American Community Survey: Don't Back Down

I was looking for something else but somehow stumbled on a link to this clip. I had to respond.

Do you have a CVS card or a card from your grocery store? As much as you are worried about a survey that is was put into law by the founding fathers to guarantee the equitable distribution of house seats, at least the privacy and confidentiality of the information is confidential -- unlike information from your credit card, your purchasing history, or what telephone calls you made this afternoon.

Pick your battles rather than edify your ideologies.

Posted by b | February 6, 2006 12:31 AM

Ah, but you miss the point.

I'm really not concerned about the privacy aspect.

What bothers me is the fact that in what is purported to be a free country, it seems more and more that the government requires certain actions be undertaken. I think that's wrong.

Taxes bother me, but more because of the waste of government than the fact that I must contribute something.

Social Security bothers me because I am paying into a system that allegedly was set up for the benefit of people, but in reality the government uses to shore up its budget.

Animal licensing bothers me because I already spend a ton of money on our animals, and an extra $10 a year, while it's not going to break me, isn't going to make me take care of them any better, while I can lose those animals if I don't spend the money.

Spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a sports complex for a privately owned enterprise bothers me. Why can't I get a subsidy like that for my company?

And yes, having to provide information to the government bothers me, no matter the level of confidentiality. This is partially because I have been required to do so and partially because those equitable house seats are so useless.

The government envisioned by our forefathers was one where the government represented the people - not the other way around, where people are constantly infringed upon by a government purporting to act in their best interest.

Posted by Chad Everett | February 6, 2006 6:13 AM

Hmmm, so how do you feel about conscription, aka "the Draft"?

Posted by Marty | February 18, 2006 8:52 PM

We got this census in the mail a few weeks ago and are trying to ignore it-can't beleive that they are threatening legal actions if we don't respond-we got another with friendly threats yesterday and I am truly unnerved-I can't deal with all the questions that we are supposed to answer-so personal! And the stupid comments about how they are going to use all of this information for school and community funding-I believe it about as much as I believe Bush really won the 2000 election-Lord have mercy on this country.

Posted by Tatum | February 22, 2006 12:52 PM

Tatum, just be careful. According to the citations I found above, you can indeed be found liable (for not more than $5000) for refusing to answer, or for answering falsely. If you can afford it, bravo. But many people can't!

Posted by Chad Everett | February 22, 2006 12:56 PM

I have a hard time believing that a person could be fined or otherwise prosecuted for ignoring a piece of mail addressed to "Resident." However, I have been surprised, shocked, saddened, etc. by a lot of things that our gov. does to us.

Posted by 6 | February 27, 2006 11:41 AM

I received the American Community Survey last April 2005. We did not answer ANY questions, except for head count in our home. Weeks later, a census taker appeared at our door. I informed her that this census was unconstitutional, except for answering the number of people in the home, and politely declined. The following evening a message was on our recorder from the Twin Cities (I'm 100 miles away) requesting a call-back that evening and emphasizing we MUST answer these questions by law. We did not call back. The next day, a Federal Express package arrived from the Census Hqt with all sorts of slick pamphlets and another letter stating we MUST answer these questions by law. We never responded to any of this coersion.

However, I spoke with a laywer by phone and called my state representative and one of the state senators. The senator's office said we did not have to answer it by law. The representative's aide, when I quoted Title 13, Section 221, stated that United States Code cannot be changed and if it says a $100 fine for not answering, that is what the fine is, if it is enforced. This dispelled other rumors of $5,000 fines for me. The laywer also said to just ignore the pressure and don't answer if we didn't want to.

I then wrote a long editorial for our local paper and any other area paper that would take it. People need to contact their senators and representatives and PROTEST the use of OUR TAX MONEY to conduct this intrusive information gathering program. If you don't stand up to this, soon they will demand to know your underwear size. Put an editorial in your paper and advise others to NOT ANSWER, except for the head count answer. We have never heard from the American Community Survey again, and it has been almost a year.

Again, I cannot emphasize enough the need to call your senators/representatives and MAKE NOISE. This is a stealth census...your neighbor and friends will not get it the same time you do, causing you to stand alone and probably cave in to answering it. Don't do it....inform others this is coming. One has to wonder why it is being distributed this way.

Private Citizen

Posted by Private Citizen | March 2, 2006 4:37 PM

Private Citizen agreed to share their letter to the editor, which I reprint here with their permission. This was orginally submitted under the title Big Brother Wants to Know All. I have edited the contents slightly for appearance.

Even though it is not a census year, the U.S. Census Bureau is conducting a "rolling census" called the American Community Survey (ACS).

They are sending the survey to one segment of the population at a time, rather than doing it all at once, with the idea of getting to everyone by the year 2010. We received the ACS in January (editors note: I believe this was 2005). Along with the survey, several glossy pamphlets were included, explaining the supposed need for this information with much assurance that all information is strictly confidential and protected by the Census Bureau. The questions are very intrusive, inquiring into the daily and personal habits of each member of your household. For example, under "Housing" you are asked how many vehicles you have; monthly fuel, water, and electricity costs; monthly rent or mortgage; estimated value of your property and annual property insurance. Forty-two questions are listed to be answered by each person in your household.

Disturbing questions in this section include a question asking if you have any physical, mental, or emotional conditions that would make it difficult for you to go shopping or go outside the home, involvement of the grandparents in raising the children, and the exact time you leave for work and name of your employer. It's difficult to imagine a legitimate reason for a government entity to demand this kind of information from its citizens. If you have concerns about Big Brother becoming too interested in your private affairs you will not like this survey.

The U.S. Constitution provides for a census every 10 years, which is simply a headcount for congressional redistricting - nothing more. After deliberating many weeks, we decided to give the only answer required by the Constitution - the number of people in our household. However, several weeks later, we were contacted by a census taker. I explained why we would not answer the other questions. Two days later a Federal Express overnight mailer arrived with a letter from the Regional Director of the Census Bureau, emphasizing that our participation is REQUIRED by law. That evening, a census supervisor from the Twin Cities left a message on our recorder, stating that our answers are required by law and requesting a return call that evening. This orchestrated pressure is both intimidating and upsetting.

Sadly, Congress, being well-aware of the questions on this survey, appropriated the money (OUR tax dollars) to the Census Bureau to conduct this detailed information gathering on every American citizen. United States Code Title 13, Section 221 states that no one can be fined more than $100 for not particpating in a census. If it comes to this, we'll pay the fine to protect our Constitutional right and to protect ourselves from government intrusion. When you receive the American Community Survey in the mail, please contact your Senators and Representatives and let them know how you feel. Don't be intimidated into providing personal and private information that you normally would not give to just anyone, much less the federal government.

Posted by Chad Everett | March 3, 2006 11:18 AM

Me again. As I mentioned above, I am not a lawyer. If you are thinking of ignoring the requests, you may want to consult one. My own findings seem to indicate that the US Code says that they can ask whatever they want - so long as it is connected with the census or survey provided, and done under the proper 'authority'.

This may or may not make the act unconstitutional. But just because something is unconstitutional doesn't mean you'll have an easy time fighting it. It also doesn't mean you shouldn't. Just be ready. It also doesn't mean that the included questions are allowed, and I haven't researched that. Anyone who has, and can add to it, I'd love to hear your findings.

For one, US Code Title 13, Section 141 letter d (I'm not sure what that letter is called, perhaps 'subsection') says that the secretary may order a mid-decade census in 1985 and every 10 years thereafter.

For another, it is perhaps correct that the US Code may not be changed. Not being a lawyer, I don't know. But the passage I just cited has a date of 1985. So it can certainly be amended. And Title 18, Section 3571 appears to do just that - amending the fines, making it possible for them to increase to not more than $5000 instead of not more than $100. Consult a lawyer if you are unsure.

Posted by Chad Everett | March 3, 2006 11:28 AM

Don't be so quick to believe those who tell you that they are allowed to ask you anything they want to ask you and that you are required by law to respond and respond truthfully.

Title 13 sections 141 and 193 are reported to allow the Census Bureau to ask whatever they want. The truth is that those subsections allow for any census, sampling, survey, etc. 'as necessary' for the 'initiation, taking, or completion thereof.'

Think about that 'as necssary' qualifier. Statistics on personal lifestyle are not necessary to the census.

Further, everyplace where census is defined in Title 13, it is defined as 'decennial enumeration of the population' (that is its statutory definition). All sampling, surveying, etc are related back to the census which according to Title 13 is the 'decennial enumeration of the population.'

Of course, the census bureau can take the position that they are allowed to ask you anything they want to ask you. They can even take the postion that you must respond. When someone who is trying to manipulate you tells you something is true, don't believe them - even if they write it down and cite statutes.

It is incredibly easy to cite sections and subsections of law in such a way that you can reinforce your position or make a point. The unfortunate thing is that the law is so complex, it is almost impossible for the average adult to research the law.

The question of the lawfulness of the ACS has never been heard by a court. Until it is, the census bureau will just keep pushing people around taking their privacy away.

Isn't it suspicious that the Census Bureau has never prosecuted anyone for not responding. Why not? Wouldn't it encourge better response rates? Or would it expose the unlawfulness of the ACS?

Posted by Sceptic | March 3, 2006 5:50 PM

Amen to privacy, I will not answer anyone one who comes to my door about how much my monthly electric bill is, and I won't start now, I agree with Chad, I will not give anyone Info that I deem private, THAT IS MY RIGHT.

I will not succumb to threats from anyone, also my right is to stand and bear arms, enough of it, like Iraq, how would all of you who want to be so quick to answer these questions like the idea of another country coming in here to your home, grabbing you out of your homes, herding you into detention centers and then cramming down a new form of government down your throats as well as how your going to live, what your going to eat, you wouldn't like it would you, so go on and answer them and see what happens.

Keep watch because if you don't the N.W.O will have you for breakfast!

Posted by J | March 8, 2006 3:08 PM

To my knowledge, the purpose of the census is to find out how many residents of voting age are in each district. We recieved a "long form" census in 2000. All the information we gave is the head count of anyone 18 years or older. That is all that is required by law. Someone working for the census bureau (a bossy woman) came to our house and we simply told her that we knew the law and were not divulging any more information. She said if we didn't comply, she would send "U.S.Marshalls". We told her to go ahead, and never heard from them again. If we get the new long form, we will do the same thing. If we don't stand up now, things will only get worse. Please, assert your rights. We all have the right to be suspicious of ANYONE who asks for such personal information.

Posted by Caryl | March 30, 2006 1:59 AM

I recieved a call this Sunday regarding why I had not sent in the American community survey. As I was in the process of doing my taxes for 2005, I informed the nice lady that she/the federal goverment has the appropriate information already in the form of my tax return from 2004.

I let her know how many folks live at my home and that I was not interested in filling out such an outrageous survey. Apparently there is a law which prohibits the census bureau from trading info with the IRS. I found it baffling and frustrating that I as a taxpayer am being asked to duplicate much of the same info twice. This is an outrageous waste of taxpayer money (nevermind my time).

It baffles me that Olympia Snow made head lines in the Bangor, Maine papers this past Saturday by demanding accountability on those corporations which have been fined for various federal offenses ranging from enviromental to mine safety etc. There are billions of uncollected fines. Where is the acountability?

Instead, some of our elected officials have decided to go after the single taxpayer with threats of legal action. I can imagine an elderly person recieving this notification from the census bureau. In my opinion this action is both unconstituitional and down right predatory.

I plan to contact my elected officials on this matter and my attorney if need be and demand some accountability both ethical and monetary along with some common sense.

Posted by US Citizen | April 2, 2006 11:25 PM

I recently received the Census Bureau's ACS and when I looked inside I could scarcely believe what I saw. I was deeply offended and outraged. I am not accustomed to using foul language at all but as I threw the ACS in the trash I used some language directed at it I haven't uttered in nearly 20 years. There is no way they could get away with forcing anyone into answering this thing against their wishes. If brought into the public eye there would be a tumultous outrage.

Don't be intimidated by the lying idea that everyone else is answering the ACS and you should too.

Don't be intimidated by the lying idea that if you don't comply that they'll ruin your life as the IRS has done to so many.

Don't be intimidated by the lying idea that it is your duty to support your country and not being rebellious.

This ACS asks for information that is none of their business.

Privacy laws prevent even the federal government from gathering this information. If it were legal it would be much simpler and faster for the Feds to simply demand information from the customer databases of other government agencies, utility, educational, and banking institutions and others. Harvesting the data in this fashion could be very quick and quiet. After this was compiled they could simply "fill in the blanks" of missing information on a shorter "more palatable" ACS and have their precious profiles.

One reason they don't do it that way is because it is illegal, as stated by a previous writer quoting a census taker.

If you'd like to read a well educated and documented perspective you'll enjoy a piece written by Dr. Edward L. Hudgins Director of Regulatory Studies at the Cato Institute.

Posted by Scott, another concerned American Citizen | April 6, 2006 10:58 PM

I have been badgered by some lady on the phone to participate in the American Community Survey (Sounds so warm and fuzzzy, don't it?). She went on that it is a legal mandate to participate and that I could get in trouble for not responding. I went on-line and read Title 13 as well. Specifically, Article I of our Constitution says that an enumeration of the population should be conducted every ten years.

The Census Bureau is charged with carrying out the enumeration in the "manner" as told to by Congress. So far, this says to me that Census is told what to do and the manner in which to do. Although, with the American Community Census, it appears that Census Bureau has unilaterally decided to add on all this social engineering cr*p to support more endlesss transfer programs.

I found a copy of the Survey questions on-line, and the damn thing even wants to know if I can bathe myself and how fertile are the all women between 15 and 50 who live in the household! What's next?

The Census Bureau wants to know all about your finances: Your income with full details including if your income is from umemployment, social security, Disability, ets. They want to konw what type of work you do, if you're self-employed & how much you earn, job title & category, the number of hours you work, your loans, debt, your utility bills, your insurance coverages (shouldn't that remain between you and your broker?), hours you work and where, specific address of your employer and contact info, how long it takes you to get to work and when you leave in the morning, your medical and emotional health issues, your ability to remember or problems with your vision (this was the type of questions the Nazis asked the Jews before they gassed them) how much income each person who lives in your household makes, ethnicity, country of origin, age, date of birth, social security, veteran status, student loans, how you get to work, how old your kids are, their names and where they go to school, what disabilities you have.

They want to know how many cars you have, how big your place is and when it was built. They want to know how many people live at your place, their ages and relationship to you, if they are students and where do they attend? They ask how many phones, bathrooms, johns, showeres, and tubs you have and if you're a citizen or not. They ask how much you spend on utilites and how you heat your place. They ask how much your rent/mortgage and real estate property taxes are. They want to know if you pay condominum or homeowner association fees and what kind of kitchen facilities you have. They ask how big your lot/acreage is, do you run a business from home, do you collect food stamps or welfare, what level of education have you completed, what your disabilites are, your ancestry, your age, your ability to speak English, and how long it takes you to commute to work.

THIS IS MANDATORY AND THE PERSONS ASKING FOR IT MAY VERY WELL BE "INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO MAKE TRANSITION FROM WELFARE TO WORK", PER PUBLIC LAW 105-19 TITLE II SECITON 299 PASSED ON NOVEMBER 26, 1997 WHICH IS AN AMENDMENT TO TITLE 13. THE AMENDMENT'S WHEREAS STATES THAT CONGRESS WANTS "MAXIMIZED CENSUS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO MAKE TRANSITION FROM WELFARE TO WORK". NOW ISN'T THAT JUST FRIGGING TOO DAMN SPECIAL, IN THIS ERA OF IDENTITY THIEF, YOUR GOVT WANTS TO ASK YOU TO TRUST THEM TO DELIVER BASICALLY YOUR ENTIRE LIFE INTO THE HANDS OF AN UNKNOWN WORKER WHO LIKELY JUST GOT OFF OF WELFARE, WHOOPS! I MEANT "AN INDIVIDUAL MAKING THE TRANSITION". BULLCR*P, I AM FED UP WITH BUREACRATS PUSHING THE TAX-PAYING PUBLIC AROUND.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO BUSINESS IN MY FAMILY LIFE, MY MEDICAL OR ECONOMIC LIFE, THEY SHOULD BE COUNTING ME, NOT AUDITING ME! THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY WILL BE USED BU GOVT TO SELL YOUR INFORMATION EVENTUALLY, (THEY'LL SAY THEY ARE GOING TO "AMONYITIZE" IT, BULLSHI*, GET REAL, THEY GOT ALL YOUR INFO, YOU THINK THAT THEY'RE GONNA "UN-GET" YOUR INFO? OF COURSE NOT? HELL, THEY'LL HAVE DOSSIERS ON YOUR KIDS BEFORE THEY'RE EVEN BORN (BASED ON THE FERTILITY SECTION) THE BUREAUCRACY & POLITICOS JUST WANTS SCREW WITH THE "RESULTS" WHICH YOU CAN EASILY SEE WHAT THEY WILL BE BY READING ALL OF THE QUESITONS) TO SHORE UP MORE FUNDS FOR MORE PEOPLE TO SIT ON THEIR ASSES.

What about you?

Posted by TBELLO | April 10, 2006 6:00 AM

I received 2 phone calls from pleasant census bureau drones. I heatedly expressed my total noncompliance and one said she got that alot, but she was just a worker - sounds like a Nuremberg trial excuse to me. I'm expecting the personal visits to begin shortly. I shall send off my checks to The Treasury next week gleefully knowing I'm funding my own harassment.

Posted by Rigid | April 11, 2006 7:49 AM

I recieved a third call this Monday eve and informed the person I would be happy to comply with the basic questions of how many people live in my house.

I then informed the person that "the day I fill out the ACS in its entirety is the day the federal goverment puts a serial number on my arm".

I have contacted my congressman and the media. I especially feel for the older people in this country who must be terrified when recieving this survey. They are being preyed upon.

I agree with the previous blogger. This same type of survey was carried out by the Nazis years back. I'm ashamed of our elected officials for lettting this Census get so out of control.

We the people!

Posted by Mark Mitchell | April 12, 2006 6:54 AM

Here is a Denver TV interview from March 06.

Posted by Rigid | April 18, 2006 11:43 AM

I got a survey too and found the tone overbearing (says right on the enevelope -- response required by law) and way too personal.

If they do want to know how much I make and when I leave for work, why not just ask a range of numbers instead to keep things anonymous (like they claim to keep this survey!)

And why aren't more people against these kinds of surveys? It didn't even make headlines anywhere?

Posted by Anonymous | April 23, 2006 4:55 PM

We also have had the misfortune of being selected "at random" for the ACS. However, last October a car was parked across the street from our house and some guy was sitting in the driver's seat with a clipboard taking notes. I thought it might have been the property assessor but now I think it was the ACS tracking which houses they wanted to "randomly" select!!

We feel as others do that the more power we give the government, the more they'll take. What happened to We the people, or Liberty and justice..? We are standing firm on IT'S NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS. We have received 35 phone calls this month, (have not answered phone) and fully expect the doorbell to start ringing soon.

Let's fight this together!

Posted by Determined | April 25, 2006 5:42 PM

Looks like they are more intrusive since the evil Bush took the office. Half a year later they are still bothering me. I won't give them a thing unless they send me a court order.

They first called me with a different case number and now with a new number, how ridiculous they are. If they can't even get the case number right, how on earth will they think they won't mess up with my private information.

Even the phone number, 888-817-2153, is not listed on their web site. Are they another CIA or what? If they are elusive and not honest with their own phone number, how could they think I would be comfortable giving my private info? Since they are ABSURDLY INTRUSIVE, I will be DILIGENTLY EVASIVE!!!!

Check out another related blog here.

Posted by Anonymous | April 29, 2006 10:48 PM

I have always felt that asking someone their race condones racism as opposed to eradicating it. I, too, received the ACS, and I was thinking about filling it out - minus the identifying info and scanner label on the front (a marker should take care of that). What exactly is the minimum participation required by law? I am open to suggestions...

Posted by Rebecca | April 30, 2006 7:01 PM

Do you like to meet people? Would you like to knock on doors? Do you enjoy asking probing questions for the good of society, regardless of how personal? Do you want to make a DIFFERENCE? You can earn up to $15 per hour part-time being a statistic-wonk for Uncle Sam. Why work at the post office when you can irritate more people in their homes? Act now.

Posted by postal | May 5, 2006 9:40 AM

Simply put, the Constitution requires the completion of the questions regardless of whether you like them or not. The key component of the Constitution is Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3 which reads:

"The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct."

The key is the phrase "as they shall by law direct" which refers to the requirements set forth by Congress itself. Any time Congress spends money it wants to know if the money is well spent and includes provisions to determine if the money is doing what it was intended. For example, if you take 45 minutes to commute to work and new roads are built or highway lanes added does your commuting time decrease? The questions are designed to provide statistics on a range of issues.

Failing to respond simply means that you do not wish to uphold the Constitution. I live in Oklahoma and one of the Representatives opposed the long form a few years ago but when it was pointed out that he was responsible for each and every question because of the legislation that was passed he quickly shut up. If a representative is smart enough to complete the survey and understand its value in the face of his own ignorance of the issue surely anyone else can as well.

Posted by Constitutionalist | June 2, 2006 4:28 PM

I think I'll take the risk of a fine rather than give up my right to privacy. Besides, are they anymore likely to 'uphold and enforce' this fine than they are doing with the immigration laws? Not if enough people stand up and tell them to get lost.

Posted by feeling violated | June 3, 2006 8:55 AM

The disturbing part of this "American Community Survey" is that it opens the doors to future, even more intrusive questions. Is that really "American"? I don't think so. Let us all stop this nonsense now! If we don't petition to end this survey, this government will head down the path toward fascism.

Posted by David S | June 4, 2006 12:08 AM

You people are overly alarmist! This ACS is justified because our beloved Federal Government wants to assist us in every facet of our miserable existences.

Oh, by the way... how many firearms do you own? What are the serial numbers? Do you own stocks? What companies and how many shares? How many abortions have you supported? What race baby do you hope to adopt? When you drink, do you support American brewers/distillers or are you a traitor with imported booze? When you were on active duty, were you ever the "big pot man" on KP? What? You refuse to respond to these innocuous queries? What are you, UN-American? The downhill slope begins with the ACS, and the complete assurance of anonymity by our caring government. Book it!

Posted by portwood | June 5, 2006 8:08 AM

I refuse to be intimated by government tyranny. This is not just a survey. This is a systematic "survey" performed on 10% of the population every year. "Aggressive" is how they define the tactics employed. Intimidation and harassment is the real method used. Most people relent to make them go away.

Calling on weekends, during dinner and staking out my house at lunch time to "catch me" to name a few of the harassing tactics. Multiple threatening mailings, some left on my doorstep. Messages left on my message machine and on and on it went. All along the way I told them there were 4 red blooded AMERICANS living here and that's all I'm going to tell you. The rest is none of your business and you won't get any more Info from us. They only stepped up their efforts, getting increased threats and mail for 2+ MONTHS!

So I started reading everything I could find and sent a stinging letter off to my U.S. House Representative, and let them know one of their goons pounded on my door for half an hour then called me on his cell phone when I wouldn't answer the door. The other goon showed up at 9:15 PM and tried to get the info out of my wife.

THE BOTTOM LINE: THIS IS NOT JUST FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES! THEY ARE GATHERING FAMILY DOSSIERS, FOURTY QUESTIONS PER PERSON. THIS DATA IS NOT SECURE. THEY WILL BE SHARING THESE FILES WITH 4 OTHER AGENCIES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (NO INFO ON WHICH ONES).

YOU WILL HAVE A CASE NUMBER KEPT ON A SEPARATE SERVER AND YOUR ANSWERS WILL BE KEPT IN A DATABASE FOREVER. WHY IS THERE NO CLAUSE TO PURGE THE INFO? THIS IS A KGB PROFILE ON EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY. SECURE?

It only takes ten minutes for a president to sign an executive order and your case number will tell all. Maybe some data manager will take the info home on a disk and have it stolen like 26.5 million veterans did recently. No database on this planet is completely secure. The effort put into this is not for statistics. It is to know everything about everyone, gathering 10% of the population per year.

Your dossier in your government's hands. I see more rights eroding faster every day. What happened to privacy?

YOU ARE STUPID IF YOU SUBMIT TO A DATABASE ON EVERYONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD. Ask the Jews who had to register in Germany and the other ethnic resistors in Stalinist Russia. Think about the incumbents who passed this comprehensive information threat next time you vote.
I will never give this information nor cooperate in any way ever again.

If they put these people to work on catching illegal invaders (they survey them too) we would not have 20 million consumers of 36 gallons of water per day.

Posted by Greg | June 8, 2006 11:02 PM

Title 13, chapter 7, Sec. 221.: (a) Whoever, being over eighteen years of age, refuses or willfully neglects, when requested by the Secretary, or by any other authorized officer or employee of the Department of Commerce or bureau or agency thereof acting under the instructions of the Secretary or authorized officer, to answer, to the best of his knowledge, any of the questions on any schedule submitted to him in connection with any census or survey provided for by subchapters I, II, IV, and V of chapter 5 of this title, applying to himself or to the family to which he belongs or is related, or to the farm or farms of which he or his family is the occupant, shall be fined not more than $100.

TITLE 18, PART II, CHAPTER 227, SUBCHAPTER C, Sec. 3571.

(a) Fines for Individuals.--Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section,

(e) Special Rule for Lower Fine Specified in Substantive Provision.--If a law setting forth an offense specifies no fine or a fine that is lower than the fine otherwise applicable under this section and such law, by specific reference, exempts the offense from the applicability of the fine otherwise applicable under this section, the defendant may not be fined more than the amount specified in the law setting forth the offense.

You can only be fined 100 per section e.

