Census Competition - Can You Beat Wisconsin?

Here's a cool interactive map that lets you see the census return percentage by state, county and even neighborhood. As of today, Wisconsin leads the states with 69 percent.

At 62 percent, Kentucky's return rate is above the national average of 56 percent, but the county breakdowns range from 73 percent in Hancock County to 38 percent in Wolfe and Bell Counties.

Compared to the seven states surrounding Kentucky, only Indiana currently has a better return rate - 64 percent to Kentucky's 62. C'mon, Kentucky - you gonna let Hoosiers beat you at answering 10 questions?

And you all in Wolfe and Bell Counties: are you finding this recession so peaceful and enjoyable that you're willing to lose millions in federal aid because you couldn't be bothered to be counted?

As Kai Wright explains in The Nation:

The stakes are high, though, and not just for national politics. Census data informs hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending. A presidential review board following the 2000 Census predicted New York City’s undercount would cost it $847 million. States draw local electoral districts with Census data. Cities figure out the number and distribution of City Council seats. Schools, community centers, bus lines - all this stuff’s impacted by Census data. And, frankly, it’s about something deeper: Who we are as a nation. The 2010 Census, if everyone gets counted, will no doubt reflect a dramatically different future for America - a nation that’s browner and more urban than ever.

Unless you've got a houseful, it won't take you even 10 minutes. It's a postage-paid envelope - you don't even have to find a stamp. Send it in.