Comments about ‘U.S. Census to Utah: LDS missionaries don't count’

Honestly..stop bein rediculous.

You mean to say that someone in Utah did not want the United States Government to count military base personnel within the borders of the United States of American? Am I reading that right?

There is a big difference between those who are living abroad indefinately and those who are living abroad for a short, very specific amount of time.

It is interesting that the government will continue to count military personnel but not missionaries. Missionaries can ber tracked very easily by having their parents count them as living at home. Older missionaries have to take care of filing income taxes, wouldn't don't they? In most caqses, social security checks are still beind deposited in US bank accounts. Almost all of the older ones still keep their homes, etc. in their home states--a far cry from those who sell everything and move in order to avoid taxes.

"Good!" as well as those who agree with this are missing a very big point.

If I live on Paris for 6 months to take some classes and then I return, I AM NOT FRENCH... I am still considered a US citizen.

The problem here is that people view religion as ridiculous. People ought to read into William James, one of the greatest early American philosophers.

Religion has just as much claim as scientific evidence if that evidence has no certainty. One cannot verify anything with empirical evidence if they have no way of being certain that their evidence is not being falsified or that the methods used to determine and calculate are flawed and they may not know it.

Religious thinkers and those that are not seem to always battle what they cannot win. People need to quit 'picking' on each other and work together.

This is simply an attack on religion.

Should separation of church and state exist if science can be just as inaccurate? If it can, then empirical determinations ought to be just as separated.

Our founding fathers wanted all beliefs to work together, the non-religious have lost their tolerance for the religious.

Those have been the rules for decades. And they apply equally to anyone living abroad.

What I am getting at is that if those who are not religious should quit dismissing those who are.

Missionaries from Utah are exactly that... they are from UTAH.

If they go on a -temporary- assignment somewhere then by that same definition they should be considered temporarily out of Utah. If one is only out of the state for a term (a planned term, at that) then they ought to still be counted as Utah'ns. It only attacks religion as there are plenty of more 'outrageous' claims which they'll accept.

I normally wouldn't be this aggressive in my statements but as for some reason people flock to these comment areas to argue over stupid things, I give my bit now.

Chaffetz represents his constituents better than most. Get a clue ... and a life!

Parents should just include the missionary on the census form as if he/she was in residence. No one will check on them and no one will know. It's just an extention of don't ask/don't tell!

This whole debate is pointless. The government made a decision, so just deal with it.

The entire census operation has been moved to the White House for POLITICAL reasons. Think about not counting the missionaries who are US Citizens! It is to the advanatage of the Democrats not to count them. Consider the source - who is in charge of the census operation?

Military personel "live abroad" for more than two years at a time. They get to choose which state to claim residency too and file federal and state taxes accordingly.

Missionaries still have to file federal and state tax returns while on their mission. I think this is just a ploy to keep Utah from getting another voice and vote in the House by discriminating against non-military personel.

If you have to file taxes, you should count in the census. No taxation without representation!!! Remember that from the Revolution that founded this nation?!

Not all missionaries are from Utah. How many are we actually talking about. I think churches actually get a lot of benefits from the government. I believe that churches that are in business endeavors actually need to pay income taxes on the profits. Some churches are more in the mode of making profit than caring for the needy, etc.

This is clearly a political decision. The White House knows that any seats Utah picks up will likely be Republican. On the other had, they plan to count illegals who should not be counted for purposes of congressional seat apportionment. That's likely to help Democrats. It's a clearly political decision.

Missionaries living overseas and who are not counted in the census make up a relatively small number when compared with the 12 or more million illegal aliens who are counted in the census in every state.

By including illegal aliens, the U.S. government actually grants non-citizens representation in Congress.

How many extra U.S. Representatives do California, Texas, Arizona and other states with large numbers of illegal aliens have because their non-citizens are counted and why aren't Utah's elected leaders addressing this issue?

Do missionaries who live outside of Utah like in Ohio, get counted in that state or can they say Utah?

Chaffetz DOES represent well only the rednecks in Utah county and those who in an ignorant way voted "Republican" period. Althought an independent, I consider myself pro-Republican and voted so, minus that radical Mr. Chaffetz. "Good" is right: We don't need another self-promoting, video blogging congressman like Chaffetz. With that said, it's unfortunate that missionaries who are from Utah and whose financial support comes from their families or their personal bank account from Utah do not count. There is only one more option: Utah, let's return to the old practice of having 10 children per family!
... Just kidding!

This is not about religion. I lived outside of the U.S. with my family during the last census and no one ever counted us. Moreover, I didn't need any representation by Utah congressmen. Why should Mormon missionaries be different from the millions of others out there?

It is interesting how so many people unfamiliar with what missionaries do have to way in on the side of "hot Air and propaganda." This has nothing to do with religion of any kind. It has to do with counting the number of U.S. Citizens, who are living overseas and are qualified to vote by absentee ballots, even though they reside in a foreign country. If they are qualified to vote, they qualify to be counted in the census. It has nothing to do with any religion. My wife and I lived in Mexico for two years, and could still vote. So many slanted opinions from those who enjoy the fruits of those who sacrificed to build and establish this state and chose to criticize those who made life a little easier for them.

It is very easy to count the missionaries from Utah living abroad. Just ask the LDS chruch. They keep very good recorda.

Typical government logic.....I still haven't figured out why some lady came knocking at my door from the census bureau and only wanted my address. What the heck was that about?? It's not even 2010!