By Cline Calhoun, Eubank, Ky.
Dear Editor:
Lately there has been a lot of negative press from the media regarding supposed taxpayer money waste by the Census Bureau. I would like to come to their defense with two old sayings:
One: “Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes.”
I know firsthand that the Census employees are working very hard to accomplish a monstrous task within a short time frame.
These are not Washington bureaucrats; these are our friends and neighbors trying to do something that is vital for the overall benefit of our nation.
The number of our elected leaders and amount of federal support we receive is based upon their efforts.
Two: “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.”
It’s no fault of the Census Bureau that many of the respondents to Census employment ads do not follow through and quit after a day or so. Once they realize they will actually have to do something and use a little gray matter, they choose to return to the “free handout, welfare state of mind.”
However, the law requires they be paid for the hours they spend deciding they really don’t want to work after all.
So, if a Census worker knocks on your door, please show some respect – it’s simply a neighbor trying to make an honest dollar.
Cline Calhoun
Eubank, Ky.
