Well, Americans, our government has done it to us again.  Yet another example of how Washington insists on intruding in our lives.  The brazenness with which our politcians trounce on our freedoms and individuality is reprehensible.  What am I talking about?  I think it's all too clear.  Of course I'm talking about the 2010 census.

Last week, I -- like all other Americans -- received my 2010 census form in the mail.  Of course it was mixed in with two credit card offers, an advertisement for the weekly sale at Bi-Lo, and my monthly issue of "Sheep!" magazine.  The difference here is that I had the freedom to toss away the credit card offers and the advertisement.  (I'm keeping my magazine!  You never know when you'll need to use the latest techniques in power-sheering.)

What I'm fired up about is that our government requires us to fill out the census form.  They ask us 10 deeply personal questions such as "How many people live in this house?" and "What is your name?"  I mean, why does Washington need to know these things?  Next thing you know, they'll be asking us for our address!  Oh, it's coming.

Not only is the government intruding on our personal lives, but they're doing it wastefully.  It took 6 pages for the Dept of Commerce to ask these questions.  Question 1 asks how many people were living or staying in your home on April 1.  In case you lied in answering that question, our sneaky government comes back and asks the same thing again in Question 2:  "Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Question 1?"  Gotcha!

Since when does the government need to know these intimate details?  In my opinion, since never.  The real answer?  Since 1790 and every 10 years since.  Here is a copy of the 1930 census (click on it to see a larger view).



As you can see, they got so personal as to ask your Occupation, Marital Status, and Education.  The nerve!  If Michele Bachmann is refusing to fill out this census, just imagine how appalled she would be if she were living in 1930 rural America!  I know how I would feel if I were living in 1930 rural America.  I'd be grateful that I know the latest techniques in power-sheering a sheep.