From (original) Poster 188: Knock on wood, the phone calls seem to have stopped. Are you willing to roll the dice that this information will remain protected? Opponents of the American Community Survey disagree with the court's findings about its constitutionality. The judge summarized that general statements made by the Census Bureau with regard to, say, the support of federal law or that taking the ACS was required by U.S. law fall short of the benchmark necessary to constitute a specific threat of prosecution. An official website of the United States government . An official website of the United States government. I was truthful in all 10 short form answers. "I'm afraid my trees are eating the elephants, now." When approached by census officials I will state that my religious beliefs prohibit giving any information beyond my name and the number of people in my house. The census person came back by a week later. I could not believe my eyes! You can't actually expect all of the decisions to be made accurately and take into account the needs at the consumer level based on a head county every 10 years. I am one who is living this nightmare: the letters, the phone calls, the personal visits, day in and day out, month after month. The Legal Accountability Project is a nonprofit aimed at ensuring that as many law . The census worker also tried to "bait" me into giving false answers by saying "just answer the question anyway you like even if it's not true." But it hasn't ever needed to be collected by a government agency that is supposed to serve WE, the people and then threatens us with fines, treating good citizens like criminals (I thought counting people was like one, two, three, four,?). But, (knock on wood again) no visits ever occurred (yet that is). New cases and investigations, settlement deadlines, and news straight to your inbox. State that you have not made up your mind yet and will get back with them (think "slow roll"). And if I choose to comply, the only information they will get from me would be the number of people living in my house. As she walked away, I told her that her husband Ray just called and wanted her to stop at the store at a location next to her house. This workshop will demonstrate through hands-on exercises on how to access data using the Census Bureau tools for short and long-term Community planning. If someone knows where in the constitution it states this, please share. It also asked for the full names, DOB, SS# of all person including children. I told this supervisor that no one came by my home. One dear government lady actually said she did not have time for prank phone calls. Box/Route Number Area code. I left all of the other personal and private questions in the survey unanswered. [27] Andrew Reamer, To Take a Bite Out of Crime: Safeguard the Census, https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/to-take-a-bite-out-of-crime-safeguard-the-census/. When he refused, the employee turned up twice unannounced at my apartment, demanding entry, and warning me of the fines I would face if I didn't cooperate.[35] Only after he filed a complaint with the Census Bureau did the agency realize he had actually completed the survey, thus ending its attempts to enter his home. If they refuse, call 911 and report a hostile trespasser. I did respond to the regular census and regret answering all of those questions. Due to a likely technicality, I received this, with the wrong address. He asked if I would consent to a phone survey and I could decline from answering any questions I thought were too personal or intrusive. If you are a business person you could benefit from having accurate demographic information for the United States. After they fill out the form, I seriously doubt they think about you ever again. I'm a stay-at-home Momma with a toddler daughter. It has been more than 40 years since that was done and they do not want any court case to be brought up that can challenge the constitutionality of their threats. Sure, businessmen could use the info -- but because someone wants it, doesn't mean that I have to give it. When neighbors gave them basic information, apparently the census taker then discussed the fact that they'd looked into tax records for "the residents of our home". My sister and I are fuming over these forms. If it's not a big deal, then get rid of the census and don't tell me about funding- that's a load of crap! I refused entry into my home. What do you really think they use the information for? I just left a "Tea Party" I found out I'm not the only 1 that was asked to fill out two census forms, one asking me if I could go up and down stairs, how long it takes for my husband to go to work, how does he get there,how many rooms is in my house, do I have flush toilets, what kind of health insurance, how much is my house payment, insurance on my house, do I have insurance, etc. I will not yield. A refusal to answer any question on the ACS or giving an intentionally false answer is a federal offense. It's now the end of Jan. 2010 and I just received my second ACS form. --JAS. I got a call last night from the Census folks, wanting to know our birthdays. Its purpose is to keep people informed of what is going on in their local, state, or federal governments. There are friends who ask me if I want to put up with the harassment from the government -wouldn't it be easier to just give in and give the information to them? If you got grilled before then they are trying to find out the change in your situation over