The Census

The Census

May 3, 2000

I just had a deep spiritual experience with the census. people who
consider strategies of civil disobedience in this matter may wish to give
my experience some consideration. Perhaps there is something about the
respect for facts in our era of "reality is illusion." Or perhaps new
math.

After having sent my form in after April 1 ( thus not joining the 34% of
Americans who at government behest perjured themselves by sending it in
before the count date ), I was visited by a census worker while baby
sitting for a neighbor. The censor explained to me that people were being
counted --such as me-- by her because the forms sent in after April 1
would not be processed in time for the workers to go out. In other words
the government was paying and sending out these workers because it had not
processed those citizens who were sending in accurate information as tyhey
were told--and never would. (They are, she said, junked if a censor
visits, let alone actually talks to you. ) It had in fact no intention to.
When I brought this to the attention of the censor, she said "Oh, sir,
they just want people to send them out before for the paperwork flow."

She then officiously asked confusing questions, mixed up forms, mixed up
apartments, became ill tempered (not with me, but the forms, which clearly
were a bit much for her) , and would not correct clearly erroneous
information--saying " Well, it doesn't matter, but it's what I get for not
learning how to do this like they said, but no one seemed to be able to
answer questions during training, so you know...." When I asked what she
meant, she revealed "Well, at least I'm knocking on the doors and not just
writing it in. Besides, the supervisors adjust the figures for mistakes,
so as long as we have a name and number to verify if they don't like the
information (!) it doesn't matter."

I answered her mixed up questions literally. She declined my offer to fill
out the forms again. She would do it, that was her job. She then left
having, as far as I can determine:

*Counted me in the wrong apartment
*Not counted my son
*Not asked about the rest of my family
*Not actually determined where I was living April 1.
*Counted my deceased mother in my adjoining apartment, blessed be her memory.
*Counted my Canadian neighbor who was not here on April 1 anyway
*Counted my neighbor, recently deceased, may he rest in peace.
*Put medown as a Spanish citizen
*Put me down as black
*Reversed my name, so I will probably be double counted after all, which, when the records are unsealed in 75 years, will begin my reputation, I am sure, as a miracle worker who could be several places at once. This is how religious cults begin. The cult of MG. You read it here first. *Did not count the person for whom I was babysitting, or make arrangements to come back
Did not put down my phone as it was not in my neighbor's apartment--you know, in
case the supervisor "doesn't like the information."
*Put my mother down as my age, from which I am sure wherever she is she will feel vindicated in her dedicated use of Natural Beauty treatments and Vitamin E.

I do not criticize. In fact, this is a marked improvement over 20 years
ago, when my neighbor, a censor assigned to "just sorta count" homeless
people in NYC, scrupulously counted people he saw on TV soap operas as we
played gin rummy and munched on corned beef, coffee and bagels at my
apartment

Many people have asked why I do not engage in civil disobedience in the
census. I have become convinced over the years that fanatic, literal,
unimaginative and strict civil obedience would, if widely practiced, bring
many evils to a halt or at least gradual exposure; and is the last thing
the system is designed to handle. Events such as these convince me that
there is some wisdom in this view.

Wonder how mom will vote next year?

Best Regards,

MG
(Michael Gilson De Lemos)

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