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.
Comments
718 responses to “American Community Survey”
Eric… do fight this; you can expect lots of phone calls, after more copies of ACS coming to you in the mail… maybe even a visit or two from someone. You can fight it by simply ignoring the mailings and phone calls. I wish there were a way we could all join forces in our protest in standing up for the Constitution, and not just quietly refuse. You will not be fined. Their threats are empty because they would be hurting themselves it did go to court (which it can’t).
I wish there were some way we could protest as a group because probably 90% (guess) of people who get this atrocity object to it. I’ve already called my senator about it and written a letter. When I ask what can be done to change this happening, I’m just told we need to change that act of Congress.
Maybe the senators would be more proactive in helping with this if they knew it just may cost them votes. They should know how many people are very indignant. We are legion.
The whole thing seems strange to me. They have to know they are crossing the line with the questions. Seems to me this is partly an excersise to see what they can get away with as far as prying into our lives. Trying to desensitize the masses. Kinda like taking of your shoes at the airport. Will keep all posted…I imagine I have time seeing I got the first mailer a week ago.
Thanks
No fines; No detention camps; yes there are “watchdogs” keeping on top of this.
Just got my 1st packet in the mail. Amazing the questions they ask. If I don’t give in do I make the list of people they are going to put in the detention camps in the future? Is there any watch dog group looking out making sure nobody gets fined? Admit I’m a little scared, I actually feel Big Brother squeezing on this and I have not received the first call or second packet yet. Can’t imagine in the future what they are planning to take control of our lives.
Thanks for the Web site I’m actually entertaining fighting this. All encouragment is welcome.
I agree with what Cathy said. Also, think for a moment what you would be feeling like if you allowed yourself to be intimidated by him and you caved in. Instead of shaking, but being proud of standing up for your constitutional rights, would you be angry with yourself? Anger directed at ourselves causes depression. Would you be depressed? Would you be saying, “I should have said…”?
In times like these the people who have had the courage of their convictions and acted on it will be the ones who are prepared for the future.
The next time you are tested the test will be just as hard (they wouldn’t be tests if they were hard and everyone could do it) but because you passed this test, you have knowledge of your previous success to carry you through the new test.
Courage does not mean not being fearful, courage means feeling fearful and following through anyway. That’s what the Founding Fathers knew. They were scared to death most of the time.
You are a courageous person. Now instead of feeling guilty and ashamed of yourself you can be proud to know you are a person of character and moral fortitude. Way to go! High five! 🙂
thanks Cathy..I am not a confrontational person and it takes me out! I am ok now but I’m sure I will be the same when they come back….this is a very small community….at least he was courteous, i will give him that!
Confused,
Why are you shaking? You stood your ground. Most of us are not use to civil disobedience. We work hard, pay our taxes and are not use to being the focus of a government agency. The language used is meant to get cooperation. The bottom line is that while it may be the law, a law unchallenged by the supreme court, it does not replace, preempt or over rule the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
update….got my first visit…he was courteous …I refused he smiled put me down as refusal, said it was federal law I disagreed and he politely dismissed himself. So why am I SHAKING!!!?? UGH 🙁
Well, reading all of this certainly makes me feel better. I received a letter informing me that our address had been “randomly” selected for this survey, which I had never heard of before, and that answering the questions once I receive them is MANDATORY and fines are involved for not “participating.” I called the regional office of the CB and talked to a supervisor, who, much to her chagrin, admitted that the CB hasn’t the autority to enforce fines…and that they have 90 days to collect the information. I will answer the door ONCE should anyone show up, and I will be polite, but I will make it clear that unless I am under arrest, I will not surrender private information or aid anyone in violating my 4th Amendment rights under the Constitution I still believe in, or my right to privacy. My mother is a senior citizen. Does this survey have any connection to the horrible health “reform” re: rationing of health care for seniors? Am I paranoid? No. Just shocked and infuriated by what is happening to our country. Thanks for the reassurance about this survey.
Cathy, you seem to be very informed. Are there any other resources on the ‘net that you could point others to in regards to the ACS? I’m aware of this site already
Good Day!