Posted by Anonymous | July 11, 2006 10:59 PM

True enough. But that's why you need to read Section 3571. It increases the fine to $5000.

Posted by Chad Everett | July 12, 2006 9:49 AM

My mom got this survey and I sure am glad that this site came up at the top of the list when I tried to look up section 193! I haven't even finished reading all three pages, but we both were headed in the same direction with letters to the editors to all the Los Angeles and Orange County California papers. Now we feel we aren't alone and that it can be fought. Why are people so quick to give up their personal info these days? Just because someone wraps it up in red, white and blue doesn't make it true! People of all ages need to really start thinking for themselves. Avail themselves to what this country offers - free thinking and ideas. Ok, I'll jump off my soapbox for now! :o)

Posted by Lori | July 29, 2006 12:30 AM

I'm confused. This is my first time receiving the survey, and I do not want to fill it out, nor do I have the time. There is a 1-800 # throughout the packet that I have been trying to contact for questions, and I can't get through to anyone. Why do I have to fill out something that they say is required, and I can't get any response to questions I have?

I looked up the two sections that say it is required for me to fill this out, and don't really understand them either. Should I fill it out at all, or just put the head count? I feel that the government has access to all the info it needs on me through my SSN, so why should I be required to give any more than that? Any ideas on what type of lawyer I can contact? I'm in Michigan.

Posted by Confused | August 3, 2006 12:09 PM

I received the mailing requesting personal information for the American Community Survey. I will try to make this short, as I am still mad that I have just come home and found a letter and business card stuck in my door with a hand written note telling me I am in violation of "Federal Law" if I don't cooperate in the survey.

This is the second time they have been to my house. (I haven't been home each time). I called the number on the business card and told the people not to come on my property. If the Census Bureau wants to conduct a survey before the Required "Constitutional" Ten year period, then they need to amend the Constitution and make it required for everyone in the United States.

To make it random, in my opinion, is discriminatory. This information will be put on a database, where the information can possibly be stolen. I have read the responses of some of the others on this site. The bleeding hearts who think we should cooperate with this survey, are probably the same ones who think the government needs to take care of them.

I've worked for every thing I have and have never asked the government for anything. I will not participate in this survey. Don't think I'm ungrateful for living in this wonderful country, I'm not. I have served my time in the military (how many of the bleeding hearts have served?), and I will still defend this country.

The country needs to be more concerned with securing our borders, and seeing how many illegal aliens are living in our neighborhoods.

Question: This is a random survey. Do you actually think the illegals, if their address is chosen for this survey, will participate? The government can prosecute me for not participating, but I guarantee it will be on national news.

Posted by James Monroe | August 12, 2006 7:45 PM

High quality, up-to-date information is critical to improving market efficiency, developing effective public policies, and efficiently allocating scarce public resources.

Since 2000, our population has grown by more than 10 million, and by 2010, there will be more than 300 million people living in the United States. This population growth means we'll need new homes, stores, roads, schools, and jobs. The American Community Survey (ACS), administered by the U.S. Census Bureau, will provide the data needed to make strategic decisions for addressing this growth by supplying timely, updated profiles for every community in America. Today, the Census Bureau released the first annual estimates from the ACS for approximately 8,000 communities, as well as every Congressional district.

So that Congressional staff and nongovernmental organizations may better appreciate the extraordinary importance of Census numbers, The Brookings Institution has organized a series of three briefings on Capitol Hill in 2006. The last briefing on June 23 examined the public and private sector uses of the new ACS.

Posted by Andrew Reamer | August 15, 2006 8:13 AM

I am a field rep with the Census Bureau in NYC & have been administering the American Community Survey for a couple of years now.

I cannot believe the "strong-arm" tactics reported by previous posters to have been inflicted upon them in the course of this survey. I've encountered lots of suspicious and recalcitrant respondents, and I tell them all the same thing: Yes, your response to the survey is required by law, but if any question makes you uncomfortable, I can tell you precisely why it's asked and always give you the right to vent your objections to it and refuse to answer it.

Your PERSONAL identifying info is never available to anyone and indeed, you may identify yourself as Person A or Mickey Mouse if you wish. We urge our respondents to be as comprehensive and forthcoming in their answers as they can, but I have no way of checking the veracity of their responses.

And there's no one "sitting in a car writing things on a clipboard" who picks the addresses to survey; that's done totally randomly by a computer in Suitland, MD, based on databases of addresses (NOT specific people, just the people who happen to reside at the chosen addresses).

Please don't be so skeevy about the purposes to which this info will be put--you and your legislatures actually use this info all the time without even realizing where it comes from.

Understand that I'm a person so skeptical that I check the facts of EVERY email that gets sent to me (you know the ones) and ream out the people who send them on without checking them out (yeah, I'm that one) and the ACS is a lot less dangerous to the American way of life than all the hysterical, unchecked nonsense flying around the web that everyone believes just because they see it on a screen.

Oh, and you have to pass an incredibly difficult test plus an exhaustive background and security check to do this work...so don't worry that your census taker is an identity thief coming off welfare! Ain't gonna happen. End of rant.

Posted by IHatePantyhose | August 17, 2006 2:18 PM

Constitutionalist wrote "The Constitution requires the completion of the questions regardless of whether you like them or not. The key component of the Constitution is Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3 which reads:

'The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct.'"

The key is the phrase "as they shall by law direct" which refers to the requirements set forth by Congress itself.

Actually, the key phrase is "The actual enumeration shall be made ... in such manner as they shall by law direct."

Any questions posited to a union state Citizen pertaining to the enumeration must be answered. Any other questions that do not directly relate to the enumeration must only be answered by "residents" and "citizens of the United States", who do not have inalienable rights, but only the privileges granted to them by Congress.

The 4th Amendment guarantees the right of the state Citizen to be free of unreasonable searches, which is exactly what this survey is. However, a "resident" of a state, or a "citizen of the United States" has no such protection unless Congress grants it, and Congress can retract that privilege at any time.

Posted by J. Fenn | August 21, 2006 1:40 AM

The last few weeks I've had messages on my phone consistently from the Census Bureau. Tonight I had a chance to call them back and was basically told my household has been picked for a survey I am required to do by the Federal Government. I indicated I was not interested, take my name/number off the list and move on. Apparently, that is NOT an option, this survey is required and only 2% of the 40,000 households do not participate. I was told they would continue calling for the next four months, and eventually will find someone willing to do the survey. Even if we move and someone else gets our number, that person will be required to do the survey. I was so upset I hung up. I can't believe I'm harrassed in my own home. I was told a "Superior Chief" would be contacting me about my unwillingness to do this survey.

Posted by Rachael | August 25, 2006 10:54 PM

Official: Commerce Dept. Loses 1,100 Laptop Computers Since 2001

Thursday, September 21, 2006

WASHINGTON — The Commerce Department has lost 1,137 laptop computers since 2001, most of them assigned to the Census Bureau, officials said Thursday night.

The Census Bureau, the main collector of information about Americans, lost 672 computers. Of those, 246 contained some personal data, the department said in a statement. However, no personal information from any of the missing computers has been known to have been improperly used, the department said. The number of people affected by the equipment losses could not be determined, the department said.

"All of the equipment that was lost or stolen contained protections to prevent a breach of personal information," said Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez. "The amount of missing computers is high, but fortunately, the vulnerability for data misuse is low."

More than 30,000 laptops were used within the department's 15 operating unit since 2001, the department said, and a total of 1,137 were stolen or missing.

Fifteen handheld devices used to record survey data for testing processes in preparation for the 2010 Census also were lost, the department said. The department was in the process of contacting the 558 households with data recorded on the missing devices, although because of encryption technology, the risk of data misuse was considered low, it said.

A half-dozen other federal agencies or departments have reported data thefts and security breaches involving personal information in the last six months.

The Veterans Affairs Department suffered the biggest loss with the theft in May of a laptop and external drive containing information for 26.5 million veterans and active-duty troops. Burglars stole the equipment from the home of a Veterans Affairs employee, but the computer was later recovered and showed no signs of having been accessed for the personal data.

Other government departments reporting the loss of computers with personal information include the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services and Transportation. The Federal Trade Commission also has lost laptops with sensitive data.

Posted by James Monroe | September 22, 2006 12:47 AM

If you're interested in some (sometime vitriolic) conversation about the ACS, check out my own posting on this government intrustion, replete with more comments than I've seen anywhere else.

Posted by Russell Whitaker | September 26, 2006 12:51 AM

I don't think that I would listen to IHatePantyhose.

If you lie as she suggests "...as you may identify yourself as Person A or Mickey Mouse if you wish...", you will then subject yourself to 13 U.S.C. Chapter 7 § 221(b) - whoever, when answering questions described in subsection (a) of this section, and under the conditions or circumstances described in such subsection, willfully gives any answer that is false, shall be fined not more than $500.

She is either one dumb b**** or a another government liar trying to lead us into more trouble.

Posted by FredericBastiat | October 5, 2006 7:38 PM

While I can't speak directly to the motivation of IHatePantyhose - I can say that identifying yourself as Person A seems perfectly defensible.

In fact, "identifying" yourself in any generic way (Mother, Male 1, etc.) should be just fine - we did just that and thus far have not been fined or bothered in any way.

I would agree that using Mickey Mouse, or some other outright incorrect identification, may be a bit over the line, however, and probably not a good idea.

Posted by Chad Everett | October 6, 2006 6:18 AM

The American Community Survey is NOT for statistics only. It is to SURVEY (collect a personal dossiers and file on every person in the country)! Its NOT Random. They are collecting forty questions on every person. This is happening to 10% of the population every year! If you give in you will have a government "FILE". I REFUSED.

See my comments dated June 8, 2006. I had to follow up due to what happened to our friends.

They filled out the very personal questions and mailed it minus their income. The mailings and phone messages and threatening papers left on the door continued. Then they came to the house waiting for them after work. Being "nice" people they were allowed in for "less than a 20 min. talk to complete the survey". An hour later and most questions reviewed they were happy to get this extreme annoyance out of their life.

An ACS agent showed up a week later - at night, for review purposes. Same questions asked and lots of new medical and kids questions even more personal than before.

They were glad thats over only to find two more visits at home at night just before dinner. And each time the questions got worse. Sex life and deep medical questions including the kids - so bad the wife sent the kids out of the room.

The Agent showed up the fourth time around 9:00 PM out of the blue.

These extremely easy going people were really getting mad and finally refused to answer any more.

The wife told me some of the questions and I really could not fathom why the government would ask such lurid, disgusting and way, way over the line questions.

Because they were such nice compliant people they were subjected to multiple additional questionnaires.

Uncle Sam is sending an ACS agent to you soon. If you want the government to have a complete file on you and everyone else in your family then give in.

I threw the last arrogant threatening agent off my property one night at 9:15. They like to catch your wife unloading groceries after a hard days work.

OUR FRIENDS SAID THE MORE YOU TELL THEM, THE MORE THEY TRY TO GET OUT OF YOU. SHE THOUGHT IT WOULD NEVER END.

I hope this helps others. I contacted my congressman and got a letter from the district ACS manager. YOU MUST COMPLY LETTER BUT A PHONE NUMBER and a name. I have had enough and never called. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN IN TOUCH SINCE THEN.

NEVER TELL THEM WHAT CREDIT CARDS YOU OWN OR HOW OFTEN YOU HAVE SEX AND WHAT KIND. EVEN MY MOST COMPLIANT FRIENDS WOULDN'T ANSWER THESE AND WORSE.

I refuse to be intimated by government tyranny. COMPLAIN TO YOUR CONGRESSPEOPLE AND PASS THE WORD TO YOUR UNSUSPECTING FRIENDS. THEIR TURN IS COMING - IT IS NOT A RANDOM SURVEY.

Why is the Government collecting as much as they can possibly get FOR YOUR PERSONAL DOSSIER AS WELL AS YOUR KIDS? 10% a year. That way there is no massive resistance.

History tells us this has always led to Tyrants, extreme control and even exterminations. This government file is just another tool and gives them all the info they need to know all your weeknesses. God help us stand up for our freedom and privacy. Tell your friends what to expect. Just say no and Vote for anyone but the incumbent.

Posted by Greg | October 14, 2006 1:23 AM

Follow up to my August 12, 2006 posting:

I was asked to participate in the American Community Survey. After reviewing the questions on the survey, I determined they were too intrusive and personal. Since the government isn't known for data security, I was afraid of identity theft. According to information contained in the survey packet, the penalty for not participating was a fine. I was under the impression that would be what would happen. However, the following has occurred.

On or about August 05, 2006, I came home and found a business card from Doris London from the U.S. Census Bureau. I called her and told her I wasn't going to participate in the American Community Survey. I also said she, and anyone else from the Census Bureau was not allowed to come back on my property.

August 12, 2006: Visit by Raymond J. Labelle: I wasn't home at the time. Mr. Labelle left his business card, a hand written message, and a booklet. I called him that night and left a message three times on his voice mail telling him I had already told Doris London from the Census Bureau I was not going to participate in the Survey and for her or anyone else from the Census Bureau not to come back on my property. That if he did, he was in violation of criminal trespass. Georgia Criminal Code: 16-7-21. His telephone number is: 678-462-5339 / 404-730-3832.

August 16, 2006: Between the hours of 6:30 pm and 7:14 pm, while outside working in my yard, I notice a man on my property walking fast toward me. I said to the man, "If you're from the Census Bureau, you need to leave". The man (later identified as Raymond Labelle), said, in an angry tone of voice, "Yes, I'm the mother from the Census Bureau". I then said, you have already been told not to come back on my property, so you need to leave. Mr. Labelle stopped about a foot in front of me, bristled, and said, "I don't have to leave and I'm not going to leave, I have every right to be here". I told him he was trespassing, and that if he was told to leave that he had to. I repeated this to him several times and each time Mr. Labelle said he didn't have to leave and that he wasn't going to leave. I then told him he had about five seconds to leave, or I was going to call the police about him trespassing. I once again and for the last time told him to leave my property, that he was trespassing. Again Labelle said he wasn't leaving. Labelle seemed to be trying to intimidate me. I told him I was calling the police. He took his cell phone, held it up, and said, you don't have to call the police, I'm going to. I then escorted Mr. Labelle off my property. As soon as Labelle was off my property, he immediately called the police and said I had assaulted him.

August 23, 2006: I received a notice to appear for a hearing at the Gwinnett County Magistrate Court, Gwinnett County Georgia, on September 13, 2006, to answer the charge of "battery". Mr. Labelle has filled out an application for an arrest warrant against me. In a statement to the Gwinnett County Police, Mr. Labelle lied. Also, in order to obtain an arrest warrant, the statement Mr. Labelle made to a Gwinnett County Magistrate Judge, and swore to under oath, was a lie.

August 25, 2006: I spoke with Raymond Labelle's supervisor, Mr. Allen Cranford (404-730-3832). He said the incident was between Labelle and me. He also said Labelle wanted to make the incident personal. He did agree with me on the criminal trespass law...about not coming onto someone's property when told in advance not to, and for a person being required to leave when told to do so.

September 13, 2006: Went to the Magistrate Court where a criminal warrant was issued for my arrest for probable cause for Simple Battery. It seems Mr. Labelle conveniently produced a photo of his chest, which was red. Note: The police report said Mr. Labelle had no signs of injury.

Also, during the course of the hearing, Mr. Labelle's supervisor, Mr. Cranford, said Mr. Labelle had the right to come back on my property because Census Bureau policy said the representative had to be told not to come back "face to face". I asked Mr. Cranford if could I see the policy in writing. Mr. Cranford said the policy wasn't in writing. It seems telling someone on the phone isn't good enough. However, when Mr. Labelle did return, I told him "face to face" to leave, which he refused.

The bottom line is: I was arrested for the charge of Simple Battery, had to make bond, and will have to go to State Court to face this charge.
In addition to all of this, Mr. Cranford said the Census Bureau is going to fine me for not participating in the survey.

Please note:

1. On the police report, the officer stated Mr. Labelle had no marks on his person.

2. Mr. Labelle told the police that after I told him he had five seconds to leave, before he could leave or respond, I assaulted him.

3. On the application for the arrest warrant, Mr. Labelle said I assaulted him without provocation.

September 16, 2006: I went to the Gwinnett County Magistrate and filled out a form for a Criminal Arrest Warrant Hearing. The charge: Criminal Trespass.

The hearing was on October 11, 2006.

The results from the hearing for Criminal Trespass:

1. Mr. Labelle had a federal attorney with him who recited Constitutional and Federal Law to the Magistrate Judge saying the Census Bureau had every right to come onto my property to conduct the survey, and that I was required to participate. Not once did Labelle's attorney deny the Census Bureau employees violated Georgia State Criminal Trespassing Law.

The bottom line is the Magistrate Judge said she wouldn't issue a warrant for Criminal Trespass, saying, "The man was only trying to do his job".

It seems to me that the Census Bureau can break State Laws whenever they please, since employees of the Census Bureau were in violation of Georgia Criminal Trespass Law three times.

Note: I see several suggestions about contacting your Congressman.

I wrote a letter to Congressman John Linder, who had me sign a Privacy Release Form along with a letter telling me, "Federal Law prohibited him from putting undo pressure on another government agency."

I wrote a letter to Governor Perdue. I received a letter from him telling me, the situation was a federal matter and for me to contact my congressman and senators, that he couldn't do anything.

I wrote letters to Senator Johnny Isackson, Senator Saxby Chambliss, Charles Kincannon (Director of the Census Bureau), Carlos Gutierrez (Secretary of the Commerce Department). Other than the Commerce Department saying they would investigate the incident, I haven't heard anything from anyone.

I still have to go to court to face the Simple Battery Charge.

Posted by James Monroe | October 20, 2006 1:51 AM

Clark Howard says not to comply.

Anyone can send him a one page fax telling their story at: 404-897-7534. Please remember, one page only. For people outside of Georgia you can get an email address to Clark's show. To get this address you will have to call the Consumer Action Center at: 404-892-8227. Call 10am to 7pm EST.

You can also call his show at: 877-87-CLARK or 404-872-0750. Call 1pm to 4pm EST: The television "Whistle Blower" number is 404-897-7000. These people may also be interested.

Posted by James Monroe | October 20, 2006 3:29 PM

First of all I am not comfortable with the track record of the Census Bureau and the losing of computer equipment and data.

Secondly, some of these questions are unanswerable from me. Either I don't have the exact knowledge or they are things that I just can't calculate accurately.

Third, I find it very un-American to HAVE to answer a survey.

I'm just going to answer the one question about the number of people populating my home, and then send them a letter explaining why I'm not answering the rest. If that isn't good enough then I will take my chances with the fine.

Posted by Brad | October 24, 2006 6:27 PM

I got the American Community Survey in the mail today, a week after I moved to a new apartment. It makes me furious that it comes with "your response is required by law" printed in block letters on the front of the envelope. We have no reason to doubt our government's motives, right? I'm NOT sending this in. It's about time for a huge boycott of this measure.

Posted by rivgirl | December 1, 2006 4:24 PM

I received the ACS about a week ago, and immediately took issue with being told I had to fill it out as required by law. When I looked through the survey, my uneasiness became greater and greater.

A point that I did not see raised, and that just astounds me is this: I am not a US citizen. I live here, I have a green card, I pay taxes, but I am NOT an American, yet I'm supposed to be required to fill out an AMERICAN Community Survey?

I called the 800-number, and was quoted almost word-for-word what is already written in the pamphlets, how my info will be kept private and how I am required to fill this out. Ironically, I was told that I was randomly selected since my name was not on the address label, yet they ask me to fill out my name IN the form.

As to my not being a US citizen, I was told very shortly, that it doesn't matter if I am here illegally or do not pay taxes, I was still required to fill out these forms. That made me mad beyond belief because I go to work in one of the worst cities in the US every day to work in an urban school system and give my all to these kids and hope and pray that it makes a difference in their lives, and I get accused of not paying taxes or other illegal things.

I would really suggest raising all hell to anyone who gets this survey. This information is not anybody's business.

Posted by Angie Anybody | December 6, 2006 8:30 PM

I put the 2 packets I received in the fireplace. Then, I got a phone call. Now, I got a packet on my front porch asking me to call a local field rep for an appointment.

I drafted a letter today to the Director of the Census Bureau telling him that I have no intention to answer the questions.

They can only force you to give the number of people in your house in a census year, not this crap.

Posted by jbucolo | February 6, 2007 4:15 PM

Legal Authority for American Community Survey, B-289852, April 4, 2002

Posted by djh3 | March 23, 2007 5:02 PM

If it is not addressed to me by name I have no legal obligation to reply.

Posted by tkob | March 25, 2007 1:10 PM

This has been an extremely nerve wrecking experience! After receiving 2 surveys in the mail, I received pounding demands on my door for the past 3 weeks straight around 7:00pm at night. My case was handed over to a male representative, who has continued to come to my house, banging on the door including Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Yesterday, my landlord called me telling me that the representative was waiting for them on their driveway. The field representative threatened them saying that if they did not provide my personal information, he would fine them $500. Unfortunately, my landlord gave them my full name, my occupation, and my CELL PHONE number! Today, they called me over 10 times on my cell phone. The representative left a message stating that since he knows that I am the only one living in my house and that I leave my house early in the morning. He also commented that since I am a single household, the survey should only take 17 minutes. Isn't that the only information that they legally need? He already knows how many people live in my house...why does he keep harassing me? Prior to the involvement with my landlord and the transferring of my case to another man, I told another representatvie that if she kept bothering me, I would call the police. Like many other stories that I have read about, she replied, "Ok...call the police." Does anyone have any advice for what I should do? I am afraid to BBQ in my front yard and be at home during certain times of day due to my fear of being approached and harassed by these people. Do they ever go away?

Posted by Harassed in Berkeley, CA | March 26, 2007 10:02 PM

I am on my third notice which states I will be contacted if I do not send the survery in. I found this paper on the "Hard to Interview"
http://www.fcsm.gov/committees/ihsng/diffendalasa2000.pdf

It is a little dated but outlines the timetable and methods of interviewing. This document also reveals that the popular government statement that they have 97% compliance is absolutely false. This document cites a 50% mail in compliance rate, and a 10% compliance rate from phone interviews among the original non compliant they have a phone number for. Sorry folks, that don't add up to 97%.

Posted by jf | March 28, 2007 2:07 PM

We just got one in our home. I looked up the relevant statues in Title 13 United States Code.

For what it's worth, the FAQ that accompany the survey say there is a penalty for "not responding."

But when you look up the actual penalty provisions in Title 13, the penalty is only imposed on "not answering the questions." I do not read any penalty for "not responding."

So if you want to be a stickler.... answer the questions on the survey...

but don't mail it in.

There is no penalty for not mailing it back to them.

There is no penalty for "not responding"

Only for refusing to answer the questions.

So... answer the questions ;)

Jael

Posted by JM | April 25, 2007 8:37 PM

Maybe they should use this American Community Survey on the detainees in Guantanamo. Given the reply's to this blog it should be rename: American Community Interrogation!

Posted by Darth Vader | June 2, 2007 11:27 PM

A recent victim of the American Community Survey (ACS), the entire thing makes me uncomfortable. I've found some comfort after reading that I'm not the only one who thinks the whole thing is a violation of privacy and a disgrace.

Posted by Alex | July 10, 2007 1:00 AM

Just in the event you guys weren't aware of this, but there is another blog going on just the same about the ACS.

I read through pretty much the whole thing.
There are some interesting points, but then again a lot of rambling going on.

The part that I picked up on and posted there was about the loss of computers all the agencies have that contained personal data.

I just received a call from them tonight (8:55pm), and told them I refused to answer any questions due to the negligence of how data is handled.

Held for a supervisor to get the phone.. at this time is was past 9:05pm and I just hung up.

Tired of waiting for him to answer the phone.
Knowing the time, their not allowed to call you after 9pm in your local time zone.

So I guess tomorrow I'll get harassed all day long by them.

Posted by ACS is good for nothing | August 17, 2007 9:49 PM

I am so glad I found this site. I just recieved the second form today after tossing the first one aside. I attempted to fill the first one out, but when I got to the race questions, 1930's Germany came to mind. Reviewing the rest of the survey questions, I found it difficult to understand why the govenment needs to know what time I leave for work and how long it takes me to get there, not to mention wanting to know how much and what types of income are earned what my mortgage is and if I have a 2nd. Geez...get outta my pants... Can't they talk to the IRS? This is REALLY amazing to me to see this kind of thing going on in the Good ol' Politically Correct USA. Like the state Motto of New Hampshire..."Live Free or Die"

Posted by Frank Bauer | August 21, 2007 1:01 AM

Many of the 1,300 some-odd laptops stolen from the government agencies were likely stolen by employees for personal use or to sell the info for personal profit, at our expense. U.S.C. Title 13, Section 9 has not prosecuted one of the "Thieves".

The "ACS" claims that "Your answers are confidential by law, USC Title 13, Section 9" so please keep the name of the Census Bureau representative, as we are going to sue their pants off, give them a jail term and hefty fine under law of USC Title 13 should your info be lost or stolen.

It has been suggested to me by legal counsel to not respond, and put up with the harassment, or to respond with the # of household members and very vague or "unknown" answers to the rest.

The government wants to create a database on each, and every one of us. They are systematically doing this via the ACS project funded with $146 million budget, (paid by you) per year.

The ACS is being released in a calculated "slow" fashion as to not create a total public revolt, (yet with some fuss); as we have been seeing on Inet blogs. The survey is totally intrusive, and "somehow slid through Congress" without refute for obvious financial gain benefits .
USC Title 13, Section 141,193, and 221 are in reference to the decennial Census, yet this Congress believes us to be totally enamored with our lives. This is the same Congress that slid through the "Patriot Act provisions" which allow eavesdropping on us. Wake up public!

