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”
If it is not addressed to me by name I have no legal obligation to reply.
Legal Authority for American Community Survey, B-289852, April 4, 2002
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.