time. The efforts to secure a response to ACS seem fairly on the mark, but the point that seems most lost here is that households chosen for ACS are just part of a statistical sample that is representative of the country as a whole. Just answer those ten questions, and get on with your life! Is the enemy offshore or some creep in a bloated Federal Dept we don't even need? Parents/caregivers and community members will be invited to take the survey between March 6-20. At first, I completed the survey, sealed it in the envelope, and then did not send it. I am becoming more and more ashamed I fought for this newly founded socialist government. I'm sick of this. We do live in a relatively remote area, and none of them can make sense of maps they are provided with. I filled it out. Then they came to my door while I was out of town and left me a note with their name and number. After giving it some thought, I felt compromised by the invasive questions asked, and decided that my right to privacy was surely being violated. I will fill in my name, address, and very few pieces of information. I tried to assure her that this indeed was not a prank but she was too busy being rude and just kept talking, finally telling me to call my senator, which I did. You will not be fined. When I mentioned the threat of a fine to the last caller she seemed horrified that I would accuse her of that and went out of the way to state that she didn't bring it up. Amazing. I wish you luck. i am not in their rat race, and i do not answer to their color coded political designations. Don't remember getting the long form but if I did, I would have tossed it unopened since I already did my duty filling out the census and mailing it in. If it is kept under the radar, then there are not enough people screaming to make a difference. So far no challenges to our door visitors. Somehow big brother got out phone number (it's unlisted) and started calling, and we blocked him. DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS. Please show me where the US Census Bureau was given the right to fine you or even where they are mentioned in these laws? There is no legal obligation for you to answer their questions. [20] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/Language.pdf. If that's so, why is there a space for your name, date of birth and so much other identifying information that a blind man could identify the author of the answers. In 1960, the gap was . No, they aren't good people just trying to make a living as some might say. This person has stopped to "chat" with the neighbors, asking who lives in our home, how many people, what their names are, what our schedules are. For example, in 2013 after the 2010 census, Florida gained two seats in the House, while New York lost two. It's all very true, and very real. Apparently the obnoxious butt head pounding repeatedly on my door at 10:00 AM (I work at night) was a census worker. Protect your privacy. i feel like a jew in germany when these goons come knocking. "; or "How many fingers does Mickey Mouse have?". If they harass you with phone calls change your number before they do the census and keep it unlisted. When does their employment end, and shouldn't they be thanking these non-compliant people for extending their pay a bit longer? Thank goodness for this web site. Many people I know who voted for this man are now regretting it. Person 30. What kind of people do you have working for you? So I received two ACS forms in the mail and they are not going to be filled out. Just because some bureaucrat says that U.S. Code, Title 13 makes the American Community Survey legal and enforceable, the test of time will surely prove that it is not. I live in the ghetto already. this implies you have obligations to help the government count but not to answer every intrusive question they might ask. I can just feature a call stating: If you can't walk up and down stairs, maybe we should think about asking if you are a useful citizen and do you need to be wandering around loose. And a law without consequences is no law at all. This is a violation of our privacy and a malevolent use of government power. Now I find out he has been to my place of employment looking for me. On Monday, a worker left a letter at my door advising he would return again. "I want to personally thank you for this article. Let's see how much they like it. Different people call at all hours and they block the name and number. He is a senior in high school and just finished studying the history of communism. Outrageous! Are we going to let this happen? Poster 188. She finally walked away but now I am sleepless as a result of this because I am not certain as to what will happen next. Well the federal government is functioning way beyond its legal powers and I will not feed that machine. I received two surveys. This is just crap. ClassAction.org is a group of online professionals (designers, developers and writers) with years of experience in the legal industry. Go Obama Care. Don't be afraid. The government has no right to know this personal information and that she could leave. Have to love how the government pays people to harass you. She then stated that she has not talked to the supervisor. anon88369: Census enumerators have every right to walk onto your property if they are assigned to do a questionnaire for your address. [31] https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/survey-is-mandatory.html. From reading here, it looks like disclosing phone numbers is