The government has gone too far, and we need to immediately halt this intrusive, foolish behavior!
Once you respond to the ACS, it is just a matter of the Government connecting the dots to hold a complete dossier on you and your family with information you would likewise never give out. All of this under the threat of USC Title 13, Sec. 221.

People are petrified of being fined, and the Census Bureau is playing off the fear. They will be wrong if we all unite against such abuse.

There have been very misinforming statements made regarding the Census Bureau laws. Title 13 of United States Code, (Federal Law) states that a decennial, (10 year) Census will be taken, and failure to respond can result in $100 fine, $500 for false answers. That is NOT $100 and $500 PER QUESTION but PER SURVEY for the max fine.

Most concerning is that the ACS states, "We may combine your survey with data that you may have provided to other federal agencies" i.e the IRS (which will help connect the dots) to help create a complete dossier including your SSN. Once all the dots are connected via the most powerful computers in the world, we are fucked for any future privacy; and it will never go away or be erased because of it's valuable for personal, business and political gain! We CANNOT agree solely based upon the laptop theft which has already occurred. What about V.A. data loss?

Somehow we must band together to immediately stop this unlawful ingress into our privacy.

Posted by jayson | September 12, 2007 1:37 PM

Ive been being harrassed as well with this so called "American Community Survey" just another pain in the @ss our government seems to be imposing on us more an more year after year. Until people come together and stand up and take our government back it will only get worse. Here is another lie our government is telling us that they have brain washed us with, just do a search on "We the people" and you will realize it all to quickly, some agree some dont...I personally agree with this organization who is taking the fight to capital hill. The government purposely picks on the economically disadvantaged because they are financially unable to put up a fight.....hence the so called 5000 dollar fine with the census. Remember the upteen taxes imposed on us is suppose to deem the government to represent the PEOPLE not the other way around.

Posted by Anonymous | September 21, 2007 3:46 PM

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE! NOT....there is no way I will answer the ACS. IGNORE seems to be the best way to handle it. I had a census NAZI come in my back yard on 10/7/07. I was not nice. I sent her packing.

Given the one account I read where the worker charged battery, I'll just retreat to my home, lock the doors, retrieve my shotgun and wait on the couch.

WE NEED RON PAUL TO GET THIS COUNTRY BACK!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by glenn | October 8, 2007 10:29 AM

I went this the whole situation with ACS in summer of 2003. I had just moved to my new residence so I know nothing about any survey. The woman that came to my door told me it did not matter - I had to fill out survey as I now lived at address. She was so nasty about it that I promptly refused to do so, she then left some threatening literature at my door, which I threw in the trash. She showed up once again a few days later and told me they HAD to know where I was spending my nights - I couldn't believe it - I told her it was none of her business and then slammed the door in her face. She, of course, showed up again and as soon as I saw her I slammed door in her face. She stood outside my door for close to twenty minutes screaming at me through my front door saying it was illegal for me to not answer her questions.
I called the police but she was gone by the time they arrived. They told me to call them again if she ever showed up again. They told me she had NO right to harass me or cause any type of disturbance at my residence.
After that extremely unpleasent experience, I did contact the main U.S. Bureau of Statistus number that was listed on her card to complain. Her supervisor was even worse than the agent, she told me I was required to answer questions for survery and then told me she got my phone number from caller i.d. and was going to give my number to agent that had been harassing me at my home. Up until that point, I had not gotten any calls at my residence as my phone number was unlisted.
After that, I had to pay to get my phone number changed to stop calls from ACS. Amazingly though, I never heard from ACS again. I thought it was over.
Four years later, I get home form work, and there is thunderous knocking on my door, I thought is was my neighbors children as they like to knock on door and then hide sometimes. I didn't answer. I went out later and noticed there was a letter and card from, you guessed it, ACS about a health care survey. I don't recall having gotten anything in the mail from them, but I genearally throw out anything that looks like junk mail. I was more than a little stunned, this is twice in four years I have been RANDOMELY selected for this by ACS.
Thins have changed for me with within the last four years, I am now quite ill with Multiple Sclerosis and on average, I need 10-12 hours of sleep per night to be able to get through the next day. I suppose when I get home tonight from work, there will be this lady from ACS waiting for me. I'm just gonna tell her to 'bite me' and if she knocks on the door, I will put on my IPOD headphones and ignore her. I know from the last time that they will NOT fine you for not answering their questions. Their threats are truly hollow. I will set my house alarm and if she keeps knocking, she will set off the alarm for motion and the police will show up in a few minutes. Hopefully this will quickly dissuade this vile loathsome woman. This is the reality of BUSH America, harassing innocent citizens without a shred of compassion to obtain information for profiling. I believe I was chosen out for this survey as I am disabled and they perhaps see me, most incorrectly, as an easy target.
To those of you that are worried that you will be fined, from my experience, it is just a threat and nothing more. They will be ignored like the last time until they go away. That would be my advice for anyone having to deal with this NAZI brigade.

Posted by Andrea | October 23, 2007 6:13 PM

"BUSH America" - Just remember this whole ACS thing started in 1996 under the CLINTONS. ACS type questions were tested on small groups and in the 2000 census. Don't try to put the blame on one party. ALL PARTIES are evil and power hungry. Those in power will do whatever it takes to stay in power. Quit thinking so narrowly and see the big picture.

Posted by Bill | October 29, 2007 6:19 PM

Is there any reason I cant just say, fine me the $100 and leave me alone?

Posted by Lorrie | November 27, 2007 11:54 AM

Hi Lorrie -

None whatsoever. But I would suggest, based on the anecdotal evidence here, that you may be better off just trying to avoid it. You may end up simply not having to pay. Of course, that assumes that you have the stomach for it, which may not be the case. :)

Posted by Chad Everett | November 27, 2007 12:24 PM

the ACS has changed the info on their FAQ sheet to say that the US code title 13 as changed by title 18- imposes a penalty for not responding to the survey. But, on their website, it still says title 13 ss 221 imposes the penalty.
Does anyone know what that means, I cant find anything in title 18 about this. GRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Lorrie | November 30, 2007 4:17 PM

Forget the title 13 stuff, the census has not fined anyone and will not fine them. You can ignore the survey. If you have received the survey, you have entered the 90 day harassment cycle provided by the census. The first 30 days involves mailing the survey and reminder cards. The 2nd 30 days, various telemarketers claiming to be the CB will call to verify who you are and try to get you to respond to the survey questions. The last 30 days are the field rep visits ( only 1/3 of the non-responders will get a visit). When I started getting calls, I disconnected my phone. I have answered nothing. World Net Daily has a recent article about the ACS along with some prior articles. There are lots of outraged people out there on various blogs. Check out the operations plan on the CB website. It covers the whole harassment plan.

Posted by cathy | December 6, 2007 7:52 PM

I have had a women stalking me, trying to get her foot into my private home and find out every personal detail of my life, too.- she has been here twice. The first time I told her I would not take a valuable 1-2 hours of my free time to answer ANY personal questions about me or my family and NOT to come back. I called the number on the card she gave me and told them my name and address and how I felt about this outrageous tactic and the misuse of MY tax dollars! Quess what? The woman was sitting in her car at the end of my cultisac waiting for me to drive home, and was right on top of me as soon as I shut the front door.

I told her if they want to mail me an anonymous questionnaire I'd fill out whatever I felt was not an invasion of my privacy - namely how many people live here and ages etc. ONLY.

I don't know if she'll be back, but now I am actually paranoid and don't want leave or answer my door. Isn't stalking illegal????

I have been unable to obtain medical/health insurance. Do you really think I am going to reveal ANY of my personal health issues with a stranger or anyone unnecessarily??

I am definitely going to write to many people about this. I feel like I am suddenly living in Nazi communist country and not the US where our freedom of speach and privacy is our right!

Posted by andrea | December 10, 2007 12:36 PM

I have had a women stalking me, trying to get her foot into my private home and find out every personal detail of my life, too.- she has been here twice. The first time I told her I would not take a valuable 1-2 hours of my free time to answer ANY personal questions about me or my family and NOT to come back. I called the number on the card she gave me and told them my name and address and how I felt about this outrageous tactic and the misuse of MY tax dollars! Quess what? The woman was sitting in her car at the end of my cultisac waiting for me to drive home, and was right on top of me as soon as I shut the front door.

I told her if they want to mail me an anonymous questionnaire I'd fill out whatever I felt was not an invasion of my privacy - namely how many people live here and ages etc. ONLY.

I don't know if she'll be back, but now I am actually paranoid and don't want leave or answer my door. Isn't stalking illegal????

I have been unable to obtain medical/health insurance. Do you really think I am going to reveal ANY of my personal health issues with a stranger or anyone unnecessarily??

I am definitely going to write to many people about this. I feel like I am suddenly living in Nazi communist country and not the US where our freedom of speach and privacy is our right!

Posted by andrea | December 10, 2007 12:36 PM

Hang in Andrea. you are in the last part of the 90 day cycle. It will be over by the 27th of dec. The CB is sensitive to being accused of harassment, so your field rep should not be visiting more than 3 times.

Posted by cathy | December 10, 2007 1:37 PM

We are also being harassed by a census worker, who has now resorted to stopping by every day, weekends included, and well into the evening. Complaining to the CB does not appear to be effective - should we instead be contacting the police?

Posted by Christopher | December 20, 2007 10:48 AM

Christopher,
Just wait out your field rep. The visits should stop by the the 27th of the month so the reps can move on to the next group of victims in jan. The CB will record the types of complains in a effort to counteract them in the future. passive resistance gives them no info the counteract. Just remember this harassment when the 2010 census roles around!

Posted by cathy | December 22, 2007 6:40 PM

We'd like to know where we can file a FORMAL COMPLAINT about the godawful harassment by these self-elected Vigilantes & Bounty-hunters who have been harassing us for at least two
months.

Our situation is more dire than many of those described here and we feel that somebody with some CLOUT should investigate the invasive, abusive tactics of these people who work for CB.

My spouse was hospitalized in Intensive Care, near death, and for past few weeks his SURVIVAL has been the ONLY thing on our mind... And these EVIL CBers have relentlessly harassed us all throughout the past month, even though it was December, Christmas season! Spouse now has finally been released from hosp., but has been diagnosed with Stage IV Cancer, and we are still afraid to answer phone, even though we need to answer many doctor calls and are wracked with fear & worry over this terrible disease and his chemo treatment which could begin any time.

Instead of being able to have ANY freedom from worries and ANY peace or spiritual focus on the sacred holidays, we have had to be harassed by those EVIL CBers who call MANY times a day, and recently when we came home from doctor appointment, in dark, we saw someone sitting on neighbor's stoop with a clipboard. We RAN into our home and were afraid to turn on the lights.

Is this America or NAZI GERMANY???

These people should be SUED for harassment and criminal injuries to the peace of mind of innocent citizens.

WE HATE them and we will NEVER submit to their demands for our private info!!!

SHAME and ETERNAL DAMNATION to the gestapos behind all this Amerian Community Survey crap!!!

PS One of their calls came in just as I got out of shower, and I thought it was the surgeon who was about to do emergency heart surgery on spouse, and when I answered and they identified themselves as CB, I simply HUNG UP! To hell with them!

Can you imagine having these kind of personal horrors beset you, and having to deal with BULLSH*T from the Census Bureau like this?

This kind of BRUTAL HARASSMENT needs to be exposed and stopped!!!!

P.P.S. These invasive ****ers have called half a dozen times this evening alone; we've lost count of how many times they've called since they started their harassment--probably more than 100 calls. Who the hell do they think they ARE???

Posted by EnragedPrivatePerson | December 26, 2007 11:45 PM

I've gotten one too. This will be my second go-round with the Census Bureau. The last time was for the 2000 Census when they sent me to "long form". I won that one through polite stubbornness and I intend to win this one the same way.

It will be too expensive for them to get the answers from me.

Posted by Scarmig | January 3, 2008 8:54 AM

I am a social scientist (and in fact, have used survey research a lot in my career). The ACS would NEVER survive any insitutional review board at ANY university or research institution I have worked with...and any competent demographer knows that the only way to get data that are even close to accurate is to administer an anonymous survey with no personal identifying information. So it's very good that people are questioning this intrusion. My household has been selected for the ACS, and we will NOT be participating. And by the way, I'm a liberal Democrat!

Posted by CC | January 6, 2008 10:08 PM

I'm in Oregon....Got mine stuck in the door last week and read this entire page so knew what to expect.....Sure enough ambushed a visitor a couple of days ago, but I had already told visitor to expect ambush so agent got no info. Have you noticed that their "Request for Appoinment" look more like a parking ticket (that hard, stiff, thick yellowish paper). Agent gave visitor a "Security/Property Manager Information Sheet" with the usual legal threat (this maxed out at $500 fine). Agent must have thought visitor might be landlord or something. Plan is to dodge her for 90 days. At least I know what her car looks like. I actually considered following her but not sure how useful that would be. Thanks for everyones "expieriences". Came in handy........

Posted by X | January 7, 2008 3:51 PM

Hi, thanks for your website here. I got what I thought was a census form, but instead it was this weird form with strange priorities. When I read the question, "What time do you leave your home to go to work?' and also the question of the cross streets and building location of where I work - it sent the hairs up on the back of my neck. It sounded like someone wanted to know when/where they might bump me off.

The questions suggest sattelite surveillance or surveillance training. People are up there on the International Space Station, they have the info on when you leave your home address, and they can watch and study you, train novices on how to focus the equipment and implement the face recognition software, possibly for some future purpose. It might be kind of interesting to assemble a casual list of everyone of us who has received this invasive form, and kind of keep track of what happens to us in the future.

For example, we might really wish to see what similarities we might all currently share here. And what similar events we might share in the future. Who knows, the so-called "American Community Survey" might actually be a hit list.

Posted by Patti Morey | January 9, 2008 9:46 PM

I don't know how I managed to get so lucky - maybe they'll try to hit me up in 2010. I recieved my 'pre survey' notices, 2 surveys, and reminder cards before I got one phone call. That's right, just one.

I kept the survey long enough to share it with my parents and co-workers and get them p*ssed about it, too. I work at a state correctional facility, and everybody's general response was something along the line of the CB ACS could smooch their lily white keisters...who says state employees aren't smart?

Funny thing, the CB technically had a portion of my address incorrect. So when they called me (explain again to me please how an anon. survey is supposed to receive telephone calls?) I told the truth - that's not my address... after I was done playing dumb and telling them I wasn't buying or donating anything. =^)

But seriously...it may be possible to nip the harassment stage by informing them their info. is incorrect..and of course you won't give them your info over the phone. After all you have no idea who you're talking to, right? Simple self-preservation.

One more thing. Before I went to work for the state, I worked as a police officer. Reading about all the harassment and stalking (yes, that's what it IS folks,) just boggles the mind. I'd like to say I couldn't believe that would happen in the States. It's like some social experiment gone wrong. I don't know what the laws are in every part of the country, but I'm pretty sure the following is your best bet against these whackjobs:

1) After you've decided not to participate, Mr./Ms. CB is waiting for you at home.
2) Be Civil. Take their business card and information after you've identified them. Smile. (Yes, I know. Just pretend you give a sh*t about what they have to say. Just one more minute, promise. =-) This will help them to think you actually intend to cooperate with thier crazy inquisition. Basic psychology, folks.
3) Once you're satisfied you have enough information about THEM, politely and calmly inform them that neither they nor any other representative from the CB is welcome to contact you in any way. Inform them that if there IS any further contact, you will immediately inform the police and file a complaint using the information you just gathered from them. If you're feeling super vicious, inform them you're also going to write to all the papers' editorial sections and publish any harassment with their names attached. Tee hee.
4) Follow through. CB will try to call your bluff. Don't get flustered. Don't give them anything verbal or physical to use against you.
5) Relax. They probably screen these employees for bullying tendencies. Don't give them any satisfaction.

Good Luck to All!

Posted by Got Lucky | January 10, 2008 4:05 PM

Anyone ever hear of a data set? It's basically a collection of specific information that can be viewed/ analyzed multiple ways.

Check this out and then tell me ACS and private enterprise are going to keep that info confidential....

Posted by Irked | January 10, 2008 4:41 PM

One of the driving forces behind the creation of the ACS is a group called COSSA. This is a group of social, behavioral and economic scientists. Cossa is a member of the 2010 census advisory committee and has lobbied congress to keep funding the CB's invasive projects. And no, none of this data is intended to be private. The Cossa site has a list of its members and many articles involving the census surveys. If the ACS is a success, there will be more surveys to follow.

Posted by cathy | January 12, 2008 4:04 PM

Hi, just to let you know that after reading all the horrendous harrassment people here have described, I decided to go ahead and do my survey. I'm an old cat, too old and nervous... But the ACLU has a section about the survey on their website: they are encouraging people to write to their political leaders to protest those weird intrusive questions on the survey. So, I encourage everyone who reads this to do that. God bless.

Posted by Patti Morey | January 15, 2008 12:23 AM

What I see here is a bunch of paranoid individuals! What do you really think is "private" about your live anymore? If you use ATM or credit cards, financial institutions have more information than you care to have people know. If you use "preferred Customer" cards in the grocery store, they even know how much junk food you buy every trip to the store. Red Light Cameras at intersections, will catch you trying to sneak thru an intersection and give you a ticket by way of United States mail, and how can you be sure what that bar code the Postal Service puts in your mail really means.

I've seen the survey, and nothing there seems all that personal to me, unless you have 15 people in your household, or your mortgage payment is $3,000 a month, and you only make $20,000 a year. But then again, some of us have nothing to hide, so we aren't upset by questions that have a reason.

Posted by Lo Wa | January 19, 2008 10:29 PM

Lo Wa,
The point here is that some people actually value their privacy. If you don't, that's fine. Yes, thers's alot of info out there already, but it's not all packaged up in a tidy questionaire. What little I have that is still private will remain private. I don't appreciate the government using its power to bully citizens into supplying private info so the behavioral and social scientists have material to analyze and study.

Posted by cathy | January 24, 2008 3:31 PM

Well about 3 weeks ago I got "The American Community Survey" and I did not think much of it. I actually began filling it out, thought it was a bit intrusive but the further I went, the more outraged I became. The questions being ask can have no value to if we need more schools in my community, why is that the business of the federal government anyhow, some of it is simply an outright intrusion into our private lives. If it is truly a random survey why do we have to respond giving names and birthplaces? I can easly come up with a survey system that would truly pull addresses at random, forward the survey to a household in a neighborhood, retreive the answers and have them returned idendified only by a voter district or typical house. What is with all the detail about the individual?
To those who feel they have nothing to hide, well if they would please forward me their SSN, Name, home address and home phone number, I will be sure to pass it along to folks who might have use of that information. Remember, "freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose"
I am a Vietnam Vet and have worked for 35 years diligently to make a home for myself and family. I am a patriot and I pay my taxes on all my income without cheeting, will not short change a commerical enterprize and believe most everyone has at least one good thing about them which gives them some intrinsic value. But this survey just is not getting it! I find it interesting that it is aganist the law for the IRS(a federal agency) to share their information with the US Census Bureau(a federal agency) but it is unlawful for me, a private citizen, not to share this information with them? I guess the folks at the IRS or whoever structured the rules about the IRS' code were smarter than those who allowed the CB to stick their nose into our private business. Has the ACLU taken a position on this survey?

Posted by Ray Lynch | January 28, 2008 12:58 AM

I received my ACS last Friday and the CB was thoughtful enough to send me a reminder card two days ago. Completing this pernicious survey is SO not going to happen. There's quite a lenthy thread about the ACS on the Survival Arts web site.

If you receive this survey and decide in your heart of hearts that the info requested is too personal, too over the top (my view) you can certainly refuse to comply. The last time the CB had anyone fined was 1960, their threats to fine people who refuse to fill out the survey are smoke. The 90 day harassment cycle is their best shot: 30 days of mail contact, 30 days of phone calls and 30 days of field rep visits.

To me, that's a small price to pay for refusing to cough up very personal data to a nanny government run amock. It troubles me to have to refuse to comply because I believe citizens do have obligations to their government and their community: voting, serving on juries, paying one's tax obligation, being law-abiding. Unfortunately, this intrusive survey that my government proudly markets as a "data product" breaks the compact. I cannot and will not comply.

Posted by Tom | February 6, 2008 12:34 PM

I got the survey in December and immediately decided I was not going to answer it. Most of the info is available in one computer or another,so if they need it let them find it. I put my name and reported that there were two people in my household and mailed it back to them. About two weeks later I got a call asking about the survey. I said that I had mailed it back and the lady calling claimed they didn't get it. She said that she would send me another. I got it a bout a week later and threw it away. I started getting daily messages on my answering machine to call them. I answered the phone on a Saturday night at 9:30 pm thinking it was someone I knew and it was the damn people about the survey. I hung up. They continued to leave messages daily and sometimes again in the evening. I never answered. They have finally stopped. No one ever came to the door or let anything. I have expressed my concerns about this extremely intrusive and unnecessary attempt to invade my life to my congressman and both senators.

Posted by nothanks | February 20, 2008 11:02 PM

Hi All,

We got the survey and subsequent mails in January and the string of phone calls in February, until I finally confronted one of the phone callers with my concerns. Here's what I got out of it:

You don't have to answer any questions you don't like - but don't leave it blank, or they'll call back to see if you missed it. Instead put in an "R" for
"refuse to answer"

You don't have to use your real name - but again don't leave it blank. Instead put in "Lady of the house" or "Gentleman of the house" or even "Person1" or "Person 2" etc. Per the caller, some people even use pseudonyms such as "mickey mouse" and "daffy duck"!

My gut feel: they can't force you to answer any questions, but they don't tell you that in advance in order to get the most information out of you. It's a strategy that works with many naive citizens!

Posted by Sassan | February 22, 2008 9:59 AM

I live in Northern Oregon and have just begun the 90 day cycle. Intitial notification, then survey. I started to fill it out but then said NO WAY and burned it. The return envelope did not seem to have trackable info on it so I put this letter in it and sent it back:

Director
US Census Bureau
PO Box 5240
Jeffersonville, IN 47199-5240

I have received your American Community Survey and I must say that it appears at first to be a classic example of Phishing for information to be used in Identity Theft. The only thing missing is a Nigerian postmark. But I understand that this is an actual request from our government!

I am a responsible citizen and willing to help the Census Bureau with the information it needs to make informed decisions. However, your survey is quite intrusive into specific information that should not be needed. And I cannot risk providing. My obligations are to protect my family first, and to be a good citizen second.

You need to know how many persons are living in a household. I understand that. But you require the first name, last name, and middle initial of each person living there. This cannot be needed for census information.

You need to know the age of each person, I understand that. But you require the actual birth dates of each person. This cannot be needed for census information.

You need to know if each person is employed, I understand that. But you require that we provide the name and address of our employers. This cannot be needed for census information.

You need to know certain information about commuting habits, I understand. But you ask what time each person leaves the house. This cannot be needed for census information. This would be great information for thieves to have.

You also ask for a great deal of financial information. We provide this info each year to the IRS.

By cross-referencing this data you can create an almost complete identity profile. The only thing missing is the Social Security Number. But you probably ask for that in the follow up phone calls because you also require a phone number to contact.

Other unscrupulous persons, not associated with the Survey could just call asking for this information to complete the survey. It is a given that they will. Because people, especially the old, trust the good will of the government. This survey is putting many people at risk.

Please don’t try to assure me how safe this information is in your hands. I am not impressed with the security skills of the public sector. Every act that creates something like the American Community Survey also contains provisions by which you are absolved of all responsibility for failure to protect this information. I have to provide the info, you don’t have to protect it.

Only a very naive person would fill out this survey with all the risk associated with the need to protect personal security.

Please don’t tell me that I will be fined for failure to participate. I doubt that you can really prosecute a person for an attempt to protect themselves. My reasons for withholding the information are valid. I am not convinced that your need for specific data is.

After I print this I will be forwarding it to both my congress man/woman and my state representative.

Yours skeptically,

Well, you already know. (end of letter sent)

And then I sent it to my representatives. No response yet. My family has been instructed not to provide any info in person or by phone to anyone from the Survey. Assuming they have the phone numer for this address, it is simply an answering machine as we all have cells. If a CB rep shows up in person, they will be asked for identification and then told to leave. And I've got the local cops on speed dial if they don't. The cops can come to your home without permision but everyone else has to leave when you tell them. The census people are not allowed to stay after being told to leave. Wish me luck for the next 2 months.

Posted by Lazarus | March 6, 2008 10:07 PM

We received our first personal visit yesterday (click on my blog link if you want to read it). We refused to answer ANY questions, not even the head count, since this is not a census year.

To all of you who are fighting this--stay strong! We are doing the right thing!

Lazarus--I've seen the text of your letter on several websites now and I just love it! Would you be willing to put it in a comment on my blog, or allow me to post it on my blog? I want to give you credit for it, so I will not do it unless you let me know in some way. Hopefully, you are watching these comments.

Posted by Rational Jenn | March 15, 2008 3:16 PM

To Rational Jenn, of course you may post my letter on your blog. ghardester@centurytel.net is my e-mail address if need that.

Got my second copy of the survey in the mail on Saturday 3-22. Still amazed that they are bold enough to ask for this information! I'm kind of out in the boondocks so I doubt if they will try for a personal visit. If they show up I will use my camera on the cell phone to take a picture of their ID, license plate and them before telling them, nicely, that they must leave. They have no law enforcement capabilty. It's a bully bluff.

Posted by Lazarus | March 23, 2008 7:43 PM

I like your letter too Lazarus. I've been busy myself after the ACS attack and did some research and tied the ACS to Data Protection and Identity Theft issues.

