Kurt Ullman wrote:
> In article ,
>  "Mac Breck"  wrote:
> 
>> Elko T wrote:
>>> Mac Breck wrote:
>>>> Dan Dassow wrote:
>>>>> On Mar 13, 12:59 pm, Stefan  wrote:
>>>>>> On 10 Mrz., 01:59, deneb...{at}deepthot.org (Jay
Denebeim) wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> We seem to have had a major database crash in
the user database.
>>>>>>> I'm very sorry about that. People might have
to re-join the
>>>>>>> newsgroup. First time in several years that
happened. It seems
>>>>>>> like we've been down since the 4th.
>>>>>>> Jay
>>>>>> Hey Jay,
>>>>>> that's not a delurk-rastb5m-census, isn't it?
>>>>>> Ste ;-) fan
>>>>>>
>>>>> I doubt it. The Census Bureau will not be sending out
census forms
>>>>> until next week. :-)
>>>> Why did the Census Bureau send me a letter (1 sheet of paper, 1
>>>> envelope and postage.) just to say that they'd be sending out the
>>>> forms in a week?  Why not just send out the forms?  It's not like I
>>>> was waiting for the forms and was going to check on why they hadn't
>>>> arrived yet.
>>>      To warn you. Lest you suffer the consequences of pleasant or
>>> unpleasant surprise, when the actual forms arrive. And then sue the
>>> Census Bureau for damages - that will not do. Censusee forewarned -
>>> Bureau forearmed.
>> Warn me?  Zzzzzzz.
>>
>> It's idiotic government waste.
> 
>      Probably, but the REAL idiocy is those dumb commercials.
> 

For us, maybe.  However, sending out a heads-up notice will be less 
expensive (and yes, I've seen an estimate of about $52 million for the 
advertising campaign, so that's not cheap), than sending out paid 
workers to follow-up on all of those people who will think that the 
actual census form is junk mail (and it's not, so don't get started on 
that discussion).

You really do have to do a blitz campaign on things like this.  Yes, 
there will still be people who are blissfully (or willfully) unaware 
that the census is occurring (how many people know someone who said, 
"Oh, is Avatar in the theaters now?").  Even if this advance mailing 
irritates those of use in the upper intellectual and perceptual 
range--and that's all of us here, of course!--the greater public good is 
served.

Blair
--- SBBSecho 2.12-Win32