just an additional way of eventually breaking you down. I made the mistake of putting my phone number on the form. Census workers are trying to do a decent job like everyone should try to do. "The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing survey that provides vital information on a yearly basis about our nation and its people. I work for one of the phone centers for the Census Bureau. The slippery slope stops here. And so is mine. I get hourly calls during the week. Finally a man identifying himself as a supervisor came to the door and demanded I answer. I am glad I am not the only one who tossed the thing in the garbage. Their bosses are going like it even less. The Rutherford Institute has received hundreds of inquiries from individuals who have received the ACS and are not comfortable sharing such private, intimate details with the government or are unsettled by the aggressive tactics utilized by Census Bureau agents seeking to compel responses to ACS questions. makes you wonder!!!???? For example, lets say in 1790, two years after the ratification of the Constitution, Congress prepared a budget and decided to impose a direct tax to raise the needed revenue. I told her again that I already gave the required info by law and there is no reason to give all that other information. That went into the fire. Confidentiality? Help people, can I really get fined if I don't fill this crap out? The present state of affairs is a direct result of our collective ignorance. The government is doing nothing wrong! Ha! Remember, it is Congress that is the creator of federal law, and the enumerator of penalties for violations of the law, not the U.S. Census Bureau. Don't know if it's the "bureau" calling or not, but I'm ready for them. She stated that the woman was no longer employed and asked if I could please give her the info. We need to take a stand and not put up with all the socialist crap the government wants us to do. If one of these goons shows up at your door you should immediately get out your camera phone or camcorder and put it right in their face and turn it on. If we don't stand up and protect our rights we will lose them b/c the gvmt is all too happy to take as many away as possible for their own benefit at our expense. but who gets the census??? The ACS is better than a surveillance on the American family. I am an American and this country is no greater than any other. the simple census form I got had another insert in which they claim that "answers are confidential" and "answers you give cannot be obtained by law enforcement or tax collection agencies" and "your answers cannot be used in court" or obtained through a FOIA request. She stated that her supervisor sent her back out. It feels good to see so many of you willing to take a stand against this invasion of privacy. I do not want to tell anyone personal info, much less someone who lives next door to me! Just one question, what could the $1 billion could have been spent on other than conducting a poll? OK, we all agree that our rights have been violated. So this is where all of your Constitution quotes mess up. My husband said he is going to start asking them the personal questions and leave it at that. And how do they fine/prosecute a person if "answers" cannot be used in court or obtained by law enforcement? Just perfect for making and uploading videos to YouTube and the news agencies. We do not live in 1930's Germany but you sure can't tell by reading the questions on this form. The Census Bureau uses sampling methods to select households that represent a cross-section of the population of the United States. Thank you, fellow Americans! 1 found this answer helpful | 0 lawyers agree | Voted as Most Helpful Helpful Unhelpful 2 comments Alice M. Cabrera I filled out the Census form this year and still, someone came to our door. In a climate of identity theft, unscrupulous banking practices, private interest( I mean industry) running the Federal Reserve, Private "credit" companies like experian controlling human potential by keeping track of every citizen and their spending (and why would they care if they get your credit report wrong because just who is their client - not you, it's "businesses"). Enumeration. all the government tries to say if they want you to do something is say "its the law" thinking people will run and do what they say. Thank you for your time and attention to this, and I expect this matter to be closed. Just had our 10th home visit from census people! Do you have a debit card, credit card, a loan, a job, own a house, a car, driver's license? Get your head out of the clouds and step into reality. It does make an interesting snapshot of america. They have no authority to uphold the ACS laws and they WON'T take action b/c they KNOW if this survey got out in the media it would be eliminated by public outcry. of Justice. And for every intentionally false response to a question, the fine is $500. To those who say they can't publish anything like that, I have seen it. Well its going to get colder before I give them the info. I will not comply. I guess all the info requested I am OK with. He was asking questions about me and my wife! Has anyone really admittedly shown that proof that they got fined? The ACS asks dozens of questions on a wide variety of topics to gather information about the demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics of the population. I want to know how long these temp workers are going to be employed? It is so obvious that the same person