Here's my letter that can be used and adapted by anyone prior to the end of this 110th Congressional Session. Find your representatives addresses at Senate.gov and House.gov;

As a sidenote, I do disagree with the GAO on the issue of the ACS being legally mandatory...but they point out so many other flaws in the system that they are still a good source for a starting point.

---------------

XXXXXXXX 7, 2008

The Honorable XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
United States Senator—(State) or (State) ## District ## XXXX House Office Bldg.
XXX Hart Senate Bldg. or XXX
Washington, DC 20510-1501 or Washington, DC 20515

Dear Senator or Representative xxxxxxxx:

[quote…news article…comment…or something about their support to help with Data Protection.]

The Feb. 2008 Economic Report of the President states that both: 2002 CIPSEA and FISMA Acts are effectively being implemented in regard to Data Protection. This contradicts the January GAO report: see GAO-08-343. I am concerned about how the rush to push Data Sharing to Improve Statistics in Chapter 8 would further degenerate the already improper handling of our Personal Identification Information.

Please do all you can to see the following legislation gets signed into law during this 110th Congressional Session. It is embarrassing that we need to have legislation to ensure our Government Protects our Data—but it must be done.

1) H.R. 4791. This Federal Agency Data Protection Act further amends 44 U.S.C. and satisfies most of the identified flaws by expert critics that remain in the 2002 CIPSEA and FISMA Acts. Though, I think the definition of Personally Identified Information needs to be the same as:
18 U.S.C. § 1028(a)(7). See GAO historical specifics on the breaches in GAO-08-496T.

2) S 495. This Personal Data Privacy and Security Act covers Government Agencies as well as Commercial entities, most importantly the Dataminers with reasonable responsibility and accountability measures.

Why do I bring these issues up? It dovetails as the crux of the real concerns about the coveted American Community Survey (ACS). There is a growing non-partisan groundswell of discontent that a simple Web-search will uncover. I know this is a vital organ for Federal Funding, but the Bureau’s approach with this tool is wrong on so many levels, it will no doubt affect the upcoming 2010 Decennial Census response rates. See: GAO 08-259T.

Sincerely,
name
address
city state zip
tele:
email:

Posted by Luci | March 24, 2008 2:05 PM

Very well worded. The very basic defenses that we are advised to use to protect ourselves from identity theft are in direct conflict with the ACS questions.

Let me be clear, I am not an anti-government person. But the Survey really does put a person more at risk if you answer the questions, than if you do not.

Posted by Lazarus | March 25, 2008 11:38 PM

Thanks Lazarus. I too am not an anti-gov person either--but this ACS crosses so many lines. One of which is the HIPPA Privacy Laws for ADA statistics and that is so blatantly wrong for technology today and in the future.

Due to fact that another ACS - FOIA site: Survivalarts.com--that had a nice collection of complaints collected--is mysteriously off-line now for who knows how long. I suggest folks might want to at least copy the info that they would like to reference again from this site on to a separate document. Just in case its not a coincidence--I reserve the right to blame all temporary-paranoia on the ACS!
=-D

I also recommend writing to any of your Congressional Reps serving on the

Oversite and Government Reform Committee.

Remember the VA Hospital scandel that would be fixed? Well the 2009 submitted Pres-Budget cut their funding by $20 Billion...I used that slight of hand to set the stage for this one and is harder hitting.

XXXX 25, 2008

The Honorable XXXXX XXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Re: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
Washington, DC xxxxx-xxxx

Dear Representative XXXXXX:

I would rather see us supporting our Veterans with $20 billion from 2009 – 2013, than what will soon be $20 billion on the Census Bureau’s re-engineering project. When a project has everything but the kitchen-sink, typically costs continue to escalate with no justifiable documentation or decision path explanations. Though, it is vital that the 2010 Decennial not have the errors of 1990 and 2000, as we are in need of a General Election without a hint of suspicion.

Your role on the Committee on Oversight and Reform is critical. Please keep your watchful eye on this Project. Why?

1) In preliminary re-engineering statements, the Census Bureau argued operational efficiencies will make a short form with the continuous measure ACS a less expensive option than a mixed long-and-short-form traditional. At this point, there are enough ACS results to do an actual apples-to-apples cost comparison with inflationary adjustments—have they produced that yet? My guess is that we’re spending more with minimal benefits.

The human factor of the American Public has been lost to yet another statistical measure labeled as “hard to interview” totally disregarding the Bureau’s failed approach. Many of the ACS questions are considered unanswerable and intrusive. For instance, the 2007 questions of physical, mental or emotional health collide with HIPAA privacy laws while trying to achieve ADA measurements. I have to ask—has the Secretary and Census Director been given too much leeway?

2) The follow-up calls with the Census Bureau’s new Cisco ARS-PG virtual phone queuing system can easily be misconstrued as surveillance wiretapping. I personally don’t think a system that parks on a direct line should be used outside of a contained business-partner environment. Add to that the many online personal experiences of Census Enrollers seemingly stalking their victims--how did we get to this point? Can tacticians get honest “qualified” data with this obtrusive pressurized sales approach? And how will those people respond to a hand-held wireless computer carrying Census Enroller for 2010? It does not look promising for the next administration.

The Statistical Policy Report on Disclosure was updated in 2005 with Confidentiality and Data Access. In Chapter V it discusses confidentiality issues of our synthesized personally identifiable information into microdata. It glibly concludes that there is "no way" to eliminate disclosure risk of confidential information, even with appropriate masking. On page 98 it states: “Any disclosure of confidential data on microdata files may constitute a violation of the law or of an agency's policy…” Then consider the near future: There are doctoral thesis papers available online discussing the risk of re-identification with both Medical DNA and Biomedical Genomic-familial database technology stating that the potential exists for serious privacy violations.

3) It does not take a doctoral degree in Marketing to know that all those Dataminers are supported by the Census Bureau’s MAF-TIGER data and the USPS delivery sequence address data to sell our Personal Privacy to unknown potential Identity Thieves—let alone the mountains of unwanted junk mailers.

In fact, the Dataminers harbor their rights to our Personal Identifiable Information on a forever Identity Theft risk basis. Have you ever tried to get off of one of their lists? Several of my dead relatives remain on their list even after providing death information, so it is never updated. Death will not get a name removed; meanwhile Eternity now has . . . a whole new meaning.

[ share your personal experience with the ACS here.]

So while at the FTC they tell the American Public how to keep from becoming a statistic on the Identity Theft list, at the Department of Commerce they fail to protect the Data with our Personal Identifiable Information. Though it’s the Databrokers that use the Census Bureau information, the Bureau is knowingly aware of re-identification technology and I believe is already in violation of the law and Agency policy by blatantly exposing our confidential information on microdata files. Representative XXXXXX, I wonder if there is anyone guarding the gate beyond the one that says Executive Privilege?

That is why I’d like to see the soon to be $20 Billion at the Census Bureau be reallocated and put into taking care of something we can put our arms around – our Veterans – rather than an out of control re-engineering project that puts all of our Personal Privacy and Identities at risk.

[ a personalized thank you for their support would be good here.]

Respectfully,

Name
Street Address
Town and Zip

Email
Tele:

Posted by Luci | March 27, 2008 9:19 PM

OBTW--

It's not likely you'll ever get arrested or fined--unless of course if you hit the Census Enroller--because of the above mentioned 2005 Statistical Policy Report on Disclosure.

They must know it'll never stick in a court of law--not until they change their procedures, start minimizing the usage and monitoring the release of data as well as strictly regulating the Dataminers use of such products.

Posted by Luci | March 27, 2008 10:00 PM

A loop-hole:

The ACS does not have a specified due date. The envelope and cover page state to "return it as soon as possible". Does that mean minutes? hours? days? weeks? years? It should have stated something like: "within 30 days of receiving", but it doesn't.

I know my taxes are due April 15th. How about the ACS? Has anyone stumbled upon a deadline?

Posted by Timeless | March 28, 2008 2:01 PM

The CB has its own deadlines outlined in its operations manual. Each survey is barcoded to provide the info as to when a survey is sent. You are given 2 weeks to respond to the first survey. After the 90 day harrassment cycle a resident is off the hook for responding Rarely, but occasionally, the harassment has lasted an additional month.

Posted by cathy | March 29, 2008 3:15 PM

We received a copy of the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey this week addressed to "RESIDENT", and informing us that compliance is mandatory, under penalty of law.

The first questions on the form are your name, Social Security #, and phone #. By the way, the form says, right there in black & white, that the US Census Bureau will protect our identities, and that employees who infringe on our privacy can be fined up to $250,000. Do you trust the US Census Bureau, its computer system, and all its employees (down to the poll-taker who comes to your home to harass you after non-compliance with the mail-in and telephone queries) to not only keep your personal data safe, but to not share it with other government agencies or individuals who could then use the data against you (i.e., cross indexing your ethnicity against your income and income sources and/or your travel patterns).

I called our so-called Independent Senator, Bernie Sanders, to get his take on it. I got the Census 101 speech by the office lackey. Then she asked my name and address... Of course, this is exactly the problem. All these damned federal employees want to know who I am. I haven't bothered calling Senator Leahy or Congressman Welch just yet... after all, isn't Bernie always spouting off about civil liberties? He's a politician who talks a good game.

I wanted to make this an issue. But politicians will not encourage or support a lawbreaker, as the lackey clearly told me. And the mainstream media has ignored the implications for privacy and protection thereof, even though the track record of the US Census Bureau is proven -- our personal data is NOT SAFE.

Do some Google searches on the American Community Survey, and see if you can find one news story about it or complaints regarding the law or noncompliance. Why do the news media ignore the thousands of complaints they receive about this issue? Of course, you get published in a letter to the editor, but you can only respond to news that's been in the paper -- and there's the conundrum. All this talk of privacy and the Internet is sexy. It's not sexy to get into a political story about why our Congressional representatives are allowing the Department of Commerce to aggregate this data for their campaign contributors, to ask uncomfortable questions, to help protect individual freedoms.

Seen any Government laptops around lately? If so, you may have had access to data that correlates income, travel patterns, professional details, workplace, and other personal data to help you not only identify any respondent and their residence, but to also assume their identity!

Forget about the fact that information about American Japanese in WWII and Arab-Americans after 9-11 was given over to government interrogators by Census employees!

I am happy to answer population questions. I want the government to know how many people live here, and even how our complexion is changing, and how Americans become low-wage earning slaves of the corporations to which the government will provide access to this data for the purposes of selling us stuff.

But I will never provide my name or personal data -- or that of the people for whom I am responsible -- to a government agency other than the IRS, and I do that against my will as it is, only under threat of imprisonment or of leins on my property, which would be extremely inconveneient for my marriage, fatherhood, and happiness.

Both of these agencies are illegitimate and unconstitutional. The USCB because it cannot mandate participation or truthfulness, and the IRS because we are taxed for services by a federal government who would use our own resources to mandate unconstitutional behavior (such as submitting to questions against our will).

Posted by Vermont Cynic | April 2, 2008 1:03 PM

Vt Cynic,
The reason why you can't find unfavorable stories about the ACS is because of the CB's "rapid response team" which will swoop in and convince the media, congressman, etc that our cooperation is essential to the success of the data mining. Worldnet Daily has a few articles on the ACS. (Just search the site for the ACS. ) There are other published articles which can no longer be accessed most likely due to CB intervention. Since noone will be fined, The CB counts on harassment and intimidation to gain information. Since the ACS runs under the radar, the CB has supplied state governments, libraries, and churches with the benefits of the public particpating in this survey. The only thing which will stop this survey, is a congressional budget cut. All of this personal info is being fed to a huge group of behavorial and social scientists. Further, this survey is a screening tool to select residences for other voluntary surveys.

Posted by cathy | April 3, 2008 12:51 PM

I have never gotten a survey but one time before 9/11 I received a call from someone who said they were taking a survey and were under the U.S. Census Bureau. They started asking me if I was a jew, if I had children, their names and addresses, if anyone in my family was a jew.
I told them I did not feel comfortable telling anyone that and they asked "why?". I said it sound scary- like the holocaust and what Hitler did. They tried to convince me that was not what they were doing. I told them how I didn't know but what they would come to my house to try to arrest me or take me out in the middle of the night.
Later I tried contacting the census bureau and they said they didn't have anyone like that. I also tried to see if my phone had a number but I don't think it worked when I tried to call back and of course i forgot to write the name of the person down. (I was in the laundry room downstairs)
So when my daughter said she got the survey, I said that sounds like an invasion of privacy. Plus I remember the previous call.
It sounds like it goes against the constitution. (especially the sex questions and what time I go to work. anyone could pose as a survey taker.
Years ago I remember a "gov. agent" came to my aunt's house and asked a lot of questions and said she had to answer them. They asked if she had diamonds or furs . She got mad and cussed and told them it was none of their business. They told her they were to charge a "tax" on those items. She said well I wouldn't tell you if I did or didn't have them. And she refused to tell them anything personnal.
Scary though what they try to make" you think" you have to tell.

Posted by american citizen | April 3, 2008 10:53 PM

I just got my first evening phone call! My caller ID showed that it was the Census Bureau but I answered anyway because I want them to know how I feel. I'm so excited that the future direction of our country depends on my answering the questions. They just can't make decisions without it. The guy was very nice but I told him that the questions were too intrusive, and he told me that all personally identifiable info was stripped off when the data was entered. I said, then why ask it? and he didn't have an answer. He did say that he thought the same thing when he first saw the questions. I told him it would be fine to ask for our ages but not the birthdays. Said that schools would need to know which class to put a person in, etc? Told him that I understood the desire to know if we have jobs but we weren't about to give out the names and address' of our employers, etc. He was trained to believe that collecting the data was just fine and good and wasn't prepared to address the "why" of the questions. Then he told me we could just answer 'Person A' Person B, etc and just aproximate the other answers. I said "I'm treatened with a fine for giving false answers too" I was not rude but I ended our little talk by telling him that I understood how hard his job must be but that we were not going to participate. I think he was personally understanding of my position, but I do not think this will be the last phone call.

Posted by Lazarus | April 3, 2008 11:38 PM

American citizen,

It is not uncommon for conartists to use gov agency as a cover for their scams. The was a recent email scam which used a good copy of the IRS logos to collect bank and SS# info. Watch for more scams as the 2010 census approaches. Just because a person has an ID doesn't mean it isn't fake. Most of the public could not tell the difference between the real thing and a fake. During the house visits for the 2000 census, there were lots of complains about phony CB workers as well as CB workers who were not screened sufficiently to prevent their employment. In addition, the use of handheld computers for the 2010 census has been scraped. All that money wasted. Our government's hard work down the drain. So it's back to pencil and paper for the next census.

Posted by cathy | April 4, 2008 8:09 AM

My apologies to those of you here who are also posting to my own blog about the ACS: I've moved to a new city, am back in college, and just went heads-down for a few months. The thread "'None of Your Business!': the American Community Survey" is back in business.

Keep up the good fight, folks!

Posted by Russell Whitaker | April 4, 2008 10:39 AM

We are in the last part (probably) of the 90 day cycle. We got the form sometime in January. After browsing through it, I pitched it. I got another form a few weeks later. Pitched it too.

We stopped using our land line, we screen calls, do not pick up any call if we don't recognize the number. CB has not been able to talk to us at all in the past month or two since they started.

Now a CB agent is seeking an appointment. Left an envelope and a note behind. I pitched it. (actually, I am shredding everything)

I am wondering about taking a "SAY NOTHING" approach. If I happen to open the door and its the CB agent, can I simply say nothing and close the door? Same thing if the person accosts me in my yard. I intend to say nothing, walk away, get into my house and close the door. I have no intention of letting the person into my house at all. I don't think they can force their way into my house. Can the agent BLOCK my driveway so I could not leave the house? I don't know what their rights are. Would I be within my rights to call the police if something of that sort happens?

I have read most of this blog. Its unfortunate that our reps won't do a thing about it. Knowledge is power, and once reps (from any party) are in power, they will do everything to stay in power.

Fundamentally, I am very very liberal. I do not try to get out of jury duty, I pay my taxes (and not really feel bad about it :-). I vote, even in local elections. But I WILL NOT answer this survey.

As CB is now collecting information on a continuous basis, they could simply start the cycle all over again, year after year. I guess we just have to learn to ignore this, and go about our lives.

Posted by joe | April 5, 2008 9:08 PM

Yes, the Community Survey is to take the place of the 10 year census, since that info is out of date very soon after collected. It is to become a rolling count in addition to the census. But the 10 year census will also be done. I think the Census Bureau is going to have a hard time with the 2010 census count simply because not enough has been done in the last ten years to protect the information that is collected. Not just by the census, but by all government and private agents. The prevalance of identity scams and a host of other phone, internet, etc scams have trained people that they should only give out information on a "need to know" basis. If I am taking out a loan, then the bank needs my income, credit history, assets, etc. Just because someone wants it to create a demographic picture of my area in order for the government to 'better provide' for me and my community, is not a valid reason. This is not about Liberal or Conservative politics.

Posted by Lazarus | April 6, 2008 7:36 PM

Joe,
Just don't answer the door if a field rep comes to you house. There is no law which requires you to read your mail, answer the phone or open your door. If you are caught outside, then you can just ignore the rep and walk away. Each rep has his/her own style. They probably won't block your driveway. The ignore and avoid strategy worked for me. On Rational Jenn's site, she has posted a very entertaining interaction with her field rep.
As for the cycle of the ACS, the plan is to have each residence receive the ACS once every 5 years. During the 2010 census year, the ACS will still be sent to the lucky 320,000 residences each month. I have read posts on other sites where some are receiving the ACS for a second time.

Posted by cathy | April 7, 2008 2:36 PM

Thank you Cathy.
I intend to follow the "ignore" strategy. Lets see what happens.

Point I was trying to make in my earlier note was that our reps are not going to help us with this because they can USE some of the information that is being collected to help them stay in power. Why would they change anything.

Same issue with the patriot act and all that. When the next administration step in, what are the chances that they will make changes to the current policies (wire-tapping, interrogation techniques and so so?) None in my opinion. Because now THEY will benefit from such practices. No one gives up power voluntarily.

As such, the only thing citizens can do is what we are trying to do.

Its strange that the ACLU does not lift a finger on this issue at all.

Oh well. Life goes on.

Thanks
joe

Posted by joe | April 7, 2008 4:01 PM

Our reps have been seduced by knowing the demographic they serve so they can pander rather than represent their voters. The ACLU only cares that the CB not ask about religion, everything else is fair game. There are various special interest groups driving the ACS intrusion. The CB is targeting Katrina victims (to follow relocation preferences) and hispanics( pushed by hispanic lobby groups to provide additional services.) A marriage and family study group has pushed for the marital history questions and another group wants to study college graduates who are not working in their field of study. The CB has its "rapid response team" for squelching any unfavorable stories in the media and to convince public officials how necessary it is to have our cooperation. Behavioral and social scientists have lobbied hard to have the CB add questions and expand the intrusion by saying that society benefits from knowing about its people, when all these data junkies want to do is publish papers in their journals.

Posted by cathy | April 8, 2008 2:06 PM

Let me cut straight to the chase & assuage all your concerns. I just went thru the gamut of emotions expressed herein, and it sucks.
THE GOOD NEWS IS:
When this D.C. lackey finally does show up at your door, ask for their card (if you do not answer the door, they will leave it anyway, along with a BS paper reminding you of the `law'.
Nonetheless, call them from a pay fone the next day, and they will do the survey from their laptop. I completed the survey, and gave "NO INFORMATION" responses to 99.9% of the questions. They take it ALL, & you are done in 5 mins.

Once completed, they are satisfied & you have gotten rid of them from your life, and made a deserving mockery of the entire farce.
Power to the People,
J

Posted by Jimbo | April 9, 2008 7:39 AM

I just found this page, and it's very interesting to me. I work at a non-profit dedicated to helping women and children in the south gain access to food stamps, health care, etc, and we use frequently use this type of data, and specifically data from the American Community Survey and CPS supplements to write grant proposals or various health reports. For instance, we might apply for a grant to do work on food stamp outreach and refer to this survey and say, in this particular county, 11% of people are on food stamps with an additional 20% eligible, and we can determine that based on the survey responses people provide.

Posted by Michael | April 9, 2008 11:20 AM

Michael,
I can understand the value of the survey. These are my objections about the survey:
each survey form is identifiable via a bar code
survey forms ask for names and birthdates
forms ask about details of income (not just a general range)
other things like commute times to work etc.
mental problems if any
marital history

The list goes on and on
- and this growing list of questions leads me to believe that more questions will be added in the future pertaining to medical history, sexual preference, religion and so on.

ALL this data is trackable back to particular people thru the survey form bar code

The survey is sent to "randomly" selected addresses (quite strange in that I got the log form in 89 or 90, and again in 2000 (after i had moved to the current address). getting selected 3 times in a row through a random selection process is not quite plausible to me.

Not all citizens get this survey, AND they CLAIM it is MANDATORY - its applying rules to a subset of the population - which in my opinion is wrong.

This is why I won't answer the survey.

joe

Posted by joe | April 9, 2008 12:38 PM

Michael,
Ever think that a person can be eligible for a progam and not want to participate in that program? Along come the ACS trolling for people to scoop up into programs. The less the gov does the better things would be. I would rather be uninsured than have a government mandated program. While you may need and use the data, so do lots of other agencies. The social program excuse is part of the ruse used to gather private info. How about doing an outreach to give people skills rather than a handout. The ACS is the quickest way toward the establishment of a nanny state. I don't want to be surveyed, studied, screened or anything else. The CB has no business collecting this info with a manditory survey. If people want to volunteer the info, fine.

Posted by cathy | April 9, 2008 7:01 PM

joe, I am curious as to whether or not you have ever been fined for not filling out the survey since you have received it 3 times. I am on my first and am now receiving the home visits, which I am avoiding. Just trying to stay a step ahead and figure out what to expect next...

Posted by sky | April 10, 2008 9:17 PM

It has been more than 40 years since the Census Bureau has recomended that ANYONE be fined. The threat is a farce. The Census Bureau has no law enforcement capabilities, they have no authority to stay on your property after you ask them to leave. They would need to refer a case to the Dept of Justice for a fine. After the recent fiasco with the lap top computers that were to be used for the up coming 2010 census, they have egg on their faces, heads may roll. And they are not about to start issuing fines after 40 years and right before the BIG ONE in 2010. They are already screwing up and are going to stay very quiet. Just politely refuse and they won't/can't do anything about it.

I'm in the second month and getting phone messages about every 3rd day on the home recorder. Everyone uses cells and the home phone is rarely answered.

Posted by Lazarus | April 11, 2008 12:11 AM

sky,
Last 2 times, my wife let the person in (8 and 18 years ago :-) and that time (I think) the questions were less intrusive. Both times they were long forms.

The fact that this is the 3rd time I am getting the long form, even after I moved from my previous residence, leads me to believe that this is indeed NOT random, they TRACK who answered, and go after them - most probably assuming that the likelihood of getting another response might be pretty high. (My phone number has remained the same throughout the past 20 years - maybe that is how they track people who respond)

In this cycle I got the ACS form for the first time in Dec 07 OR Jan 08 - don't remember cos I shredded it. I got another one in February I think which I shredded also. Then the phone messages started, and we simply stopped taking them. We have not responded to any VM messages.

Now one person has started visiting (1 visit so far), and leaves messages. I do not intend to answer or let her into my house. I intend to wait this one out and see what happens.

So IF a fine happens, it will be this time, last 2 time I complied.

joe

Posted by joe | April 11, 2008 9:25 AM

Joe, you're right, it's not random. The CB does have targeted households. The data users want to track the progress of the people they wish to study. The ACS info is used to identify the new targeted households. And just think, you'll get the ACS again in 5 years. You won't be fined. If you live in a town with less than 65,000 people, the CB reps will try harder to get you to comply, since smaller populations get fewer surveys making each completed survey more important. I had 2 different reps come to my residence. At the end of the month, they were gone. I did get a postal survey 2 months later. The fun thing was that my address was wrong on both surveys. I wonder if the address will be wrong on the 2010 census too.

Posted by cathy | April 11, 2008 1:57 PM

An interesting note, the survey must not be as random as they say. Got another call from a woman at the Census today. When she tried to verifiy my address she had my current street address and an old RR box address from many years ago. You see, several years ago the rural route box numbers were replaced with numbered street address' to help with the 911 system. No one has refered to this address that way for a long time. But they have it on file. The box numbers were not on any mailings they have sent here. But it's in the file, along with who knows what.
Interesting to know that they have a file on this address, an old file, it wasn't just pulled at random from a current address database. I refused to answer any questions and she told me it was mandatory. I started to tell her that the treat of a fine was bogus and she was very careful to point out that she had not threated or mentioned a fine. She said she would just mark the case as 'refused' and hung up. My case will probably get booted along to the next caseworker.

Posted by Lazarus | April 12, 2008 4:11 PM

Inorder for the selection to be truely random, each residence needs to have an equal chance to be selected, which is not happening. The CB started by selecting places with a population larger than 65,000. In an effort to remain below the radar with the ACS in small towns, the CB will take 5 years to gather the data points it can gather in 1 year from a larger population. By not having a followup on all non-responding residences causes less randomness. All residences need to be treated the same way. Does anyone think that celebs get the ACS? I've only heard of one congressman getting the ACS and it was for a vacation property.
Lazarus, if you do get a field rep, I wonder if he/she will correct your address for the 2010 census. I not counting on mine being corrected. Mine had the wrong town.

