Savage Pacer - Story - Comments

The sailors I knew didn’t

1ScottRep — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:09:04 -0500

The sailors I knew didn’t run out of money until they had exhausted all the moneys they could beg or borrow from their shipmates! Sound familiar?

Remember the census is

Robert Thibodeaux — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:30:51 -0500

Remember the census is governed by both the Constitution and Title 13 of US Code.

Refusing to answer questions about "population, housing, and matters relating to population and housing" can result in a $100 fine.

Lying on the form can result in a $500 fine.

And as I pointed out in my article - the problem is not with the census, but with the Politicians who use the US printing press as a credit card to was our children's children's money.

As an old Navy Friend said: "I am tired of people saying they are spending money like drunk sailors - I was a sailor, when I ran out of money, I stopped spending!"

I am not going to fill in my

gabrielle0026 — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:27:18 -0500

I am not going to fill in my name and date of birth on the form. I will only indicate the number of people living at my address. The Constitution allows for an "enumeration" to be conducted every 10 years. I've also heard that if you refuse to answer a census worker's questions, they will start going to your neighbors to get the answers. How is that any different than lying on the form. How many of your neighbors know your date of birth or how far you drive to work everyday (one of the questions on the long form)? People would be much more willing to cooperate with this survey if all they were asking for were number of occupants and not all of this other very personal and invasive information. They also claim that this information will not be given to any other agency such as Immigration or other law enforcement, but does anyone else remember during WWII that the Census helped the US Govt round up anyone of Japanese descent by providing results of the last census???

Great story! Time spent

Deena — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:12:18 -0500

Great story! Time spent volunteering is often some of the best time spent!

My Census form is in the

Nancy Huddleston — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:38:00 -0500

My Census form is in the mail. And I'm happy to report that there was a reference to why the census is important in the introductory letter...specifically the second paragraph, second sentence -- "Census results are used to decide the number of representatives each state has in the U.S. Congress."
And as to your Michelle Bachman reference to me asking about what happens if you don't fill it out -- I am offended! I am a journalist who asks questions like that every day as a part of my job! It is a legitimate question to ask in the context of the original information. What's more, the Census Bureau is not doing a very good job communicating with its TV ads, which adds to the confusion.
As to new citizens retaining specific information as to the purpose of the census -- yeah right! Do you remember stuff just because it was on a test? We all need a refresher, which goes back to one of my original beefs -- it is with the way the Census has been projected by the government in the TV ads. It's just plain dumb. Straightforward ads telling folks of the importance would have been much better!

Syd Gross I didn't say you

Syd Gross — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:52:03 -0500

Syd Gross I didn't say you should be embarrassed. It was I who was - Amongst other things you raised the question of what happens if you don't answer the ten questions. Why would you raise that issue if you were not suggesting that perhaps one should not ala Michelle Bachman. Nancy, do you really think that a reference to the original reason for the census would influence new citizens of the need to fill out the form? Presumably as new citizens they learned that fact when studying to be citizens. In my mind it was clear that R.T. was advocating a return to the original intent for the census. your reply certainly did not defend or encourage the census taking for the 50 some reasons it is needed - at least too my mind. Oops, I have got to quit.My census form just arrrived and I want to fill it out in its entirety and return it asap. Syd

I'm not embarassed by the

Nancy Huddleston — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:36:00 -0500

I'm not embarassed by the exchange -- I was soliticting more information from a Community Voices columnist and using the information I received as a reference point -- that's all. Furthermore, I was not questioning the need for the Census; rather I was questioning the message from the U.S. Census Bureau, which seemed to be contrary to the information that Robert had relayed in his column. I guess I expected the U.S. Census Bureau to mix a little history in with its message, especially since it is trying to get new citizens to fill out the forms.

