Did anyone else receive one of these? According to their web site, US Code Title 13, sections Section 141 and Section 193 your response is required by law.
In reality, those sections outline that The Secretary (who is presumably defined elsewhere) can take surveys as a part of their census process. It is Section 221 that requires you to respond:
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…
That’s just a crock.
Oh, sure, census information is useful and all that. It’s just the principal of it. I guess I’ll have to ask the nice lady who came to my door for some evidence that she is an authorized officer or employee of the Deparment of Commerce, or a bureau or agency thereof acting under the instructions of The Secretary.
Heck, I’d pay the $100 if it weren’t for Title 18, Section 3571 (allegedly Section 3559 as well, but that seems to deal with imprisonment and not monetary fines). With it on the books, the “not greater than $100” fine becomes “not greater than $5000” fine. That really blows.
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718 responses to “American Community Survey”
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.”
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…
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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?
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.
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.