keeps responding over and over here. But obviously they want to know everything about you. They are not going to like the possibility that they might end up on YouTube and be linked to all the sites discussing the ACS. However, because the government has not brought a prosecution for a refusal to respond to the ACS, the question of a persons right to refuse has not yet been decided by a court. AND ACTING AS COLLECTION AGENT. As a note, we live in a small, rural town so that may make a difference in whether it's worth the effort for them to continue demanding the information. LOL. I started to take the survey and the more I saw the more upset I got. American Community Survey Welcome! What a waste of taxpayer dollars our government is spending having these census takers harass us. We said in Boyd v. U.S., 116 U. S. 616, 630, 6 Sup. [25] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/Sex.pdf. That is just crazy. You don't want your personal information in some library, online or in an archives someday do you? Nobody has ever been fined for refusing to cooperate with any Census request, even the 10 year short form. We're starved after working all day on our house renovation. Under Title 13 of the U.S. Code, you can be fined up to $100 for refusing to complete a census form and $500 for answering questions falsely. Do some research for "0810" without the quotes and you'll find that OMM no. Don't fill out anything if you don't want the public to know some of your private information. anon10731 is obviously a census worker!!!!!! What the hell are you mad about? You fill it out and keep it moving- we don't want to. So glad I found this site. Jun 2022 - Present10 months. Please meet, call write your congressperson to recommend that they sign on to this legislation, and get rid of this ridiculous intrusion of government into your private and personal affairs. So get a clue, and if you are so upright and truthful, use your real name. I told her actually it's not. By phone. Seriously, do I really have to answer and return the american community survey? Learn about two important Census Bureau surveys covering housing data, the American Community Survey (ACS) and the American Housing Survey (AHS). He first announced the effect on Congressional districts based on the Population shifts from the Northeast to the South and Southwest. I hung up immediately and called the sheriff. But, I still don't have a clue where to send the $100 fine. A week later, the same worker showed up and said it was my last chance or I could be fined and possibly jailed. Wow! It seems when the phone number is given, that is when the harassment starts. City Manager; Commissioner of the Revenue Unlike the 2020 Census, the American Community Survey is an annual survey, sent by the US Census Bureau to a sample of the population each month (approximately 3.5 million households annually).. Now who you work for, when you go to work, how much you make; is all stored in a government database. All I can think of is that every time one of us gives in and allows this servant to go unchallenged, then they get bolder, prouder, and we get used to it and then we are eventually abused by them. In a 13-page order, United States District Judge David G. Estudillo found that the federal government never subjected the plaintiffs, who refused to take the American Community Survey (ACS), to a genuine threat of prosecution. As a result, the judge wrote, the plaintiffs claims are not ripe for review., A key contention between the parties was whether the government communicated to the plaintiffs a specific warning or threat of prosecution over their refusal to fill out the ACS. It is just such a sick country now. I have a few ideas to annoy them: Answer the door buck naked while eating a piece of chicken. It's those times that make the job really enjoyable because I share their pride. The last thing the execs at the Census Bureau want to see is a video of one of their "enumerators" on YouTube, the Six O'clock News, or in Congress or a courtroom harassing and threatening a citizen/voter with a big fine or jail time if that person refuses to give out the personal details of his life to a perfect stranger. I have written to the senators of my state and didn't even receive a 'canned' response. I love hearing this we live in the greatest country. No one I have talked to since I received this survey has known anything about it. Questions and Answers about the ACS in , , Franais, Kreyl ayisyen, , Polski, Portugus, , Espaol, Vit Ng. They came to my door at all hours. on the back it says dec 31 2011 is when approval from OMB expires. Who knows what other "enemy" nations also have it. This BS is incredible. I told him that on the advice of my attorney I had shredded the form. Unreal! The census cannot ask or get your social security number in any way and you can supply any name you want. I had never heard of such a thing. The most aggressive "ally" nation caught spying on the United States is Israel. I want to thank you for this site and for all of the posters sharing their experiences and offering insight and information. then maybe somebody will get the hint that we don't want our lives invaded. I simply put, 'None of your business". From what I've read online about the operation methods of the Census Bureau staff that won't have any chance of avoiding a phone call "Computer Aided Telephone Interview" But I'm hoping that by telling them every time that their OMB# is expired it will shorten my interview process somewhat.