Syd Gross - I read with

Syd Gross — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:01:16 -0500

Syd Gross - I read with considerable interest and some embarrassment the exchange between our editor and the 18th century relic, R.T., who I presume will next advocate that the census be taken by U.S. Marshalls on horseback, since that is the way they conducted the census in the 1800's. For our editor, who is dedicated to the obtaining of facts for the purpose of disseminating information to inform the public, to question the need and rational for a census beyond the purpose set forth in the constitution is beyond belief. At the time of the first census we had a population of nearly 4 million persons. Now we have a population of 320 million. The need to inform our diverse population of the importance of filling out the census forms is greater than ever. What you may think is stupid may be enlightening to half the population of Minneapolis and St. Paul, who otherwise may be uninformed about the census. If these commercials are stupid, what do you think of some of the Republican and conservative organization ads? In 2000 our government had to hire 500,000 people to follow up with home calls because so many people did not fill out the forms. If a 30 cent letter will reduce that number of calls we will be saving money by sending the letter. Our editor appears to take offense at the fact the letter did not mention the constitutional mandate for a census. Any middle school student could tell her that fact. Is it so erroneous for our government to assume that we know the original purpose for the census? The editor and R.T. appear to question the authenticity of a census questionnaire asking relevant questions to provide data for commerce, schools, businesses etc. How can we function as a society if we don't have information such as that supplied through the census. I guess some people are frightened by the fact that if we have intelligent information to act upon we are better able to form reasonable judgments which might enable us to live a better life than we had in the late 1800s.

With all the bad stories we

Kerry H — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:45:43 -0600

With all the bad stories we seem to hear about young people it is refreshing and uplifting to read this. What a great story! To Kaylee's parents: Be proud of the job you did raising your daughter! Kaylee: Thank you for being such a good person. This is a wonderful story.

(Author - please fix the misspelled word in the title)

But ... Savage Public Works

Nancy Huddleston — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:13:29 -0600

But ... Savage Public Works Director John Powell is telling us that an announcement is expected "within the next week or so." And "as stated at meetings, Savage will communicate how Savage/Burnsville has responded to customer concerns prior to re-opening the interconnect."

So, there should be news soon; but the interconnect's opening is not tied to the news of what's next!

The Star Tribune is

Nancy Huddleston — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:54:22 -0600

The Star Tribune is reporting the interconnect will be open next week: http://www.startribune.com/local/south/87297822.html?elr=KArks:DCiUocOaL...

We'll check in with the city -- for updates read this weekend's Pacer.

Sen. Sharon Erickson Ropes

shawn hogendorf — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:38:22 -0600

Sen. Sharon Erickson Ropes of Winona will introduce Senate bill 3147, to the Senate tonight, which would ammend the current statute.
The proposed bill would call for the 2008 statute to be amended to read that the chiropractic board may not grant a chiropractic license to a felony-level sex offender. The proposed bill would also call for the immediate revocation of a chiropractic license if the person is convicted of a felony-level sexual offense.
Track the bill's progress at www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/bills/billinf.php?ls=86.
Enter the bill number, 3147, on the left hand side of the screen and click on the links to find out what the status of the bill is and to listen or view an archive of tonight's discussion in St. Paul.

Good column and a haunting

roea — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:23:14 -0600

Good column and a haunting question. We have all been places where we thought about stepping in, but weren't sure. Where is the line? When is it appropriate? Is it really my business? Is it safe? Will I make it worse? Is there some way to do something indirectly that would diffuse the situation? The extremes may be easier than gray areas.

Just a few weeks ago in a restaurant I saw a father order a meal for his young son and then leave him. He went out for a cigarette, spoke on the cell phone, talked to his buddies in the kitchen, went back outside, and totally left his son to eat alone. His four or five year old son sat quietly and colored, then ate his chicken fingers all alone. Dad’s only comments as he occasionally passed the table were about making a mess or eating too slowly. When Dad finally returned to pay the bill, I told him what a sweet, well behaved young man he had. He glared at me and growled, “Do you want him?” I tried to imagine some scenario to excuse that comment. Day care issues? Personal issues from those phone calls? Who knows, someone may have just died. I hoped this was just a bad day, and not normal. But that comment cut to the quick. I wanted to say “Yes, I’ll take him and enjoy that great smile, help him color his placemat, and talk to him as we eat lunch.” But I was an outsider, passing the table, so I just tried to lighten the comment. “Sure. Anytime. He is a beautiful boy.” There was no violence, no neglect, just an indifference that still saddens me.

Last night, David Letterman

merynfluker — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:00:41 -0600

Last night, David Letterman had some fun at Burkett's expense: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SrZrqLXJW8&feature=player_embedded

She earned it.

My letter said there would

Nancy Huddleston — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:45:39 -0600

My letter said there would be "about 10 questions," so I'm guessing we'll receive the short form? I know we've filled out Census forms in the past, I just don't remember all the hype about having to fill it out or people in my community will go without this, that or the other thing. And I agree with you -- those commercials are stupid. If they are trying to make you aware of the census by putting out annoying commercials .... Mission Accomplished!