All money & politics aside. I see the census as a unique doccument. That lets our future generations see how we see our selves. Ever wonder how our past generations might have identified them selves (given the opportunity)? Say on the 1870 census. Right after the Civil War & the treaties of 1866. Would they have identified with their former "owners" as Cherokee, Muscogie etc? Given the time frame & the feelings towards Indians as well as freed blacks. I wonder which they would have chosen. Even though polliticly they had been admitted/adopted into the different tribes. But with our current ability to self declare our identity. We have a great opportunity to let those future generations understand us just that little better. By seeing how we see our selves.