Posted by cathy | April 12, 2008 6:04 PM

I live in a very small community of a couple thousand people. An un-incorporated area without local government, except at the county and state level. No city counsel or anything like that, yet. I'm sure that the ACS will send a field rep to contact me eventually. My wife just bought me an upgraded cell phone with 4 gb memory that does everything. When the rep shows up I intend to be polite, take a picture of his ID, and then use the video while I tell him/her that they are trespassed from my property and ask them if they intend to comply. They will have to send yet another field rep if they want to continue harrassing me. I have discussed this with the sheriff, and they cannot stay after you tell them to leave. And if you insist that they not come back, they can be arrested. You must remain polite, but FIRM. The whole thing is an outrage and no one I have talked to locally has ever heard of it.

Posted by Lazarus | April 12, 2008 8:33 PM

Cathy, Lazarus,
Seems like all 3 of us have strong reason to believe that contrary to what the CB SAYS about their surveys being RANDOM, they actually in all probability are TARGETING specific households.

They CLAIM in the forms that the addressee got the survey as the address was RANDOMLY picked.

So they have absolutely NO PROBLEM LYING to all survey recipients? None whatsoever? Not really hard to imagine considering its all cooked up in DC!

It might be a good idea to collect information about how often readers of this blog have been sent surveys by CB in the past 3 cycles. If it is a substantial number, though statistically speaking the choice might be random, the probability of the same addresses getting picked for 3 cycles in a row for a large number of people would be very low. It could be chalked off to bad luck.

And as misery loves company, exchanging such notes is very comforting :-)

Who said "once is happenstance, second time it coincidence, third time its enemy action" ? Surely all this sounds like it!

joe

Posted by joe | April 13, 2008 10:05 AM

Joe,
The interesting thing in all of this is that the CB has been testing the public's response to privacy invasions for decades with each question which was added to the census long form. The data users have already published this material. They have published that the selection is not random and that the the data is skewed because of that. Data users want to study large families, hispanic families, Katrina evacuees, elderly migration, individuals with cronic ailments, and marital histories. The overall plan is to have every residence receive the ACS once every 5 years. So, yes, we're all going to get this again unless the funding gets cut. The ACS was created for 2 reasons; public outrage with the long for after the 2000 census and the inability of the CB with limited staff to process the longforms it did receive fast enough for the data users. The CB makes our info available to companies which package and sell the info.

Lazarus, if you get a second field rep, that individual can be the CB's refusal specialist. I chose to stay out of sight because I didn't want them gathering any data points from me. The CB will consider the ACS to be completed it they know 5 data points like your sex, age, race, and marital status. Just looking at my residence would give them additional info. The field reps also record why a person does not comply so that new strategies can be developed to get compliance. Right now, the CB thinks that most nonresponders live out in the middle of nowhere, have guns, distrust the gov and value privacy. I believe that we nonresponders are a more diverse group than that.

Posted by cathy | April 13, 2008 12:20 PM

Thanks, Cathy. I believe that the reason they can claim over 90% compliance is not because they get all the answers, but if they have identified the 5 main data points, it's counted as complete. They could just look at my house and see it's a 3-4 bedroom, count the cars in the driveway, the quality and age of both, and come up with a good estimate of the number of adults in the household. And with that info, make a pretty good guess of income. So even if I refuse, it will never be counted as a refusal.

I mentioned the ACS today in a group setting (ok a bar) and one of my friends had taken a temp job with the '90 census. As a caseworker trying to get info from those that recieved the long form. He said it was very difficult, and that was before the concerns about identity theft. We agreed that people used to trust thier government more than they do now.

I think the 2010 census is going to be a hard one. The identity theft issue is the biggest factor. Followed by distrust of federal government in general.

Posted by Lazarus | April 13, 2008 8:58 PM

I was wondering about writing to some new orgs to ask if they are aware of this survey and the draconian attitude of the CB. While trying that, I saw that companies like CNN will accept emails under their Privacy laws, and those pretty much say that any information you provide (email address, name, phone...) is basically up for sharing as they see fit. So contacting these organizations could be potentially more damaging than it might be worth.

I am just hoping that the CB does not demand email addresses from the moderators of this blog!

joe

Posted by joe | April 14, 2008 1:38 PM

When I received the ACS, I wrote to all sorts of media people. The only response I got was from World Net Daily, which has about 5-6 articles on the subject. I thought this would be a great story. There were some stories which had been removed from some newspaper sites. Later I discoverd (in the CB material) that there is a "rapid response team" which is sent out to squash any unfavorable stories in the media. The CB conducts workshops for media types to feed them data for the stories that are printed. You know, those stories which talk about states with the highest income, most number of college graduates, number of unwed mothers, etc... Remember, we are on our own in the search for the truth. The CB has spent lots of time and money to study our attitudes towards surveys and to develop methods to get around our resistance to providing private info.

Posted by cathy | April 14, 2008 2:08 PM

The CB agent came by for the 2nd time now. Nobody answered. She left behind an envelope, some information about the kind of wonderful work CB does the "other 9 years" - lying again - they are going to send these babies out on a rolling basis right?

Scrawled URGENT in big bold letters on the envelope. I shredded it.

I hope this ends by end of this month...

joe

Posted by joe | April 14, 2008 10:38 PM

As the time progresses towards the end of the month, expect more frequent phone calls or rep visits. Everything ramps up before either the next phase begins or the whole cycle ends. I found it amusing to dodge all the contacts. I had most of my rep visits at the end, including some twice per day.

Posted by cathy | April 15, 2008 7:45 AM

Good read.

https://www.checkpointusa.org/Census/Census.htm

Posted by Lazarus | April 15, 2008 10:24 PM

Yes, 2 visits yesterday, one at 5:40pm, the other (supervisor) at 8:50pm.
Have never received so much love from the government.

Posted by joe | April 16, 2008 8:38 AM

Sigh! They have moved to the stalking phase. They come and wait for someone to show up. We have avoided making contact yet. 2 visits yesterday, the first one at around 12:30 PM, waiting in the car and driving around the house for about 30 minutes. 2nd visit at 8:45pm.

Have managed to avoid speaking with the agent so far. This is not over. I think it will intensify. They will wait to catch someone from the household coming in or leaving the house.

joe

Posted by joe | April 18, 2008 5:29 AM

Theres been a lull. No phone calls, no visits for the past 5 days.
I hope that was that. Not sure if its just a tactic to get us to let our guard down and surprise us with another barrage of visits.

These last 3 months have trained us enough now that we don't take any unknown calls. Which also means the telemarketers are not having much luck connecting with us to offer their very desirable services either. So be it.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

joe

Posted by joe | April 25, 2008 12:44 PM

You may have out-stubborned them or they may have got tired of expending resources on you. They can't just keep a person posted on you. Budget over-runs and the huge cost of the perpetual Survey are it's most potent enemies, not us poor citizens. The politics of the federal budget may put an end to the ACS after several years and more outraged citizens, if the ACS isn't efficient and quiet.

I was reading a faily thick report of their own on line and buried in it was a discussion of voluntary vs mandatory survey. Voluntary is much cheaper but the response goes down by 20%. So that is why it will stay 'mandatory' until someone spanks them about the money spent.

But what is most likely is that they have gathered enough info by observation that they can count your case as a success. Stay alert until your 90 days are up.

Posted by Lazarus | April 25, 2008 10:58 PM

I have not yet received this dreaded form. And there's no way in a very hot place I'll ever answer the majority of the questions. I have NO problem answering the questions from the 1910 or 1920 Census, so that's all the information they'll get from me. To wit:

Street Address
Surname & First Names of all residents of the household.
Gender & Age and place of birth/nationality.
Language spoken in the home.
Occupation (general category) & educational level as well as
Whether or not our home is owned or rented.

Anything more than that is unnecessary. My great grandparents answered those questions as immigrants and so I've got no problem following in their footsteps.

HOWEVER, if someone dares trespass on my property, I'll be calling the police to have them forcibly removed. Either that or I'll shoot them myself.

Posted by Nina | May 1, 2008 1:11 AM

Thank you for keeping this blog going. I just got my first phone call and it was weakening my resolve. I was thinking of sending the survey back with accurate answers written in an illegible manner. Had it all filled out. Planned to tell them that all the answers were accurate and it wasn't my fault that they can't read my writiing. My writing is pretty bad anyway. Now I intend to fight it out. Thanks again.

Posted by RalphDaly28 | May 3, 2008 6:22 PM

Hang in there Ralph! Remember that these people work for you, you don't work for them. Without any fault of your own, you are being expected to comply with a very intensive interview. An interigation without a crime.

But if you don't answer, well, where to the schools go?, where do the fire stations go? Mental health services? You must be some kind of nut if you resist.

The American Community Survey is simply a tool for the already bloated government to use to create more government.

I was a fairly Liberal person politically, at least before I was subjected to the ACS. Now I am still fuming about the whole thing. The funding for this sort of thing must GO.

First weekend of my 3rd month of harrassment by the ACS. Nobody showed up.

Posted by Lazarus | May 3, 2008 9:10 PM

Hi Lazarus!
When I entered the field rep phase, I didn't get visited until the 2nd week of the month. At first I thought the CB would skip me, but no. I got a letter from the local CB office introducing my field rep. It arrived the day after I got my first visit.

Posted by cathy | May 7, 2008 1:49 PM

The plot thickens. After getting my first survey form Jan 30th, I got a second one and heard nothing. Today my wife just called and said a middle-aged man parked, got out and walked up and started pounding on our door. When she mentioned he was wearing a sweater vest, I felt comfortable in concluding he was a civil servant.

Game on!

Posted by Tom | May 13, 2008 5:13 PM

Its June 10th today, and there has been no action on the part of CB for over 7 weeks. So I guess for now I am off the hook.

As a blessing in disguise, we started screening ALL calls, and now pick them up only if we feel like some entertainment (mostly from Direct TV, and many representatives of telecom companies from India posing as local people...)

I think it is absolutely worth resisting this intrusion. Builds character for sure :-)

Wish you all the best. This blog gave me a lot of moral support. Invaluable.

-joe

Posted by joe | June 10, 2008 11:56 AM

Hello all,
I was happy to find this site. I received two long surveys a couple of weeks apart a couple of months back and ignored both. I was not even sure if they were legitimate, as I thought it could be someone phishing for ID theft, so I did not bother even looking into it and they soon got lost in the pile of the other mail on my table that I rarely open. Then a few days ago, a rep left a business card on my front door saying it was urgent that I call him. I ignored it. Then my girlfriend must have found one a few days later and brought it inside. Then I think I got a third one, before this weekend, when according to the card, the person showed up three times in one afternoon. Fortunately, I work on that day. I took that card and dropped it at the foot of the door, as if it had fallen and I had not seen it. How long will this person keep on trying? I nearly cracked last week, as I filled out the form but decided to check what if anything people on the net thought about it. Then I found you nice folks and did not feel as alone. Thus, I deposited my completed form in a box and am standing my ground as someone who does not want to share every aspect of my life with complete strangers.

What a colossal waste of our tax money; doesn't that person have anything better to do. I was a bit annoyed to read above where they even showed up at night. Not too bad, though, as I usually don't get home until 8:30 or 9pm and enter thru the garage in back. About the only time I go out the front door is to walk the dog around 9 or 10. I guess they haven't got my phone number, so no calls (yet).

I hope they don’t catch me in the morning when I walk the dog. What have you done when you have encountered them? Do I just refuse on principle or answer only the most basic of questions and refuse the rest. Do you go as far as to ignore answering the door, even when they know you are in there from the noise inside? Has anyone sent it back with only the basics filled out, such as name, address, age…? If so, what happened? Just wondering what I can expect and for how long. Thanks a bunch for all the detailed posts. I hope that some of you are still out there.

Posted by The Wod | June 24, 2008 4:39 PM

The thing that bothers me the most -- after all the outrages described above -- about these metastasizing surveys is that I, as a taxpayer, am paying the government to collect and provide free market research worth a fortune to any corporation or private business with an internet connection.

My time is valuable. If someone wants information for marketing purposes, they can pay me for it. The Census Bureau wants you to believe that you are compelled by law to provide information so Acme Plumbing and Wiring can better target your neighborhood with junk mail.

Don't believe all that crap about how the ACS questions are formulated to help the government plan and allocate resources. Most of these questions about property taxes, commute times, and the rest can be answered by localities.

Local governments have a pretty good handle on what's happening in their communities, who's living there, who doesn't have plumbing or electricity. But Acme Plumbing and Wiring doesn't -- until they access that information for free at www.census.gov/ .

It's no accident that the Census Bureau is part of the Department of Commerce. The Census has morphed from a simple decennial head-count for the purpose of apportioning representatives into a hydra-headed monster dedicated to insinuating itself into your underwear on behalf of corporate interests.

Posted by TheShadow | June 25, 2008 2:14 PM

The Wod, your rep visits ususlly last about 30 days. So if they started at the beginning of this month, they will stop soon. Expect the frequency of the visits to increase before they stop. I had 2 reps working on me and they got nothing.

TheShadow, the CB is being used as a front for various social, behavioral and economic scientists to study us. The ACS is a screening tool to find people who are eligible for other gov programs or for other non-manditory surveys. I have found groups who generate questions for the ACS. The marrage history question didn't appear because the feds wanted the info, but because a group studying family structure did. That question was not on my 07 survey. The monthly homeowner cost questions appeared on the long form in 1980; residence 1 yr ago 1999; farm residence 1970; health insurance 2008. The CB considers the ACS to be completed if 5 data points are listed; age, gender, race, hispanic and tenure. Most people will answer at least 5 questions.
Do not be fooled by the CB's assertion that the response rate is 95%. It is more like 50-70% depending upon the part of the country surveyed. So if 250,000/month are sent the survey and 30% are not returned, that's about 75,000/month or 900,000/yr who don't return the survey. That's why only 1/3 nonresponders will get a visit. The broader plan is to send this survey to all residences once every 5 years so those social scientists can stay employed!

Posted by cathy | June 25, 2008 3:08 PM

The Wod,
My whole ordeal lasted 90 days. I live in a target area, population below 65,000, so I knew I was in for the whole thing. My phone is listed in the phone book under a phony name, which I use for screening telemarketers. The pattern is mailings for 30 days, phone calls for 30 days and visits for 30 days. Those without landline may have a rep visit beginning the 2nd month. Some without direct mail (PO Boxes) have had reps appear with no prior warning. When the phone calls began, I diconnected my answering machine and left the caller ID connected, so no messages could be left. I had a camera installed to watch my front door. I left all notes left by the reps untouched. 5 visits occured while I was at home. I never answered the door. By the time everything ended, I knew the reps phone numbers, addresses and vehicle registration nimbers. I could have filled out the ACS on them!

Posted by cathy | June 25, 2008 3:23 PM

I had not seen any postings on this blog for a while. I thought that maybe CB is changing tactics. Guess not.

I did not respond to calls, or visits, did not open the door, they kept calling and ringing the bell many times in each visit - there were many visits. My dogs went crazy with the bell ringing :-) So they KNEW we were inside, we simply did nothing. Nothing at all. And they stopped at the end of April.

I keep checking the blog. It helped me. I would encourage everyone to not respond, not even the basic 5 questions, screen calls (its a good habit any way :-)

joe

Posted by joe | June 25, 2008 4:16 PM

The creation of the ACS was a direct result of the outrage over the longform during the 2000 census. The CB learned that Congress was not happy to hear from citizens complaining about the invasion of privacy. So, the CB decided that if the longform became the ACS, then the CB benefited by having the longform info arrive at intervals instead of all at once with the census and that it could employ more full time employees instead of the large number if temps. The data users were happy to get fresh info earlier and the CB could protect the census count from future outrage. The data users are represented by some huge lobby groups, who press congress for funding and the CB for more access to our info. While everyone will get the short form for the 2010 census, the ACS will continue every month as well. Only 1 question should be answered on the short form. The site http://www.gov/2010census/pdf/2010ACSnotebook.pdf contains the list of questions, when they were asked and why they are asked. The reasons are flimsy at best and reflect the CB belief that we are either naive, gullible or stupid enough to answer the questions.

Posted by cathy | June 26, 2008 2:49 PM

When I got the ACS survey, found this and other resistance groups immediately. Still, I pondered what to do for a while, receiving a 2nd survey (and a few reminder postcards also) late Feb. Finally, I answered with the ages of the people here but not birth dates. I wrote in huge letters "REFUSE" on everything else, or "N/A" for questions pertaining to persons beyond who live here. It's been over 3 months, and I've gotten nothing at all from these bozos. No reminders, no forms, no phone calls, and no visits. I guess I'll count myself lucky. It's unfortunate, though. I had set up to record any phone calls or visits with the intent of putting together a presentation for youtube or something. I guess they were wise to avoid me!

Posted by Ed | June 28, 2008 10:51 PM

I may be out of the woods, as it has been two weeks since the 3-in-a-day visit. His marked business card is still sitting on the floor in front of my door. No mail either. That wasn't too hard - 6-7 visits and no calls - I didn't even have to hide. :-)

Thanks for your support. I'll let you know if anything else happens.

Posted by The Wod | July 6, 2008 3:43 PM

There has been one change in tactics from ACS. After the usual phone calls to the unlisted home phone line, and several on site visits, we thought we were done. Now, they are calling both our private cell phones and our work cell phones ... not sure how they got access to the latter. So it seems the personal visits are not the end, and the intrusiveness gets worse. When my wife asked how they got her cell phone number, the reply was "we have ways of gettting this information". The irony, though, is the ACS contact came from a personal home number itself. A quick web search reveals the caller's personal home address. If I was spiteful, I would post both ... but I don't want to fight fire with fire.

Posted by Craig | July 31, 2008 6:00 PM

"We have ways of making you talk!" Arte Gibson playing a Nazi on Laugh In, circa 1968.

Posted by Lazarus | August 1, 2008 11:26 PM

I also looked up my field reps address and that's how I got the license plate # for both their cars. I could have gone on to collect enough info on them to fill out the ACS on them.
Instead of having an unlisted number, I have my landline listed under a phony name. After refusing the ACS, I received a postal survey addressed to that phony name. So beware of other surveys.
The CB has "target areas and target profiles", which will receive added attention. Anyone living in areas with populations below 65,000 will get more attention since the focus has been on more populated areas. The CB is looking for hispanics, non-english speakers, disabeled, low income families and the elderly. Certain profiles will trigger additional surveys.
While the CB says that the info collected is in aggregate form it is also in profile form. Ex. - families with young children; family of 4 with 1 boy and 1 girl; high incomes with long commutes. The marrage history question was added for a group of data junkies to study that area of our lives. Another question is proposed for 09 asks those with college degrees to list majors, with a focus on science majors.
The more info the CB can extort, the longer the ACS and other surveys will get. By knowing a profile and combining it with other public info, increases the possibility of recreating the ACS answers.
No community needs the gov as a middle man for local data. Just because an idea is a good one, doesn't mean that it should become a gov program. In fact, the way to ruin a good idea is to have the gov create a program. I don't need the gov deciding what I need in my life.

Posted by cathy | August 3, 2008 1:48 PM

Hi,

Glad I found this site. I'm about at my wits end. Got the questionnaires the 1st month; the phone calls the 2nd month; and now phone calls and personal visits. I live in a bldg. where you have to be buzzed in. Last night the CB guy rang my bell and when I didn't answer, he "coattailed" in with someone else. Started ringing the bell and knocking on the door (which I refused to answer). Then I hear him asking my neighbors to ask me to call him!! He gave them business cards. These people are obnoxious. I so hope this is over by the end of the month. I really, really want to hit this guy.

Thanks for letting me rant. I'll keep checking this site for support.

bchbum

Posted by bchbum | August 23, 2008 3:02 PM

I have a few questions I would like for you to answer. Surely, you would not mind answering questions that will better enable me to serve my community.
What time do you leave for work in the morning?
What is your birthday?
Where were you born?
What is your phone number?
How many people are in your house?
What is each of their birthdays?
Have any of them had a baby in the last 12 months?
How much money do you make?
How much is your house worth?
How many weeks did you work last year?
Do you find these questions invasive and rude?
Does it make you uncomfortable to know that our government wants to collect all this information about you?
These are questions that are included on a twenty-four page interrogation disguised as a census. It is called the American Community Survey. I am not a criminal nor do I receive government assistance. I have been informed that I must answer these questions and then mail the answers to some unknown person who will then place all of this information about me in a computer database. Failure to do this is a violation of law. This means if I choose to protect my privacy and go on living anonymously then I become a criminal. I called the telephone number on the form. I have been assured that misuse of this information may result in stiff criminal penalties. I am asking each of my representatives in government to respond with their opinion of the American Community Survey. I am also asking each of my representatives to tell the United States Census Bureau that American citizens are not willing to hand over our privacy on a platter.

We have to act now!!!

Posted by Sara | August 26, 2008 11:27 AM

bchbum,
Almost done. It lasts only 90 days, getting worse as the deadline approaches. I had 2 field reps working on me, they got nothing and I had the last laugh. It has been 1 year since I received the 90 day cycle and I have heard nothing from the CB since! It does end; it does get better! Although the anger doesn't go away.

Posted by cathy | August 26, 2008 5:19 PM

cathy,

From your lips to God's ears. Did you ever have to talk to them? Caller ID is a wonderful invention. I'm sure glad somebody thought it up.

bchbum

Posted by bchbum | August 27, 2008 11:05 AM

bchbum,
I never talked to them. I had 1 message on my answering machine. After that, I disconnected the answering machine. Never called them back. I almost got caught coming home, but I was in the door before I was seen. The rep probably knew I was home. I had set up a camera to watch the the reps outside. It was great fun. I wanted to have the least amount of info gathered on me and the most amount of CB money wasted trying. The CB reps are suppose to gather info in why individuals refuse to answer, so new strategies can be developed to counter act the refusals.
2 months later I received a mail survey from the US Postal Service. Didn't answer that either.

Posted by cathy | August 27, 2008 1:26 PM

So much for the every new 5 year plan, instead of the constitutional 10 year census. Here it is 2008. Why in the hell do they need to do it now? Funny to think back a month when I was nice enough to answer the postal survey. I suppose it was the precursor to the ACS survey. Big mistake on my part.

It sure looks to me that the survey is geared to really reach out to the Hispanic community - i.e. Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Argentinean, Columbian, Costa Rican, Dominican, Ecuadorean, Guatemalan, Honduran, Nicaraguan, Peruvian, Salvadoran, from OTHER Spanish-Speaking countries of the Caribbean or Central or South America, or from Spain.

I can see why they need to know what services they will need to increase due to the soon to explode population of legal and illegal aliens that are already overloading our hospitals, police dept., roads, water supply, schools, etc. Don't want to make them wait too long to have their anchor baby and get on the welfare gravy-train. Bad enough I live in a sanctuary state in Maryland, with a governor who wants to give them free college educations. They will have to take reading classes first. Most of them cannot even read Spanish. When one of them is working on your house and looks like he doesn't have a clue when his boss is gone, hand him the instructions out of the Home Depot box and tell him to read to Spanish section. See what a blank stare you will get. Sure you saved money, but at what cost? Don't believe the crap that they are doing jobs that Americans do not want to do. N0 - they are willing to work for less and live with 10 to 20 people in a 2 bedroom house. They need to add a few more pages to the survey for that many, but again many can't read in the first place. Do the reps provide translators?

Posted by dan the man | August 28, 2008 2:00 PM

I too am now being HOUNDED by the ACS people. It started a few months ago when I threw away the ridiculous survey. I was sent a second one, threw it away then the phone calls started. They told me it was required by Congress, I explained that I found this to be a personal dossier on myself and those that live at my address. The woman was not happy and said they would continue to call, well now they are knocking at my door. I refuse to answer the door the other day they knocked and rang my bell for 15 minutes then left me a note with a field representatives name. This is crazy can they really fine me? I wont tell friends the amount I pay for bills why would I tell the gov, and how I get to work in the morning. This is nuts!

Posted by Deb | August 28, 2008 3:18 PM

Deb.

It's kind of ridiculous that you can throw away something that is clearly BS and then find that it is actually your own government threatening you, isn't it? The fact that you think this is all nuts is the normal response.

Don't worry, they have no power that you don't allow them to have. They are not going to do anything and the threat of a fine is carefully worded to say that it's "mandatory" All that means is that there IS a law on the books that says it's possible you could be fined. It is also possible that I might become the next King of France. But it is highly unlikely.

It is absolutly IMPOSSIBLE that any field agent will be able to convince their boss to do such a thing as fine you. It has never been approved to fine anyone, except 50 years ago and that case involved the ten year census and other political issues regarding the person who refused.

Stay polite and stay mad. And when your ordeal is over, remember that this is happening to isolated homes every month, all year long.

Posted by Lazarus | August 28, 2008 11:26 PM

None of us are going to be fined. When the congressional subcommittee allowed the CB to conduct the survey as "manditory", it was done with the stipulation that noone would be fined. The "manditory" had to be added to increase returns to save money on follow-ups. Already the CB is concerned because many people in the 2010 census practice areas blew off the the CB. Inspite of the CB's efforts to keep the ACS below the radar, the word is getting out. Keep up the good work of resisting, it does get better after the 90 day cycle.
The CB is trying to count illegals and wants the raids to stop until after the 2010 census is taken. I know that my state was in danger of losing a house seat untill the illegals were added to the tally. Open-border groups have a vested interest in supporting the work that the CB does and has contributed proposals for ACS questions.
The laws which mandate that this info be collected are for those APPLYING for gov programs. The CB has highjacked those laws to go trolling for individuals who qualify for programs and who haven't applied.
The ACS also is used for screening individuals for other types of surveys. For example, those with college degrees are needed for a new study by the National Science Foundation. They want to identify those who have degrees in on area but working in another and individuals with degrees in math and sciences.

