The government is getting ever so closer to saying what it means. The message that it is sending is that we are too stupid to think for ourselves, better let the government do it for us.

Now, in deference to some individual policies, some government officials are trying to change that, but it's an uphill battle. Witness the attempt to privatize social security (in other words, trust us with our own money) as exhibit A.

What brought this on? Well, a visit from the US Census Bureau (WHAT? Census Bureau? It's only 2006) yesterday...but I'll get to that later. In addition to their letter threatening severe penalties if we didn't comply with their "voluntary" survey, they left a card. The new motto of the Bureau is "Helping you to make informed decisions".

The implication of this is clear: that, without government assistance, you, the individual, do not have the capacity to make informed decisions. And so we must do so for you. It is antithetical to the trust in the individual that is at the core of the Constitution.

I saw the card for the census bureau when I returned home yesterday, and my immediate, gut reaction was not to answer it. But I decided that it wouldn't be in my best interest to have legal action pending from the federal government while waging a campaign I hope to win. So, I answered it.

They made me feel like I'd won the publishers clearinghouse sweepstakes. My data, they reminded me, would represent more than 5,000 American households! Then they proceeded to ask me just about every question possible except my clothing size and the kind of car I drive. ALl of this information is readily available from other government sources, from the appraised value of our home (appraisal district) to my estimated annual income (IRS).

All of this so the government can make decisions for me. I feel warm all over.