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”
Shocking!
One of the posts mentioned Mr. Howard Clark. How interesting, I happened to hear him on the radio while I was driving home from work. I thought he’s a very smart man and I started listening to him whenever I can since the end of last year. I heard a person asked about the questions in the census and he answered that “it’s none of their business”. The other day I picked up the phone and almost dial the radio station’s number to talk to him about that too, but I was shy. So I went on the web instead and I found this site right the way.
I also got the long postal survey recently. Of course, after reading it I got a headache so I shredded it. Then a reminder card came too. It would be cool if the postal survey asked the patron just one question or two “Are you happy with our services?” “Is there anything else can we do for you?” Yes, no junk mails, please.
Three interesting organizations behind the GPS mapping of each address done by the U.S. Department of Commerce (Census Bureau) are:
Michael Baker Corporation
Harris Corporation
Law Enforcement Associates Corporation
This is scary!!
Cathy,
The list that you posted is very sobering. Many of the groups requesting this information seem to be either civil rights or ethnic groups. Our tax dollars are supporting this invasion of privacy, so the marketing companies and radical groups can get information on patriotic Americans. I don’t think that CAIR or La Raza needs to know how many toilets that I have in my house but I am sure they would love to know the income information. Here is a link that has additional links. The Arab-American Institute and other Arab coalition groups are promoting the census and even show job opportunites with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau.
Here is a great video on the ACS.
I am waiting for them to knock on my door!!
At first I didn’t know there’re two different censuses, but later I saw and heard more ads on the 10 questions head count which is less frightening than the ACS. I think they’re a little bit sneaky! Anyway, I remember that not long ago a man came to the company where I work; he said he’s from the census and asked if he could leave his business card there (to whom?)? But the receptionist said No.
So far, I’m reading the comments up to April 3, 2008. Amazing! To be continued….
I rec’d the first ACS copy the end of April; then a postcard reminder to fill it out; then the second ACS form last week. I figure the next stage will be phone calls. I can unplug the main line and screen the 2nd with my answering machine. I called The Rutherford Institute. They will provide free legal representation to anyone the CB attempts to fine or prosecute for not participating in the ACS. I am so outraged by the wrongness of this “survey” that participating any way at all as an attempt to make a statement, i.e., using “human” for “race,” etc., would be an acknowlegement that this thing even exists. So, like Cathy, I will not even answer the door. If that draws it out, who cares? You’re dealing with an entity using brainwashed droids seeking bonuses for every address they score answers with – trust me, they aren’t morally capable of grasping the deeper implications of the ACS. This same ilk WANT govt. running their lives for them. They do not understand what freedom and patriotism mean. Don’t waste your time on them or elevate your blood pressure. They’ll never change.
J,
You’re really not that alone. The reason why most people haven’t heard of the ACS is because the CB wants it that way. Keep telling people about it and eventually you’ll connect with someone who has received it or will receive it. There are other blogs dealing with this survey as well.
Just want to say I’m still reading your comments. I mean to read them all. Yesterday, I only had the time to read a few of them but I already felt better. I really appreciate that. It bothered me enough to look around to see if anybody said anything about it. I asked a whole bunch of my clients in TX and they said they’ve never received that in their lives and they have been in the US for many generations. This is the first blog I saw and I like it. Now I know how to deal with it. I’m waiting to see if they will come to my house. Cheers!
Confused,
You get the gold star for standing your ground. Saying no and sticking to it is a great skill to have.
Visit three just happened this guy was more curt but professional. I told him I had answered all the questions I was going to. He said okay then asked if he could get my name for the “refusal” and reiterated that I had answered all I was going to answer. He thanked me and dismissed himself as I was closing the door.
I felt better this time….Not so scared, but now I’m getting PO’ed….next time I will have camera on to record as I feel they are stepping it up and will try strong arming me next few times.
What a waste!! I am not answering anything do they think they can continue to send people that I will give up and give them info??? It will just make me less likely to answer……ARGH!!!
PS…I answer the door as I feel the more I refuse the less likely they will be to return……any input!!??
Gulfman,
Many marketers have the data available for business. This info is by zipcode or even by block. planetizen.com is one such group. I had a whole list of other companies. Then there are the groups which represent the less fortunate and various ethnic groups.
Coalition of Human needs
Council for community and economic research
council of professional association on federal statistics
international council of shopping centers
japanese american citizens league
leadership conference on civil rights
national associations of counties
national association of latino elected official and appointed officials
education fund
national conference of state legislators
national low income housing coalition
organization of chinese americans
population reference bureau
south michigan census council
us conference of mayors
westal statistical group
market watch
american association for public research
la raza
cair
lots of libraries across the nation support the census ACS data
I have so many pages of research that I can’t find it all.