Posted by cathy | August 29, 2008 3:34 PM

Hey folks, love the site. I was just telling my friends this week about the ACS form I recieved; most of them thought I was a little too tense about it, so I had to give them a much needed speech on where this world is going. I too will tell the ACS to get f-%^, but I'm going to have a little bit more fun with it:
1. A sign is going on the door in the morning - "man, 300#+ answers the door naked, knock at your own risk". 2. I will greet them with my portable Tape Recorder and immediately inform them that "this conversation is being recorded". 3. Before we begin, I will also ask them to turn thier head left, and say "hi" to my (two) security cameras less than 7 feet from the door (all of this while I'm standing there butt-naked). After all, this is my home, and I can run around in and on it as I see fit. If they feel uncomfortable, "take a valium". This Government crap is getting worse every single day, and untill we all join - in telling them "NO" on (all) of thier silly little clandestine & nefarious ventures, we'll never get it changed. I'm going to this new site (that went up recently)www.quacksrus.com in the morning, and I'm gonna "whack thier A$%^ in advance. I think the best defense is often a well placed shot across thier bow. God Bless us all for being proud enough, and wise enough to see this s___ clearly. Footnote: can't you just see thier eyes when my naked derrier' appears? Take Care my Brothers & Sisters.

Posted by Daddy Rabbit | August 29, 2008 11:23 PM

I received the census form as well, 2 years ago. "Your response is required by law" was stated on the outer envelope, so my response was to throw it in the trash can. I received another. I kept it for amusement purposes as well as 'evidence'. With that 'evidence' I informed the local Sheriffs dept. and pointed to the fact I had been threatened. I pointed to the fact the threat of extortion clearly indicated in the body of this parcel, and the fact that the US Postal Service had been used in the process of this Felony. They were stunned. I was assured the Census Bureau would have to get past them first! I understand some phone calls were made, that was the end of THAT!
The American Communist Survey can't afford for this to become front page news. Remember this. Their only hope is that they can keep this quiet and divide the people in small numbers until it gradually becomes embedded into the mainstream.
If I recall correctly, 1 out of 4000 Americans receive this form each year.
Ron Paul has written an excellent article concerning this, available on the web. A simple search should take you to that article.

Posted by Dan | August 31, 2008 1:17 AM

I thought everything would be over now that the 3 months are up. This morning, at 5:30 am., they are ringing my apt. bell in the lobby, have gained entrance piggybacking in and started knocking and ringing my apt. door bell. I almost had a heart attack.. Anyone know where I can start looking for inexpensive hidden cameras. This isn't funny anymore. If the only way I can shoot them is with a camera, then that's what I'll do.

Posted by bchbum | September 1, 2008 9:21 AM

Sorry bchbum,
You have a persistant one. 5 am is too early for any of these CB types and would violate most noise code laws. It is unusual that a rep would continue beyond the end of the month, althought I have read other posts where reps continued during 3 day weekends. The refusal specialist takes over when the first rep is unsucessful. For I week I had both reps working on me. You should be done today, since they have to move on to a new group of refusers. However, you might get another visit today. I think they try to get any response, even an angry one because they have made contact and can gleen info about you by talking to you.
Cameras are a handy tool. The 2010 census is comming and field rep are required to visit all nonresponding homes. I intend to only answer the enumeration question, so I expect another visit. I have 2 types of cameras; one which is connected to the computer and one connected to the TV. Both are available at electronics stores, computer stores and the internet.

Posted by cathy | September 1, 2008 10:13 AM

Thanks Cathy and to the rest of this board for your support. Couldn't get through this without you.

Posted by bchbum | September 2, 2008 12:04 PM

In case anyone is curious, there is now a page on www.quacksrus.com with the "downloadable" nudist sign on it.

Wouldn't it be great, if (across the continent) Survey Workers were reporting an unusually large number of "nudists":. LOL. The file/picture is not foul or pornographic; it is mildly adult in content.

The link is on thier front page, but here is the exact URL; it'll take you right there:
http://www.quacksrus.com/id15.htm

Be sure to turn up your sound; Charlie D is in the background.
Have a good one.

Posted by Daddy Rabbit | September 2, 2008 1:40 PM

Chad, I was doing some research on the American Community Survey which I received some weeks ago and ignored. A couple of weeks ago, I received another one along with a letter telling me how important it is that I fill it out and that someone may try to contact me personally if I fail to do so.

I hate to admit that I had not even heard of this survey before I got it in the mail. I believe that is by design. Why else would a survey not be mailed out to everyone at the same time?

I am planning to write a letter to the editor. The letter by Private Citizen that you posted on March 3, 2006 says it very well. I would like to quote him in my own letter. Do you have any idea how to contact him for permission?

Posted by Birdie | September 5, 2008 12:45 PM

It's called Collective Outrage. The ACS can't stand up to any of that.

Posted by Lazarus | September 7, 2008 7:17 PM

Hi Birdie -

Unfortunately, all contact information is posted here. I'd simply hope that it's being watched, and see if you get a response (or point them here if you like). Hope this helps somewhat!

Posted by Chad Everett | September 8, 2008 12:38 PM

Don't know about Private Citizen. You can use my March 6, 2008 letter if you want.

Thank you Chad for keeping the site going.

Posted by Lazarus | September 10, 2008 11:03 PM

Hi Lazarus,

Would you mind if I use your March 6th letter too? I wasn't too happy with the one response I received from mine which was:

If you want to combat identity theft, you might want to check out the American Community Survey which asks the most intrusive questions in the name of the census bureau (although I'm not really sure it's legitimate). Questions regarding exact dob, work (what time you leave/return; employer); health (mental competency, can you dress yourself); home (# of bathrooms/rooms; stove; do you have a car); and then there's financial (exact figures for one year prior to receving surey are required for: wages/socialsecurity/pension/interest/dividends/mortgage or rent payment/utility bill).

The process starts out with literature the first month (survey/postcards addressed to "Resident").

If you didn't answer the survey, the second month is dedicated to phone calls, many phone calls at any time day or night. Seems they have "resident's" phone number so odds are they have his/her name already.

Then comes the third month: home visits. They gain illegal entrance to apt. blgds. by "piggybacking" with someone else entering the bldg. (I know this because I watched it on a closed circuit camera in the lobby.) This also occurs any time day or night. If unsuccessful getting you at home, they start knocking on neighbors' doors asking "do you know where they are or when they will be home; are they away?" I don't know about anyone else, but I don't open my door or answer my phone if I don't know who the person is. It is my opinion that is an invitation to disaster.

Is this really our government at work? Perhaps when filling out this survey (again I'm not sure it's legit), we should include our S.S.# and send a copy of our house/apt./car keys so they can do a complete job of stripping us "residents" of all our rights.

Believe me when I say I'm not trying to make light of the matter. I think it's very serious and someone should address this situation as soon as possible.

Thank you.

Posted by bchbum | September 13, 2008 11:43 AM

The problem with getting results through writing letters is that Senators don't care and the Representatives need the demographic info from the survey to pander for votes. While well stated, the letters fail to convey the outrage resulting from the intrusiveness of the survey. As long as noone will be fined, there is little concern of what does happen. The survey is designed to gain cooperation through a threat. This intimidation is EXTORTION! The CB employees are EXTORTIONISTS. EXTORTION is against the law. This is a taxpayer funded EXTORTION RING which provides information to agencies which have no ability to collect it and are using the CB as a front for their private sociology and marketing research. The number of agencies involved who benefit from having YOUR info are extensive and would make your head spin. YOUR info is give out in agregate form and profile form. It's the profile form which should be of more concern since specific profiles are targeted by marketing companies.
Keep in mind that the 2010 census is coming fast and that the CB will take a major hit if it messes up. I will be answering only the enumeration question, as that is the ONLY question required by the Constitution; no race, gender, age, country of origin, marital status, or home ownership. It is time to tell the CB directly that the other questions have no place on the census. Your name is not a required question on the census; it is an administration question.

Posted by Cathy | September 14, 2008 11:47 AM

I got one ACS too, the first time I opened it, I called my lawyer. Send him the papers. I am not worried. If it is sent to the "Resident", they do not know my name. But, they could easily get any information as needed, so why bother us?

Posted by rus | September 16, 2008 9:35 AM

We got one today and were shocked to see the questions. We were concerned when we saw "MANDATORY BY LAW". Quick search on Google and we were able to find this website. Let's see when we are gonna get the calls. We don't have residential phone, only cell phones. Will keep posted.

Posted by Wen | November 30, 2008 5:26 PM

I got this invasion of privacy in Oct , started to do it like the decent hardworking all american vet I am then I got to the questions, read them to and freaked, showed them to my wife she also went crazy at their nerve, So I just trashed it
Today It showed up again this time with its vaguely disguised threats, So I also started to look up the law /Titles s they specified, Then I found this thread, I was going to write my senator Bernie " the Socialist" Sanders
But I see from a previous Vt poster its no use to object in the "Peoples Republic Of Vermont"
So I followed some of the idea's listed here,
Gave my name as "household male" on front and on page 2 (no tel #) wife as "Household Female" filled in ages without birthdates and wrote R on all other questions after I wrote at top of page 3 I refuse to answer any other questions
Ill see what happens and repost results

Posted by Rich | December 23, 2008 7:22 PM

Good luck Rich. But because you answered at all, they have you now. They will not settle for partial answers without trying to get them all. If they did I think most people would answer just a few questions.

Be firm. Remember they work for you.

Posted by Lazarus | December 28, 2008 7:29 PM

Send a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Commerce Secretary, asking in accordance with which constitutional and statutory provision authorizes this survey. Then read Title 13 U.S.C. §225 (b), (c), and (d). These deal with imprisonment provisions that do not apply, and religious denomination or church which prohibits the disclosure of information relative to membership . . . to furnish such information shall not be an offense under this chapter.

Posted by tom | December 31, 2008 5:40 PM

These creeps are stalking me. First two surveys and then five phone calls, all from different area codes. Now, knocks at the door. I almost screwed up by answering the door in error, thinking it was my older brother. He placed the literature in my door. It lied and said my address was chosen randomly, but if it was so random, how did they get my phone number? I have made up my mind not to talk to them, come what may. I am acting like a criminal, watching out for these creeps, hoping I won't be accosted when I walk out of my house, to go to my car. I hope I don't have to pay the fine, but how will they levy it against me if they don't talk to me? If I don't directly tell them I'm not going to answer it, technically they can't claim I have refused. Does anyone know which legislator(s) drew up this "law" and when was it put into effect?

I've read some literature recently which quoted results from the survey about illegal aliens. There are many around where I live, so maybe that has some bearing on where they pick their targets? I contacted my rep. office and complained and the receptionist said a personal reply would be forthcoming but after four weeks, I'm losing faith....

It is heartening to read others' comments of refusal. Maybe our democracy isn't dead yet? They have no right to any of this information and who can guarantee some company won't use it illegitimately? I don't trust the government and dossiers is right to the point, as a previous poster noted. This is actually frightening to think our government is trying to do this.

Posted by Outraged in Ohio | January 7, 2009 6:27 AM

Outraged in Ohio,
Hang in there, you're almost done. You will not be fined; no one has been fined. The ACS came about through some congressional subcommittee meetings which oversees the CB. Because of the outrage generated by the longform for the 2000 census, the CB decided to have a more sneeky way to collect the same info without effecting the population count. Don't expect much from your rep. either, since most see the benefits of being able to pander to their constituents by having the info from the ACS. Don't be surprized if you get a second CB visiter. I had 2 working on me and figured that the second one was the refusal specialist.

Posted by cathy | January 7, 2009 5:58 PM

Well I just got my first phone call , They left a message and told me to call a # and reference a case # I guess the games have begun

Posted by rich | January 7, 2009 7:39 PM

I had a surprise visit from field rep a few days ago. I did not know who she was so I answered the door. When she explained who she was I told her I did not have time to answer questions. She has since called me. I don't feel comfortable answering private questions. How long will they continue to harassas you?

Posted by Kristi | January 10, 2009 3:28 PM

Kristi,
Each phase takes about 30 days for a total of 90. You will be done with the last phase at the end of the month. By Feb 1st, all contact should stop.

Posted by cathy | January 10, 2009 5:52 PM

I keep reading about everyone receiving these surveys in the mail first. I never received anything, I just had the census woman show up at my door. Don't they have to mail the survey first?

Posted by Kristi | January 14, 2009 2:29 PM

We received the ACS survey about a month ago. We are trusting (dumb?) Canadians & have never been a part of anything like this before. I initially had the gut instinct to not fill the darn thing out but my husband said that it's illegal to not do so. So we did. Now we are getting bombarded with daily phone calls even though we filled it out. I just don't understand why?? I am very concerned about the information we just gave up willingly.... What rights do we have now?

Posted by worried | January 15, 2009 12:54 AM

worried,
Your gut instinct was the correct. So now what? You have the right to not participate any further. Even when people return the form, the CB will call to verify the info and to see if additional info can be obtained. The ACS is a screening survey for other surveys. You can tell the CB that you will be giving no additional info or you can not answer the phone. Either way, the CB will stop bothering you eventually. This survey is not as legal as the CB would like the public to think.

Posted by cathy | January 15, 2009 7:45 AM

I, personally, have not received a survey, or a representative from the Census Bureau at the door.
I have mixed feelings about the whole census thing, but wanted to state one of the positives of the census.
If any of you have worked on your geneology, and have a family member that you wished to find info on, you are able to pull up copies of census info. I have personally discovered family members, their age, children, occupation and address by looking through the handwritten census' from the early 1900's.
As far as the census is concerned, you end up giving up less information than when you use a phone (home or mobile), credit card, discount card (at grocery, hardware, and other stores), points cards (for gas stations and other stores), and when you register many of the products that you purchase (especiallly when a rebate is involved, as they have to have the info of where that money went for IRS purposes). Even your employment info is reported atleast quarterly, as is required of businesses. In my state (Ohio) the income each person receives is reported to a database called SETS which helps with Child Support Enforcement.
Although the microchip implant has not been put into effect to identify and store all of your info (personal, financial, credit, purchase, etc.), they have begun utilizing a ring (with microtechnology) that is worn on a finger, and operates on the same premise as the microchip implant.
In many cases people unknowingly give up info way more detailed than the census requests through what seem like benign venues!
I respect everyones opinion re: the census and what info they are comfortable revealing, but you may want to consider some of the census info, and how it may help a relative 100 years down the road to figure out their heritage/family tree, and what type of career/work their ancestors had. Also consider how much of the information that is already recorded via filing taxes, utilizing the discount/point cards, a credit report (which updates your address, job, and credit request every time it is pulled), rebate forms, and registration of products that are purchased (in person and online). Maybe after considering such things, the census may not seem as personal as it does without such considerations!

Posted by live_n_life | January 16, 2009 1:33 AM

live_n_life,
Don't care what the positives might be. Not answering. Further, I'm tired of the argument that since there is already so much info out there that...gee, what's a few more questions from the census? Well, because there is already enought info out there, I'm not supplying anymore. I'm not putting things into a tidy package linking my health to my education or to anything else going on in my life. What I pay for bills, when I leave for work and all the other questions are none of anybodies' business. I'm tired of stakeholders who feel the need to down play the impact of the CB's invasion of privacy. When do you guys get the fact that WE are not here for you to study? The census questions are personal, offensive and a violation of the Constitution.

Posted by cathy | January 16, 2009 7:50 AM

cathy,

I agree with you 100%.

Personal privacy rights should be above business's needs for information on people. I have an unlisted phone number, but it & other info. is on the internet white pages (This is really annoying!) Sometimes, it is alot of
trouble to remove stuff from the internet white pages when it shouldn't
be there in the first place.

Now people have to sign something from a company saying that they want their info. kept private, otherwise a company can give your info. to everyone in the world. It should be that a person's information is private, and in order for the company to give it out, they need your permission.

Big businesses (BB) rights seem to overshadow ours. Sadly, government
has forgotten their people by catering to the BB.

Posted by luckyones09 | January 17, 2009 4:32 AM

Call #2 this morning , Didnt answer, love caller ID still want me to call and refer to a "case number" 10 days between call , one weekday evening today sat morning
Gee its good to see that in this financial crisis the Govt is working overtime
to harass its citizens
I say lay off the Census Bureau and go back to part time one every 10 years as required by the constitution. It would save tons of taxpayer money

Posted by Rich | January 17, 2009 10:46 AM

If each phase lasts 30 days for a total of 90 days then I don't know what phase I am in. I am reading that the first phase is the mailed survey, the second phase is the telephone calls and the third phase is the home visits.

I seemed to have started at the last phase when a ACS worker showed up at my door last week. She has since left 3 messages and we received another home visit today (which we did not answer the door).

So the question is, did the 90 day phase start last week when she just showed up at the door (I sure hope not), or do I just have until Feb 1st like Cathy mentioned.

Posted by Kristi | January 17, 2009 11:40 AM

Kristi,
You may be in the final phase. Sometimes the CB has to skip a phase. The mail phase is skipped when there is a problem with the residence's address; when the address is a rural route delivery or there is no mail delivery to the residence. The CB uses landlines for the second phase. If no phone number can be located, then no phone calls. So then the CB rep arrives, totally by surprize. For the first time, small towns and rural areas are being hit for info. The CB appears to be checking these areas to be sure that the residence exists and is occupied.

Posted by cathy | January 17, 2009 2:52 PM

Thanks Cathy, I hope you are right. We do live in a rural location but we have a mailing address. Hopefully I don't have too much longer to avoid this annoying woman!

Posted by Kristi | January 17, 2009 3:47 PM

MY REFUSAL TO COMPLY!

January 29, 2009

I received the American Community Survey about a month ago. This compulsory 28 page document published and administered by the U.S. Census Bureau clearly demonstrates the need to ask the question " Who is out-of-control in our government?". Perhaps, more importantly, "Who is in control, outside of our government?" I decided, almost immediately, not to comply. A little investigation confirmed my suspicion. Namely, there are countless others of you out there who share a common concern about this interrogative survey as well as the motives of our government. I say " our government" because I still keep close to my heart the memory of a government and an America I supported while serving in the Vietnam war. A time when the enemy was perceived as a threat against our great nation and not from within. I received a second ACS just last week with a letter that hinted vague threats. This appears to follow the pattern described by most of you who have already experienced the ordeal. My course of action is best described by the following conviction.

It is the duty of every U.S. Citizen to practice civil disobedience when the government exceeds its authority.

The U.S. Constitution in Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3 states; "The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years." This gives the government authority to conduct a census every ten years by enumeration. Any demand placed upon a U.S. Citizen beyond that provision is unconstitutional. A paper history of the U.S. Census records throughout the life of our nation plainly exhibits the simple process of enumeration as the only method permitted to obtain a "head count" and only at an interval of ten years. The ACS far exceeds the intent of the U.S. Constitution for the purpose of congressional redistricting and allocation. The questions are extremely intrusive into our private lives and a blatant attempt to extract vital personal information that cannot be obtained by any other means. Also, it is my view that this campaign endorsed by our legislative body, in part or whole, is being used as a test ground to determine how far the American people will bend and stay pliable under the control of a central government. Summarizing my intent;

1) I will not comply with the demands of a government that has exceeded its authority.
2) I will not pay any fine.
3) I am, bold words but spoken true to my nature, willing to be imprisoned but not subjugated.

In doing so, I will practice civil disobedience for the first time in my life. Given the safeguards written into the U.S. Constitution by our founding fathers and the love of country they entrusted with us, I can do no other.

Mark Gordon
markbgordon@yahoo.com

PostScript - I would be more than pleased to provide a PDF copy of the American Community Survey to anyone who is unfamiliar with its contents and intent.

Posted by mark gordon | January 29, 2009 1:50 PM

I would be very interested in seeing a copy of this survey as I never actually received one in the mail. I just went by my instincts when someone showed up at my door.

Posted by Kristi | January 29, 2009 4:07 PM

You may be interested to know that included in the $1 Trillion dollar stimulus package now working it’s way toward approval is $1 Billion dollars, (not million), for “follow up” to the 2010 census. (CNN earlier today, 2-3-9)

I take this to mean an expansion of the American Community Survey or similar gathering of information. The 10 year census is already in the budget, and is already projected to exceed that budget by a $3 BILLION dollar over-run.

People have been raising a fit about intrusions on personal security and spying on American citizens under the label of Homeland Security, but everyone seems to just roll over when it’s the Census Bureau. Because that is all harmless, right?

The Census Bureau is gathering an unprecedented data base on every household and person in the United States. And then selling or just giving the information to the corporations and government programs who ask for it.

And the stimulus package that is supposed to jump start our economy and create jobs is being used to further bolster the power of the Census.

I was done with the American Community Survey a year or two ago, but I stayed MAD. Because they will be back. They are a paper tiger that only has the power over you that YOU allow them to have. It just burns me up that one area of government that could clearly be trimmed back is instead going to receive 1% of the total economic package, and keep growing like a cancer.

Posted by Lazarus | February 3, 2009 9:57 PM

I can easily foresee the day coming soon when the American Community Survey will be come an annual MANDATORY event in our lives and there WILL be serious penalties for failing to comply that will be enforceable. If Obama succeeds in putting the census bureau under the left wing/radical Israeli citizen Rahm Emmanel then watch out folks. We have all made brave comments in these posts about how we have resisted the census people and refused to comply with the ACS questions, but how many of us are prepared to REALLY pay $5,000 to back up our position? I can also foresee many more intrusive questions being added to the ACS like "How many guns do you own? So much for the Second Amendment.

Posted by Steven A. Ison | February 11, 2009 11:37 AM

There are too many of us to prosecute and the congress doesn't want the backlash which would result from prosecutions.

Posted by cathy | February 12, 2009 7:56 AM

Well, I received another call today from Uncle Sam's contractor - this time a very nice young man who was very deferential and polite. Because he ASKED me politely to finish the survey rather than being belligerent and threatening like the first one who TOLD me I WOULD comply, I did, in fact, complete all questions telephonically. In fact, today's interviewer apologized for the attitude of the first caller, so I made an effort to give extremely accurate answers. I have done my "duty" and the ACS is now a moot issue for me. I fully understand those of you who refuse to do it and I repeat that my fears are that Rahm Emmanuel will turn the census bureau into a frankenstein nightmare political tool if Obama gives it to him. I think we all need to realize that, with the election of a left-wing socialist as POTUS, our country has turned a corner from which we will never return. Our right to privacy and individuality will simply not be what it once was. We will all have to deal with and accept this fact in our own way. Sorry if this sounds negative to you or defeatist.

Posted by Steven A. Ison | February 12, 2009 7:03 PM

Steven, remember that when you step into the oven, they DID ask you politely.

Posted by Lazarus | February 12, 2009 8:13 PM

Ah, dear Steven,
"Having done your duty".... Spoken like a stakeholder or ACS supporter. I have no duty to fill out the ACS for any reason. While our privacy is not what it used to be, I will not throw in the towel and comply. My info is mine and I will decide where, when and with whom I will share it. It will not be on file in some gov computer because I willingly or unwillingly gave it to them. Imposing fines for not responding will risk a court challenge which will cause the CB to be on the losing end of this, not me. The CB is playing on the tendency for the public to want to be perceived a being nice. I am so over that. The gov has stepped over the line, violated the Constitution and now wants my cooperation to invade my privacy? There is no law which requires me to read my mail, answer my phone or open my door. So the gov can take its Title 13 and Title 18 and shove it!!!

Posted by cathy | February 14, 2009 6:03 PM

This is not a free country at all. It is none of their business what time of day I do things. Etc. etc.

Let's see. The government has screwed me my whole life. I have been mostly unemployed, shot down for work, ridiculed because of Affirmative Action, foreigners interviewing me and then not hiring me, spouse of SSI recipient so I have NO FINANCIAL RIGHTS, student loans laws that torture me when I can't pay, etc, etc. I am constantly called for jury duty and now this insipid survey.

I got the first one when I had surgery and didn't answer - so they send another telling me I better OR ELSE? Or else what? Looks like it's time for us Americans to rise up and fight.

Posted by Nanette Rayman Rivera | February 24, 2009 9:55 AM

I just wrote to Pelosi and said when she tells US how many times and when she bathes, then, maybe I'll tell her.

By the way - if you open the door and yell at them, what happens?

Can you call the cops on them?

Posted by Jose Rivera | February 26, 2009 12:04 AM

Just got a call from the CENSUS. I said F you and asked if I should salute Hitler. Then I recited this:

"We hold these Truths to be self-evident,that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

"That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among men,
deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed,
that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends,
it is
the Right of the People
to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government,
laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form,
as to them shall seem most likely to effect their
Safety and Happiness."

and hung up. I now think that they are targeting only the people or most of the people who complain to Congress about other issues, because it wasn't five minutes after I called the Congress to complain about something else that this woman called me. OUR LIBERTY IS AT STAKE.

Also, it's only three days since I received my second survey after not filling out the one three weeks ago.

Posted by Nanette and Jose Rivera | February 26, 2009 3:37 PM

I just read a copy of the ACS. I immediately looked up the law the survey quotes, "Title 13, Sections 141, 193, and 221 of the U.S. Code." Section 141 describes the purpose of collecting population information. Section 193 provides authority to survey other items. Section 221 states some penalties for those who don't provide information or accurate information. What I could not find in the law was any words requiring anyone to answer the surveys. As a retired Army Officer, I am outraged at the blatant disrespect for freedom and privacy and I declare I will rot in jail before I provide such information (which will eventually happen if too many Americans fail to stand up to the government). This is clearly a time for Patirots to stand up and "Just say 'no.'"

Posted by Mike | February 27, 2009 4:54 PM

Dan the Man in Maryland,

YOU SAID IT and I agree. Screw the illegals. What about us?

Maybe we should tell them we're illegal and we can get more services and hold our crotiches and give the finger to Americans as they take our waitress, waiter, delivery, landscape, plumber, roofer, contruction jobs. You are so right - I would do those jobs because there are no "good" jobs left.

