 FedEx packets. And a pen and a refrigerator magnet. How much did all of that cost?

Yes, it would have been simpler to just answer their hour-long survey. But, we have valid reasons for not participating, and they could have found them out from a phone call. Plus, after all of the crummy bills that the president and congress are ramming down our throats, I just wasn't in the mood to cooperate with the government.