It simply seems a waste if nothing is done with the data. For example, if we find out an area is 25% illegal alien, why are those folks there longer than 10 minutes after the data is correlated?
So I'm not against collecting the data. But I'd sure like is used to actually do the nation some good.
Instead, it seems to be used to generate even more government programs that wouldn't even be needed in the first place if folks simply held up their own end of the social contract, instead of passing the bill on to those who always get the bill.
Like I've said before, I don't mind helping my fellow man. I simply want to look the person in the eye and make sure they are taking the well known steps to make sure they don't stay where they are on the ladder, and are using what I give wisely.
I really don't trust a bureaucracy to look out for my interests as well as the interests of the ones needing help, or the bureaucracy. It seems perpetuating the bureaucracy comes first, then helping the client, and finally looking out for the taxpayers who are actually paying the bill MAY be an added on idea that if there is time, they'll get to it.
IIRC, the whole idea of the census was for determining how many members of the house a state got. The house represents based on population and each state gets two seats in the senate.
So there are states that may only have one member of the house, but two senators. Other states have dozens in the house, but again only two senators.
That's pretty much the only reason we need to have a census, to make sure that there is appropriate representation in the house of representatives.