Posted by Jose Rivera | March 5, 2009 5:00 PM

One of these US Census field workers came to my home this morning. What an absolute treat!! I set the tone immediately by producing a digital voice recorder and placing it between us... you come to my door after badgering me through the mail several times, I want the conversation archived. He seemed a bit perturbed by my preparation.

I must admit though, most of my "prepared" statements never made it out of my mouth... they always catch you at the most inopportune time. But I also didn't let him get much speaking in either. I talked over just about every attempt of his to make his fruitless points. And I wasn't polite, believe me... no cussing, but certainly no pleasantries. No information disclosed on my part. No "open-door" policy from me to allow him or any other lackey to return in the future. Nothing. Got it, people? They got nothing. And they'll continue to get nothing, should they persist. And that's all there is to it. My final words to him were (very plainly), "Get outta here". And like the trained little parrot he is, he turned away from me and started down my front walk. Again, my doorstep, MY RULES!

"NO" MEANS "NO"... at least it does in my house.

Posted by Andrew | March 14, 2009 1:20 PM

Congradulations Andrew! Great job!

Posted by cathy | March 15, 2009 12:31 PM

To my fellow Americans, Keep up the good work people. Continue to resist and just say a big fat No to the American Community Survey and No to the Census Bureau goons, that harass us all. Remember all, United We Stand, or Divided We Shall Fall! Let us all put the united back in our United States of America, and continue to resist and fight this injustice and harassment, that is being placed upon us by the Census Bureau, in any way we can. Don't fill out the survey when it comes in the mail, slam the phone down when they call you on the phone, and don't answer the door when they knock on it. Stand tall, do not fear, resist now, or they will own all of us later, and in the future they will only make it worse for all of us, if we give in and comply now. If we fill out the very intrusive survey and comply, we are only sending our vote to the Census Bureau, that it is perfectly ok to harass, bully, and torment Americans anytime they wish to do so, and for them to collect any personal information on us whenever they deem necessary. Well it is not ok for them to do that. Vote No! resist this nonsense now, or it will only get much worse for Americans in the future. Hey Peace all!

Posted by Woodsy Owl | March 16, 2009 2:13 AM

So ok...2 mailings (to current resident), 15 phone messages (first 1 in which I accidentally answered and said I was not interested in answering these questions), 2 visits by a field rep (did not answer door) and now one last letter (to my name now)...when will this end? I think I'm closing in on 90 days - will a penalty letter be the last clue that I've lost all rights as a private American citizen?

I feel harassed and just a little scared of Big Brother now.

Posted by Ann-Tagonist | March 23, 2009 12:07 PM

There may be a letter threatening a penalty. The penalty has Never been enforced. Ever. And any threatening letter will be carefully worded to say that you 'could be fined'. And that is true, there is a law on the books mandating that you answer. But there is no mechanisim to enforce that law. The Census Bureau has no law enforcement powers. The word 'mandatory' simply means that there is a law (mandate) somewhere.

Beyond the intimidation they have no power. And they aren't about to cause any trouble before the upcoming 2010 census. Laugh it off but stay mad about it. They left me alone once I made it clear that I knew the game. Didn't even visit.

I will not participate at all in the 2010 census and I'm going to cite the American Community Survey as the reason that they created me as an enemy.

Posted by Lazarus | March 24, 2009 4:33 PM

Neither my husband nor myself had even heard about this survey until a few days ago when we received a letter telling us that we had been randomly selected to participate. Today we received the survey and when we noticed the words on the front saying:" YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW" we decided we wouldn't be participating. This thing is 28 pages long and the questions they ask are noone's business. Some of these questions my own MOTHER who gave birth to me, raised me , and still calls twice a week wouldn't even ask. We value our privacy and we won't be answering or responding to them in any way. I was happy to find this site. At least now we know we're not alone and what to expect for the next 90 days. I will post what happens next. It will be interesting to see whether or not we will receive any phone calls. We only use skype and have no landline.

Posted by Kara | March 26, 2009 2:25 PM

Thanks Lazarus,

I appreciate the words of advice. It's been a week since receipt of the letter from the field rep's supervisor telling me to do "my civic duty" (I paraphrase, of course).

Do you happen to know if the 2010 census will be the long or short form or are we all "randomly" selected for either? I have a feeling I'll be at the top of their hit list once they determine I didn't answer the ACS. This could be a long fight for our rights - I hope I have the "constitution" for it (pun intended).

Like you, I have always been an upstanding, good citizen and did indeed answer the 2000 census. But it was nothing like this ACS intrusion on our privacy and much has changed since then which would make us all skeptical of divulging such private info.

Again, thanks and keep up the good fight!

Posted by Ann-Tagonist | March 26, 2009 2:44 PM

Ann-Tagonist

The 2010 census will only be the short form for everyone. See, that is the beauty of the American Community Servey. Only a small number of people get it on a perpetual basis. It reduces the possibility of collective outrage.

Soo many people raised a fit about the long form on the 2000 census that they did way with it. And the ACS was born. The goal is to get more timely data and keep the majority of citizens ignorant of what is going on.

If you ask your neighbors about the ACS they will not know what you are talking about. And so your congressperson gets a few scattered complaints every now and then that they can ignore, instead of hundreds of calls every 10 year census that they must respond to.

Pretty clever, huh?

Posted by Lazarus | March 26, 2009 3:44 PM

Lazarus,

That IS pretty sneaky...thanks for filling me in on the inner workings of our esteemed Commerce Dept. My former congressman (as I have moved) Judd Gregg turned down the job offer from Obama - I wonder if it had anything to do with this ACS. He's generally an involved, caring public servant with a pretty good track record. Can it be we have at least one senator in that loony bin that gets it??

Eight days and counting since last (hopefully) letter was received from Field Rep Supervisor....maybe I'm out of the woods.

Thanks to all posters for giving me the fortitude to hang in. It's been tough.

Posted by Ann-Tagonist | March 27, 2009 4:43 PM

Just when I thought all was quiet - back to back visits on March 30th and March 31st with a business card left in door that said "If I didn't respond by end of month, she (rep) would be hung...please call!"

Now what next?

Posted by Ann-Tagonist | April 2, 2009 12:51 PM

What next? You should be done. Your rep failed. The reps make a last ditch effort at the end of the month. Your rep will have some new people to bother this month and should be done with you.

Posted by cathy | April 3, 2009 7:54 AM

I thought my 90 days were up until the phone rang tonight at 6 PM and again at 8 PM from the field rep supervisor!! Then she drives into my driveway at 8:45 PM and pounds on the door (I didn't respond). She left a note card saying that she wanted just "75 seconds of our time for quality control purposes". This is just ridiculous...now I'm not sure if this will end at all!!

The CB has surely made themselves into one scary beaurocracy and I feel our rights as private citizens slipping away with this survey and it makes me very upset.

Posted by Ann-Tagonist | April 8, 2009 12:12 AM

Wow, Ann!
"just 75 seconds for quality control purposes"? What garbage! The CB does likes to find out why people are non-responder so that methods can be developed to combat the resistance. In a effort to get cooperation, the CB trys to do everything it can without making the public angry. This ploy will not help them. Stand strong, we're pulling for you. It will end.

Posted by cathy | April 8, 2009 8:14 AM

Cathy,

Thanks for your words of encouragement...I only wish and hope that you are correct. I found myself losing sleep over this last night - it makes me feel like a prisoner in my own home. I find that I open my front door and look around before exiting - how awful to feel this way! I think your theory about the "quality control" is probably correct - information is ammo for them. I also think the field rep supervisor may be checking up on the field rep to see if she ever came out in the first place. I find it incredible that I fell into that 23% group that gets a personal visit - such is my luck! I'm too far in to cave now....

Posted by Ann-Tagonist | April 8, 2009 11:45 AM

They are just bullies! I can't believe that people put up with this. If a police officer was harrassing you in this way you could have them fired.

Each time that you allow them '75 seconds' they try to pry out a few more bits of information. I won't defend the field agents, but they are under pressure to keep at you until you cave in.

It's an outrage. You hang in there. They are making enemies every day. The strategy of doing a slow, quiet, long form census or American Community Survey as they call it, isn't going to work any better than the 10 year long form did.

Every household is supposed to get the ACS sometime during the 10 years between the 'real' census. And every household will get the opportunity to get PO'd.

Posted by Lazarus | April 8, 2009 8:52 PM

I decided to mess with the CB personnel some. Since they wanted to know a lot about me that is no one elses business.....I decided to "volunteer" information on myself. Even thought I am not one....I told them I was a nudist and I showed up at my front door totally nude. Then I told them that my penis was 6 and 3/4 inches long and I could hold an erection for at least an hour if the situation was right.

They did not appreciate my humor!!!!

Posted by Vince | April 9, 2009 11:35 PM

Lazarus,

This is wearing me out...latest update....a phone call today from the field supervisor saying she has tried "many, many, many times to reach us and to please call her back as she has just a few questions and this won't take long". I mean, after almost 4 months of this bs, isn't it plain to see that perhaps I'm not interested in participating??? Right now, I'd rather have a penalty than another 3 months of this crap and it seems amazing to me that one hasn't been mentioned at this point. I'm beginning to think I must be one hell of a special individual for them to spend so much time chasing me down!

Posted by Ann-Tagonist | April 10, 2009 3:56 PM

This is why the 'avoidance' tactic doesn't work well. They will eventurally go away at the end of 90 days. Avoiding them leaves the possibility that you will cooperate. A loose end that still could be wrapped up. The bureau doesn't want the field reps to give up easily.

I think it's best to clearly and firmly REFUSE from the begining. I was clear about my position with the phone callers and the calls stopped. Polite but firm with the first caller. Rude and adamant with the second caller that I WILL NOT!. And screw the consequences!!

Never heard from anyone again. No one ever tried to visit me.

I don't know if my refusals made them skip the visits or perhaps I just didn't get chosen for a visit.

Posted by Lazarus | April 11, 2009 1:45 PM

Lazarus,

Just read a piece in our local paper about 140,000 "special agents" of the CB hired specifically to canvass every street in America to take note of addresses ahead of the 2010 census - some of which could be the long form, most expected to be short. They'll be outfitted with clipboards and laptops and all properties will go into a GPS database (I imagine for Google Earth). Can't imagine what this will cost already beleaguered taxpayers! My ordeal continues - another voice mail from Field Rep Supv saying "our voicemail greeting says you'll call me back....I wish you would." I'm entering 110 days of this - I wish I had taken your route, Laz.

Posted by Ann-Tagonist | April 14, 2009 12:46 PM

I'm into 100 days with the CB. I have had all the personal calls from reps, 30 phone calls & messages, now they called to tell me I had an appointment scheduled at their office. I WILL NOT go. What is worst about this situation is that it really upsets my wife...she expects them to break down our door any day. I will go to jail if they fine me cause I wont pay it. This is NAZI Germany, WAKE UP people. I have been writing to all congress people and will continue to do so. No one gives me any satisfaction but they know Im out here. This is a real battle for the AMERICA we use to live in. I pay my taxes and am a law abiding citizen I have rights to privacy.

Steve
Yuma, AZ

Posted by Steve | May 10, 2009 11:55 AM

Sorry, Steve. It looks looks the CB has stepped the pressure on non-responders and you just got lucky. Hang in there, it will end and you won't be fined or jailed. The CB reps can be quite annoying and their tactics are nothing short of extortion. It has been more than 18 mos since my CB contact ended and have heard nothing more from them. The CB wasn't able to leave a message for me because I disconnected my answering machine and left only the caller ID on.

There is no law which requires you to read your mail, answer your phone or open your door.

Posted by cathy | May 10, 2009 8:55 PM

How much of our TAX money is going to this soviet government bull?

Posted by Jack | May 11, 2009 5:56 PM

Thanks, Cathy.

I will Stand up for my rights. We must stand up for our rights. I cant wait for the actual 2010 Census so I can start all over again with the Census Bureau. It certainly is not easy telling the CB NO. It is very upsetting that these people would actually ask these intrusive questions. What a hassle it must be to keep files on all 300,000 US citizens. They must have really Big plans for our country. BUSH or OBAMA it doesn't seem to matter, BIG BROTHER is here and here to stay. Just cause your'e paranoid doesn't mean the're not after you.

Steve

Posted by Steve | May 12, 2009 3:22 PM

Well, the guy showed up on my street this morning with GPS in hand. I spied him talking to my neighbor who was mowing his lawn at the time. Neighbor goes: who are you and what are you doing here? CB goes: oh just from the CB. We do it every 10 years. Not taking head count this time, just getting longitude and latitudes on all the residences. Checking for converted garages and the like. (Prior to that CB had been "helping himself" to property access with most neighbors at work all day.) Neighbor was suspicious but actually too dumb to see through the guy or the entire matter either. Elderly, and trusts too many. Couldn't hear whole conversation. CB left for "lunch", so I went over to talk to neighbor. Neighbor clueless about whole CB issue. Filled him in myself. CB says they're coming back. Just doing preliminary work since last census in 2000 left out lots of houses from the "grid". Here we go again with that word, "the grid", as in "smart grid"?? Curiously, CB did not go to all the houses in the neighborhood. Only some. Talk about profiling. I heard they are also putting stickers on mailboxes designating who's on the "list" as the govt puts it. Red dot stickers=you will be eliminated by the govt for non-compliance. Blue dot stickers=you will be placed in concentration camps for brainwashing. Yellow or pink dot stickers=you are compliant with the socialist/communist agenda and need minimal brainwashing. Anyone hear about this? I went around and checked out the mailboxes. Some indeed do have all these stickers. Very randomly placed. Mostly placed on rural post mailboxes. I haven't seen one yet on a house mailbox.

Posted by Pacsia | May 14, 2009 1:34 AM

The CB GPS vehicle was in our neighborhood a few days ago as well, but it was at dusk. Presumably so that they wouldn't be spotted. Definitely a bit fishy, as they would sit in front of a house for a few moments, do something and then move on.

My wife went up and talked to them, as it was a bit creepy. But it's afoot.

Posted by Chad Everett | May 14, 2009 8:37 AM

Well Jack how much money for the 2010 census count is now up to $14.5
BILLION dollars. And that does not include the American Community Survey perpetual count.

Posted by Lazarus | May 14, 2009 1:27 PM

Jack asked about the cost of this 'soviet government bull'.

Well so far the 2010 cost is up to $14.5 Billion dollars. Just for the 10 year count.

This does not include the cost for the ongoing perpetual American Communitty Survey.

I attempted to post a link to the article posted on line today, pu that didn't go through. Search for my two census.

Posted by Lazarus | May 14, 2009 6:44 PM

A friend of mine is going though the beginning stages of ignoring these letters and little posted notes they leave on her doorknob. Thank god they don't have her cellphone number.
They state that the "survey" is authorized by "Title 13 Sections 141, 193 & 221 of the U.S. Code"
After reading the letters and notes they leave I decided to look it up as it seems very odd that they want this info so bad.

My friend's already very annoyed by this. The letters state that her apartment was selected randomly out of the entire building complex which has at least 80 apartments in total.

What set the alarm off in my head was the fact that her and I happen to be very aware and vocally open of the nwo and how government is rapidly expanding in an unconstitutional way in this country.
Reading a few of these comments above well really made me happy for lack of a better word.
I'm glad people are looking things up and doing the research rather then just doing what they're told. But sadly most people are still ignorant of the world around them, happy to live in make-believe till their govt comes knocking their door down and throwing you in jail or more likely a F.E.M.A camp for having a legally owned firearm in their home!

To all who have stumbled across this page while wondering what this garbage is that keeps being sent to you I just want to say first and for most that you are not alone in not wanting to give your personal information to some bozo claiming it's the LAW!

There is power in numbers and as long as we refuse to submit they are powerless, because remember they are only as strong as WE ALLOW them to be. THEY CAN'T THROW US ALL IN JAIL!
It is we the people who have power over OUR government not the other way around. It's ours lets take it back!

Don't ever complain about what your government is doing to you, instead ask yourself, why I am ALLOWING MY government to do this to me.

Posted by Nightmare | May 17, 2009 4:54 PM

How is it that this is totally random and they have your phone number?
When they called, I have a visitor here, with a nice thick accent and when they called after a couple months of me ignoring the mailings....I had her say...no this is not the address you are calling.

So far they have been here 10 times. I caught her waiting in the car one day and just walked past.

They can not force me to open mail right??? THere is no law that says I have to read what is in my mailbox or attached to my door.

They came last Saturday, 3 times since, but on Saturday I answered the door and she said she was from the census bureau....I said I was taking a nap and to come later and closed the door.

When she finally gets me at the door....I am going to politely say...I have to use the toilet....and will use the same line until they send me registered mail.

I am going to call the number today from a pay phone and say that I am leaving the country for 3 months for vacation and that whatever they are selling...it looks urgent...I would like to hear their sales pitch when I return. I don't know what your selling lady...but...it looks like you are desperate...and I understand in these economic times it is tough....but it looks like insurance or something.....And sorry lady...I use the internet and if it isn't Netflix in my mail box it ends up in the garbage....so come back in September and we can talk about what you are selling.

When they finally catch me on the street, I will say that I am just visiting and taking care of the kid in the house....They can't pin me down....because they don't know who I am according to their random sampling!

Posted by toto | May 22, 2009 4:11 AM

toto,
They have your number because the CB contracts out to to telemarketing companies to find phone numbers which is why I don't list my number in my name. And yes, there is no law which requires you to read your mail, answer your phone or open your door.

Posted by cathy | May 22, 2009 8:55 AM

Unlike most of you, my first encounter was someone knocking on my door. He introduced himself and said he wanted to ask some questions pertaining to the US census. He said it would take about 45 minutes and we need to do this inside. I told him no, I didn't have time for that. He said thats fine we can set up another time to do this. I told him for the sake of the census that 2 people lived here and that was all I could do for him and he left. Got a follow up letter and pamphlet 2 days later with a number to call. My phone is unlisted so I am not calling to give them my number as a previous poster advised. Will wait anxiously for their return.

Posted by Scotty | June 21, 2009 12:12 PM

Thus far, I've received two of the ACS forms from the Census Bureau. As with most of you, I saw the words "Required by law to respond" and that sent up the red flags. After reading through the contents of the survey, I was utterly appalled by how invasive it was. The guise under which this survey is presented - to assist with the placement of schools, fire stations, hospitals, etc - is absurd to the point of being downright insulting to one's intelligence.

I will not be filling out the survey. I will provide them with the information they require - the number of voting-age adults present in my home. Nothing more. Should they decide to pursue this matter - which I have no doubts they will - my wife and I are prepared to engage them on any front they decide to attack.

Thanks to all who commented here - you've armed me with some invaluable information. I'll post again when

Posted by DoubleTallMan | August 23, 2009 3:06 PM

Hi All.

Its almost 4 AM EST here. I got my ACS in the mail yesterday, opened it up tonight, and haven't been able to sleep since.

I cannot believe this...my options are to either fill this out (truthfully or with BS information), or prepare myself for 90 days worth of harassment!? What the hell?! I am furious over this. I don't want to answer it, but I also don't want my neighbors, guests, friends, etc. harassed when they come to visit. I also can't believe the hours of contact, people getting calls after 9 PM, before 6 AM...that is harassment, plain & simple. I guess I have to start mentally preparing myself for the fight.

I have to be up for work in 3 hours, and I'm debating calling out because I haven't sleep a wink since I opened this envelope earlier tonight. For the record, I'm a leftie but also a privacy advocate, and I can't believe this is legal. Just astonishing.

I fortunately have no land line, just an unlisted cell phone. But just to be on the safe side, I made a new number on Google Voice, which redirects to my cell, and gave it out only to the friends & family I call regularly. Any call directly to my cell and not to my GV number will be ignored and sent directly to voicemail. I also keep long hours at work and travel frequently, so that helps as well. Lastly, I have a gated drive to the back door of the house, so that will hopefully provide me with a safe, harassment free path to my property.

I am so livid right now. Let the 90 begin.

-Mike

Posted by Mike | August 24, 2009 3:58 AM

Mike - Hang in there, friend. Don't give up. When you have a chance, I do suggest that you vent your concerns to your elected officials regarding the ACS. In the meantime, make a "personal (or family) plan" on how you will handle and manage Phase II and Phase III of the pending harassment. It sounds like you are in Phase I (the mailings). Phase II for most people consists of phone calls, if the CB get acquire your phone number(s); more mailings may occur. Phase III, according to most "victims" is the WORST phase....this is when the census workers/field representatives begin ringing/knocking and walking around your property. Do you confront them (firmly, but politely)? Do you plan to ignore them (i.e. do not answer the door)? That's your choice. Read the numerous blog sites on the internet to help you make a decision. As for me....I think I am in the last week or so of Phase III. I decided NOT to respond and NOT answer the door. I throw anything away that does NOT have my name on it, regardless if it's left on my door, mailbox, vehicles, etc. So far, I have managed to evade the "gestapo." Their tactics and methods are HIGHLY instrusive and in one case criminal (tailgating my wife into our neighborhood at 8:35 PM, blocking her in our driveway, then trying to chase her on foot before she closed the garage door!)...so be prepared. Tell your neighbors what you are going through and ask them not to tell these people anything. I am still numb about the ACS and what's happening at the Census Bureau. It makes you wonder what the 2010 census will look like (which is not the same as the ACS).....I think it hits the streets next spring(?). Mike....you are NOT alone! You are standing tall with many other great Americans!

Posted by Joel | August 25, 2009 9:50 AM

Mike, I guess my husband and I got off easier than a lot of people. We got our first survey in April 2009. My husband stuck it in a drawer. Two weeks later we got a reminder card in the mail. Two weeks after that we got another survey. We had no intentions of answering those invasive questions. Around Memorial Day we started getting phone calls. We got maybe 10-15 calls until they stopped in June, after three weeks. One man told my husband that he worked for the U.S. Government and my husband had to answer all the survey questions. My husband told him that he used to work for the U.S. Government in the military and he didn't have to answer anything. The last call we got was from a woman and my husband told her that three adults live here and that's all she needs to know. No more calls. We started bracing for visits, but nobody came and they didn't bother our neighbors, either. I don't know why the harrassment didn't continue unless they realized they were up against a hard-core military veteran who was set in his ways. Stay strong and don't let them intimidate you. What they are doing is wrong.

Posted by Doris | August 25, 2009 8:02 PM

Only 1/3 of the number on non-responders actually get the visits. There's not enough time or money to contact all non-responders.

Posted by cathy | August 26, 2009 8:14 AM

OMG. I am so glad I found this site. I thought I was alone because no one else here has gotten one and I have gotten my second phone call on Sunday evening. Now I am really ready to go at it.

Posted by Roland | September 29, 2009 8:10 AM

We've received 2 copies of the ACS, a reminder card, 2 phone calls, 2 visits and a letter.

I've been extremely polite to the people involved. They are doing their job, and they have been polite in response.

The man who came to our house was cordial. When he told me that we could be fined, I told him that I understand. He said he'd have to mark us down as a refusal. Again, I told him that I understand. I told him the only thing we were comfortable with was reporting that there are four people who live in the house. He made a lot of small talk; I started wondering if he was fishing for answers that he could fill in "for us" so he wouldn't have to come back? (We live quite out of the way.) I told him straight out that we were not upset that he came to our house, that we understand he is doing his job, but that we won't be answering any of the questions.

He met my husband and me; he realizes that we are intelligent people who refuse to be bullied. The large American and Gadsden flags flying on the flagpole in the front yard might be an indicator that we won't go quietly into the night. :0)

I keep searching to see if I can find anyone who has actually been fined. Does anyone know?

Posted by Tammy | September 29, 2009 8:57 PM

No one has been fined for the ACS and the last one fine for failing to fill out the census was in 1960. It is a threat to improve the response rate.

Posted by cathy | September 30, 2009 8:13 AM

Visited the blog after almost 1 year.
Wanted to check if there are any posts/thoughts regarding the impending 2010 census. Am sure its going to be just as intrusive.

joe

Posted by joe | October 2, 2009 4:39 PM

I to am now going through the harassment cycle from the Census Bureau's ACS Survey.

I did some informational searches and found and found a site prepared for Our Government representatives by the Census Bureau so that they can respond to their constituents when they are contacted it's called "Congressional Tool Kit" website

Question 10 from Answers to Common Questions Submitted by Constituents is very telling specially the last paragraph:
"The census bureau is not a prosecuting agency. Failure to provide information is not likely to result in a fine. The Census Bureau staff work to achieve cooperation and high response rates by helping the public understand that responding to the ACS is a matter of Civic responsibility, and prefers to encourage participation in this manner rather then prosecution."

From what I have been reading for the last hour I'm sure we all can agree that the C.B. has only our best interest when they continually call, show up at your do, leave letters with threats of fines and punishment for failure of compliance.

Stay the course, be strong, challenge complacency at all levels, call the police, file a complaint, and contact your representatives. Maybe we should start a grass roots coalition to fight this intrusive collection of information.

Posted by john | October 11, 2009 10:40 PM

john keep reading. There is more to discover. I've been researching this stuff for over 2 years. The CB actually has its best interest in mind, not ours. We are the guinea pigs for all the behavioral, social and economic scientists out there. Add to that all the data mining marketers. The CB is being used as a front to deliberately invade our privacy. Further, these very scientists laugh at us for being stupid enough to fall for the threats and fill out the survey.

Posted by cathy | October 12, 2009 1:59 PM

The American Community Surrvey i recieved one it had all cap address all cap is not my ADDRESS so i pitched it in stove on saturday oct 10 6pm a woman showed up stated she was from Census and she wonted to search my home she coundnt show me ID i told her i was cooking dinner for my family and to leave she said no i am staying ill join you for dinner i said no way please leave i had to get very rud to her and ask her if she had a worrent she said no i then got mad called her a nazi bitch get the fuck off my property told her people like you destoy my rights i said fuck you bitch get the fuck out of her after about hour of this she finelly lifted but she kept driving by my property servil times like she was casing my 40 acers out

then i get a threatening letter from these bitches it states

Dear Mr xxx
Recently a Census rep visited your household in an attempt to collect data for the ACS with this letter we hope to explain the purpose of this MANDATORY survey to explain why your participation is SO important.
as you can see no personal info is published
The primary goal of the survey is to provide up to date statistical profiles of the people in your community on subjects like housing conditions, educational attainment, commuting patterns, andemployment status, this info is needed by your community, county, and state as well the nation, to plan and evaluate programs at all levels

A federal law( title 13, United States Code) authorizes the Census to conduct this survey and requires that you participate in the survey This law also requires that census employees keep all surey answers confidental bt not allowing any other goverment agency or count system access to your answers your support is needed your contribution is valuable and valued.

Due to the importance of this survey, we would appreciate it very much if youwould call our field rep Darlene Johnson 541 473-3493

survey supervisors Mara Hotchkiss, Nicole Banks, or Calaera Powroznik at 1-800-233-3308 press 13

if you do not do this survey you can be fined up to 5000 dollar fine

Sincerely
Ralp J Lee
Regional Director

bullshit i am not doing this survey they can fine me (can they get blood out of a turnup) this is UnConstituutional and a threat

Posted by Michael | October 17, 2009 5:26 PM

I for got to add Darlene Johnson she states that she took a oath to pertect I also to a Oath when i joined the army and surved my counrty and got hurt blow my knee out and my records got destoyed by Bush i been fighting VA for 10 years and still fighting them for my benifits
i am also a disabled depribe viet cenis kiss my ass you took a oath to pretect the Con not to destoy it Mis Bitch Johnson Census Bureau bitch

Posted by Michael | October 17, 2009 6:09 PM

Michael,

In case you haven't already looked the names and numbers up; Ralph J Lee is the regional Census Bureau head of the Seattle office. The 800-233-3308 number also goes the the Seattle office.

Darlene Johnson's 541-473-3493 number is to the little town of Vale, Oregon. She must be a field rep. You can call the local sherrif and tell them you want this person trespassed from your property. She has no authority to remain at your home once she has been told to leave, nobody without a warrent does. Report her actions.

Now to the basic facts. Ralph is lying to you. The Census Bureau hasn't attempted to have anyone fined for more than 50 years. They don't even have any enforcement powers and would have to petition some other agency to issue a fine, and they aren't going to start with you. They absolutely will not risk any bad publicity prior to next year's 10 year census.

You don't have to tell them anything and they can't do anything about it.

Do you like being pushed around with hollow threats from bullies? Tell them firmly where to get off, and they will. Once they know that you are onto the game and will not cooperate they will move on to scaring little old ladies again.

Posted by Lazarus | October 17, 2009 6:31 PM

Well, there it is... the first piece of honesty from the CB folks.

" The PRIMARY GOAL is to provide up to date statistical PROFILES of people in your community on subjects like housing conditions, educational attainment, commuting patterns and employment status."

The Constitution does not allow for these inquisitive minds to probe and collect personal profiles. The choices people make in constructing their lives ARE NOT FODDER FOR STUDY by a bunch of gov employees to maintain their year round employment. GET A REAL JOB!!! As far as I can see, the collection of this data has served to make life miserable for the rest of us by the over spending of the money that WE make and contributed to this depressed economy. The CB and all the elected officials can take their "nanny state" programs and shove it!!!!!

Posted by cathy | October 18, 2009 11:19 AM

Before the nice lady at the ACS hung up, she informed me that I had been listed as refusing to answer the survey.
We may decide to not answer the survey and in doing so we are breaking the law. I honestly don't think that the Office of Management and Budget are trying to become "BIG BROTHER", they just love to collect information thinking that it will help the under privileged. In doing so they are encouraging "BIG GOVERNMENT".
A 2008 statement by Susan E. Dudley, Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs U.S. Office of Management and Budget before a subcommittee about "Does Federal Statistical Data Adequately Serve People Living with Disabilities?", provides some insight into the thinking. She give high praise to the ACS and makes it clear that the ACS has replaced the Decennial Census long form and will provide data annually, rather than only once a decade. Her goal is to focus on the non-institutionalized population ages 18 and over for the health status and including obesity, risk behaviors such as smoking and alcohol use, insurance coverage, and access to health care.
I noted that lack of insurance coverage has now been lumped into a categtory with smoking and drinking as a bad thing. The question then becomes do we have the freedom to do things that are bad for us? And how far should we let government go in enforcing this.
After reading the statement on the back of the form, and checking out approval number from the Office of Management and Budget, OMB No. 0607-0810 I discovered that it had expired on 5/31/2008.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/rewrite/library/OMBINV.USDA.COMMERCE.html
OMB NO: 0607-0810 EXPIRATION DATE: 05/31/2008 RESPS:3,160,610 HOURS:1,917,410 COSTS(000):$0 The American Community Survey FORMS: ACS-1 ACS-1SP ACS-1PR ACS- 1PR(SP) ACS-290 ACS-1GQ ACS-4GQ

Posted by Hubert | October 19, 2009 6:28 PM

The date on form ACS-1 is 05-22-2008. Maybe 05/31/2008 was the date that they finished the review. If this is the case, it took one week to review and approve this form. Are the hours then the man hours spent on the approval process? I could not find any explanation of this information.

Posted by Hubert | October 20, 2009 9:00 PM

The little lady and I received the initial survey in the mail yesterday. I am encouraged by the comments in this thread and will document the activities and actions that occur. I hope we can help one another through these posts.

Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day. - Thomas Jefferson

Posted by Jerry in Arizona | October 30, 2009 5:18 PM

H.R.3131 - To make participation in the American Community Survey voluntary, except with respect to certain basic questions.

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3131/actions_votes

Posted by Jerry in Arizona | October 30, 2009 6:26 PM

Unfortunately, that bill probably won't even get to the floor for a vote. But don't worry, the mandatory was add to the survey to increase response rates and with the stipulation that no one would be fined. In order to have a nanny state one needs data on those who can be persuaded to take handouts. The gov that can give you all you want is big enough to take all you have. The insurance question wasn't added for grins.

Posted by cathy | October 31, 2009 9:52 AM

I am so glad I found this site! I just recieved my 28 page book in the mail this week. I could not believe the questions it had! I will not give out the info they are asking for, they can kiss my happy ass! I am a bit nervous after reading some of the comments, but I refuse to tell them all that info. I have never heard of this until I recieved it in the mail. I do not know anyone that has recieved one other then myself. I have asked people if they recieved one, and they look at me like I am nuts. I will keep up with this website, just in case I need some encouragement :)
God Bless America!

Posted by Mindy | November 2, 2009 5:09 AM

Mindy, you have come to the right place. You'll do just fine.

Posted by cathy | November 2, 2009 8:19 AM

My experience may help others decide how to deal with this inherently unconsitutional "survey" and it's accompanying "law."

I received the highly intrusive survey in the mail. I duly ignored it.

After a couple of weeks I received a phone call. The nice bureaucrat was polite and never mentioned any legal implications. I declined the phone interview and continued to ignore the mailed survey.

The systematic phase of non-stop phone calls then began. Utlizing that revolutionary new technology known as Caller Id, I simply screened any number I did not recognize as someone I know. The cowards could not even take the time to leave a message 98% of the time. I continued to ignore the mailed survey, and anticipated the expected "field representative" visit with building bemusement. She showed up after only about 2 weeks of harassing phone calls.

I agreed in principle to answer only those questions that appeared on the 2000 decennial long form, and she accepted "refused" for anything else. In fact, I gave her even less than the principle would suggest - no names and no $ amounts of any kind. The nice bureaucrat accepted "refused" as a standard, valid answer on her nice little laptop. She made no mention of any legal implications. *She also volunteered the refusal rate is very high in general*

We’ll see if they come back with any legal threats. Not likely, I think. More likely, this is just a predictable story of nice little bureaucrats reaching beyond their constitutional bounds, and knowing it. The thing every true citizen must do now is give the nice little bureaucrats the minimum they need to check their little procedural boxes AND JOIN THE GROWING GRASS ROOTS MOVEMENT TO ELECT LAWMAKERS AND EXECUTIVES WITH THE CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES TO REIGN IN STUFF LIKE THIS! Taking over Congress in 2010 will be a good start. As for me, I’ll be joining the crowd of “dangerous right-wing extremists” paying a visit to Nanny Pelosi and the Capitol tomorrow. It's time to make the Constitution relevant again.

Posted by Joe | November 4, 2009 12:10 PM

Excerpts from my letter to my congressmen after the Census worker attempted to enter my home today by force:

Senator XXX,

[Personal info removed]

I am writing to request that you and Sen. YYY and Rep. ZZZ please call off the Census Bureau people who have been harassing my wife and me for the past 3 months. Today, one of the Census Bureau representatives attempted to enter my home here in XYZ, MD by force. This is completely unacceptable behavior on the part of anyone who claims to represent the USG.

In spite of the Census workers insistence, we did not receive the so-called American Community Survey documents in the mail, so we did not respond to this "random" survey (which begs the question - if it is random, how can it possibly be a census?).

After many phone calls from the Census Bureau, wherein the caller either left no message (our caller ID showed it was the Census Bureau) or the caller left threatening messages, which we did not respond to, they have started sending Census workers to our residence. When the first one showed up, I answered his questions about how many adults live at this address... He then started to ask me all sorts of intrusive personal questions, which I refused to answer. After my refusal to answer questions that go far beyond the scope and spirit of the US Constitutional requirement, he threatened me with jail and massive monetary fines. I sent him packing.

He returned many times while we were at work or away from home, leaving many threatening notes and demands that I contact him to complete this "survey". As a result, I looked up the ACS online and was absolutely astonished and horrified at the types of questions being asked and how many, and the intrusive and personal nature of this entire document. I was also aghast at the threats included against citizens in this document. The questions contained in this document have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the Constitutional requirement to enumerate the population every 10 years for the purpose of apportioning representation in the Congress.

Because of the intrusive and personal nature of these questions, I and my wife have not and will not answer them. We have provided everything that is actually required for a census as laid out in the US Constitution. We will not provide any other information to these harassers.

Once it became clear that I would not answer these questions for the first Census worker, a female worker began leaving notes on our door, insisting that we are required by law, under penalty of jail sentences and heavy fines, to answer the questions contained in this noxious and patently un-American "survey". Today, she finally caught us at home, and after being told that we will not complete the survey or talk to her, she refused to leave the property, began pounding on the door and yelling and demanding that we answer her questions. After restraining my dogs, I went to the door to tell her again to leave, and she attempted to force her way into my house. She left only when I picked up the telephone to call the local police, but again left threatening notes on my door.

It is time to call off these dogs. This "survey" is way out-of-bounds, and these petty tyrants who are attempting to collect information they have no right to or need for, are over the top. The next time they come by, I will not wait to ask them to leave; I will call the police immediately.

I have never been so shabbily treated by my own government, and certainly never expected to be. This is a government agency that is clearly out of control and needs to be severely curtailed, if not eliminated altogether. Perhaps that should be the goal of a future bill in Congress. In the meantime, I am asking that your office contact the Census Bureau and stand them down. I will provide the names of the Census workers who have been so aggressive and intrusive if you need them

Thank you for your assistance in this distasteful matter.

(Yep, another "dangerous right-wing extremist", who believes the government needs to stay out of my life)

Posted by DS | November 28, 2009 3:08 PM

DS, Wow! Your treatment by the CB field rep was way over the top. They are taught to be persistent but yours was abusive. You won't be fined or jailed for failing to respond to the survey and you should be free of them by the 1st of Dec.

Posted by cathy | November 28, 2009 7:33 PM

Cathy,

TKS for the encouragement. I chalked this up to their last desperate attempt to get us to respond to that outrageous survey. I'm not worried about the outcome, but my spousal unit is nervous. The womanazi tried to call us three times after finally leaving, but caller ID is a great thing :-)

I would like to see this person disciplined, but I suppose she'll just go harass and intimidate some other poor schmuck now. We could probably balance the budget if we'd get rid of all the unnecessary government agencies, which is to say, about 90% of them, starting with the Census Bureau (temp employment every 10 years should work for an actual census).

Cheers.

Posted by DS | November 28, 2009 10:37 PM

So, for all of us that refuse this, being 'randomly' selected, they will now have us on an even more limited list. Who is to say that they won't prosecute this later when they do have the funds and the resources allocated for this? What is the Statute of Limitations for refusing this Legal Survey? Also, for those of you who are just filling out the number of people, why? This can't be a Census, it isn't a Census year. You will have to just fill it out again with the Constitutionally mandated 2010 Census. They can't need this info twice in a year, so the number of people can't be the point of this "Survey". It has to be to gather the other information.

Posted by Paul | December 4, 2009 10:42 AM

Paul, the info is used to employ social, behavioral and economic scientists. The subcommittee which allowed the CB to use the "mandatory" on the survey did so with the stipulation that no one would be fined for not responding. The treats are to encourage compliance. They want the info not fines. Too many groups wait for the release of this data from the CB each year. The CB uses their surveys to keep their budgets and staff increasing.

Posted by cathy | December 5, 2009 9:42 AM

Thanks Cathy, I have read your years worth of helpful information posts. I assume the 90 day cycle is still the norm and that there has been no changes in the CB's tatics? I am expecting my 2nd survey in the mail any day. No phone calls that I know of yet. I can't imagine just filling in the number of people as I expect to have to do that anyway in 2010? Thanks again. Paul

Posted by Paul | December 5, 2009 11:19 AM

Got my first visit today, never got a mail in survey. I am one who will dish out as much as they give so,I am looking forward to it.
Follow them to their house and stop by all the time just to tell them I'm still
not answering the questions !!!!!

Posted by Scott Dickinson | January 3, 2010 12:50 AM

Refused two mailings, got the phone call, refused any compliance, told the poor woman to save us both a lot of time and just send police or IRS agents to deal with me because I will not answer any of these questions, ever. She reminded me that my compliance was mandatory, I reminded her that I'm a free man in a free country, and that compliance with Jim Crow laws was once mandatory; don;t think she appreciated that comment, noted me again as a refusal and hung up.

Posted by bill | January 5, 2010 11:24 AM

"A census taker once tried to test me . . . I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."

Posted by Louis | January 15, 2010 2:24 PM

Hello everyone!
FYI I'm a 52yo Honorably Discharged Disabled Veteran.

I gave the best years of my life in service of my Country.

I am ashamed of what our govt has done and continues to do to us.

ALL OF US.!!!!

Although I have no children, I fear the future will be bleak for all of them.

Got the "survey" back in November 09. Kept it lying around.
I must mention here that even though I NEVER received a survey form before this one, I was hassled back in '01 when I lived in the city by some lady with a clipboard and a "Census Bureau" badge. I told her to leave or I would call the law. Never heard from them again till now.

I now live WAY out in the styx, like 11 miles from the nearest gas station/convenience store. In the Northwoods.............

I found these posts back in December after receiving the intrusive "questionnaire." Best comments on this subject to date, and thanks to all who posted, as there isn't much else out there.

The first personal contact this year was on Jan 10. at about 3 in the afternoon. I wrote down the lady's name, from her DL, noted the make, model, color, year of her car, her tag# and then politely asked her to leave or I would call the sheriff's department and report her as a hostile trespasser. I had the phone in my hand. She looked like a librarian, so I took it easy on her. She offered a parting handshake, I withdrew. She said her supervisor would call. She couldn't get out of the driveway fast enough. She almost got stuck in the snow!

I spoke with my attorney after this first visit and he said that I don't have to answer any questions from any Govt official except under oath, and in his presence. Even if I was under arrest he said, I wouldn't have to utter a word without him there.

Had another visit by the census taker today, Jan 18 2010 about 2:15pm this time a man. He almost walked right up on me as I was stacking firewood into my quad-trailer. (I should be more wary..) "Excuse me sir," he says, trudging through the snow as he is showing his little ACS badge "I was wondering if..." ..I loudly cut him off.." You are trespassing!" I told him, pointing at the road, "Get out of here" I said loudly. He said "I only want to ask you a few questions," and that "he didn't even need to know my real name." (Well I knew he had that info right in front of him on his clipboard, so now he is also trying to play me for a dumb*ss)

Now I'm getting pissed...... so I went into yelling at the guy and telling him to get the hell off my property. I told him he was wasting my time, and said I wouldn't answer any questions unless it was in front of my lawyer and my accountant and on his nickel. He said "he wasn't going to pay for anything," I said "neither was I." "I already pay enough in taxes" I said, and repeated that he was wasting my time. He said "he would send someone else," I said, good and that I would tell them the exact same thing.

He continued, saying that I "only had to answer a few of the questions," but I told him again that unless I was under arrest, or had a court-ordered subpoena to answer, that I would tell him NOTHING! Especially without my attorney present. He waded off through the snow towards his vehicle saying I "would hear from them again." Didn't get his name this time, but I got his tag # and Y, M, M, color of his car.

Will post again regarding this.

Thank you all for your posts and for giving me the impetus to stand up to these goons.

Peace,

Tyler

Posted by Tyler | January 18, 2010 8:14 PM

Recipients of the American Community Survey are told several times that the information given is necessary for the operation of our government, is very secure and is kept private. What they don't tell you is that the information is available to a long list of private corporation, research agencies and think tanks, who use the information to justify and pursue their own agendas.

You may have noticed over the past week on the news, many articles about the new situation in American families where the wife is now the major bread winner/wage earner. Other articles have slanted this to be a case of "men marrying into money".

Where did this information come from and why is it on the news? It came from data mining by the Pew Research Center. Where did they get the data? From the American Community Survey and your tax dollars at work. Look at the listed source on the graphs in this article.

Posted by Lazarus | January 20, 2010 12:50 PM

I don't think it's right for the government to be snooping in my personal private life . I don't tell my mother anything about my life and i'm 54 .Why would they have a right to know who i bump uglys with or who i sleep with or where i sleep . Why does it matter how many bedrooms you have or which one in the house you sleep in . What are they planning ? Are they going to come and drag us out of our beds and kill us or what ? This all scares me and i will be on the move . I'm homeless now and sleep where ever i land , guess i will just stay a few nites here and there now .

Posted by Kat | January 22, 2010 1:35 AM

I have read several posts regarding the Public Servant's Questionnaire, with the idea being to give this to the Census worker who is administrating the ACS. It looks great, and I imagine the CB person wouldn't fill it out, BUT, I've also read that you need to request they fill this PQS out in your presence, and if they take the time to fill it out, you would then be obligated to answer the ACS for them! Is this a better chance to take than just saying No? It doesn't sound like you can do both. Necessary to get them to comply with the PQS, is the understanding that you aren't refusing the ACS. I like the thought of handing this form to a CB worker, but wouldn't want them to fill it out and then get on to their real business of getting my information?!

Posted by Paul | January 28, 2010 2:54 PM

Paul, don't waste your time with the CB reps. Either ignore them or tell them no.

Posted by cathy | January 28, 2010 6:28 PM

Man, the phone calls have stopped and nobody bothered to come and knock on my door. Shame, I've been kinda hungry lately.

Posted by Louis | January 29, 2010 12:39 AM

I'm also a U.S. citizen being harrassed by my own Government. I've gotten the mailings and phone calls and have ignored all. Also, I have been ignored by Sen. Casey(Pa.) and Rep. Holden (Pa.) but both being Dems. probably answers that. My question is with as many people under this undue attack by our own Government, why haven't the talk show pundents i.e. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannady, Bill o'Reilly, Glenn beck, and our own public officials not standing up to this tyranny???

Posted by Ken | February 1, 2010 2:26 PM

Ken,

Beck did do a story as did Neil Cavuto during this past summer. They both interviewed Michelle Backmann who is leading the current charge against this. Ron Paul has been against this from the beginning. World Net Daily has some old articles on the ACS. A site called Survival Arts (currently broken) has a running commentary dating back to 2004, when testing for the survey began. The CB has its Rapid Response Team, which it uses to convince any news or wayward politicians of the benefits of the survey. Our public officials are responsible for the tyranny! The ACS is just the old census long form on steroids. This personal data is what drives the reasoning behind all the nanny state programs and contributed to the housing bubble along with the subprime loans. There are a number of groups which support the collection of ACS info. They lobby congress and even contribute questions for consideration for future surveys. The CB even tries to study those who refuse to participate, in an effort to develop techniques to conquer the resistance. I plan to only answer the enumeration question on the up coming 2010 census.

Posted by cathy | February 1, 2010 6:38 PM

cathy, Thank you for your information. I usually listen to those people to keep informed and must have missed it. It just goes to show how dangerous apathy is. Until we are directly involved, we don't pay close enough attention. We all think our own Government could never be oppressive, but I think we are seeing that right now. Vigilance is the key! This web site helps to know you're not alone. Thanks again.

Posted by Ken | February 2, 2010 10:33 AM

Check out post 109 from Tyler on this site.

My ACS-1 form is also numbered OMB No. 0607-0810. The Office of Management and Budget does list this form number as Expired 5/31/2008. Has anyone else come across this as another means for refusal to fill out?

Posted by Paul | February 3, 2010 2:20 PM

It appears from this web site, that the new expiration date for the ACS-1 form 0607-0810 is 7/31/2011. It looks as if they've extended the deadline? Probably still best to just avoid talking to the CB reps.

Posted by Paul | February 4, 2010 9:50 AM

Well, I stepped out to take my dog to the vet and when I got back there was a business card stuck in my door, with a little note written on the back to please call, "no matter what time of the day or night" . . . "I just need a few minutes of your time."

Bawhahahahahahahahahaha

Posted by Louis | February 5, 2010 10:18 AM

UPDATE: Note only did the Big Brother drone leave a business card on my door, but she also harassed a few of my neighbors as well. She asked, almost in a demanding tone, where I was and when I would be home (as if somehow they knew). She also instructed them to make sure I was informed of her visit as if somehow it was their responsibility. This is truly unbelievable. The bonus is that she drove about 45 minutes just to get to my house. LOL

Posted by Louis | February 6, 2010 7:53 AM

We went through the ACS in July 09. Boy was it upsetting as we both thought the FBI would be comming at any moment. Folks, there are way more of us than their are of them. They give up in 90 days. If they came after each of us the courts would be so choked up and it would cost the Gov't so much money. Take heart, things are changing. I actually look forward to the Census. We are Americans so stand up for our country and oppose those who would ABUSE US. I survived the ACS.

Posted by Steve | February 6, 2010 8:43 PM

It's Super Bowl Sunday and someone's is at my door knocking! Bawahahahahahahahahahahahaha

She left another card on my door indicating she is available 24 hours day, seven days a week. Hmmmm . . . you would think that sounds tempting, but my neighbor informed me she had all of four teeth up front. I don't think I'll be making that call.

Posted by Louis | February 7, 2010 3:58 PM

My first field rep came on Saturday. I opened the door, went out on the porch and talked to him. He was nice enough and said he would put me down as a refual. I told him I wasn't refusing the 2010 Census or the CB, just refusing to give HIM any informaton, not knowing him or his laptop. I asked him when he might return and he said he wouldn't. I imagine his supervisor will stop by next. My 90 day cycle is up at the end of Feb., and it is cold and snowy here, so maybe they are giving up early...

Posted by Paul | February 8, 2010 9:25 AM

Is it really THAT important to Big Brother to know how many bathrooms I have in my home? Apparently not, as I got my third visit in less than a week. I just didn't answer the door. I figured it was the Census Bureau or someone selling girl scout cookies. (Mmmm cookies) Anyway, I was right. After a few minutes I walked to the door and once again there was a business card stuck in it. The note written on it practically begged me to her call and that she promised to type fast. Well, she is persistent I'll give here that.

You know it isn't only the intrusive nature of the ACS, but they way the government is going about attempting to gather the information. First, ask relevant questions and maybe if you ask nicely and make the responses voluntary, you might get some answers. However, you are not gonna get me to comply via the threat of fine, coercion and harassment. Did I wake up in China today? Is this Nazi Germany?

You know, a lot of people may say (usually the mindless sheep) to just go ahead and answer the questions, "it's no big deal." Ah, but it is. You see the erosion of one's freedom and liberty does not happen overnight. It starts with the asking (in this case imposing) seemingly innocuous questions now. Go ahead, give a little now, but in time the demands will be greater and then finally more and more people will ask, "How did it ever come to this?" And our response will then be, "You just didn't care."

Posted by Louis | February 9, 2010 5:02 PM

After the field rep on Saturday, I received my overnight FedEx letter on tuesday. I imagine the supervisor will be stopping by next. The letter didn't say that I refused the questions, only that I didn't want to participate in the 'survey'! 2-1/2 weeks left in my 90 day cycle. I'm sure glad that Feburary is a short month!

Posted by Paul | February 10, 2010 9:29 AM

Hang in there Paul. I just had visit #4 while I was out for a run. This time the rep made a pity plea, saying she was a senior citizen with 4 grandchildren, and that she really needed to keep this job as they are counting on her for food. I hate to be completely insensitive to her situation, but my right to privacy is paramount here. I thought about leaving a note on the door for her next visit indicating that I was not going to voluntarily submit to the ACS interrogation. However, I know she is not going to lose her job and I just do not even want to provide anything directly to them in writing.

If they happen to catch me either coming or leaving my house, then we'll have out little confrontation. (Which I must admit, I'm kinda looking forward to.) However, until then there is simply no law that requires me to open my mail, answer my phone or open my door.

Don't Back Down

Chad Everett offers political and social commentary sprinkled with technical insight, programming tidbits and anything else that comes up.

Posted by Chad Everett on February 3, 2006