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”
No matter what you are told by any government entity just remember this, at least in the State of California, virtually all government offices and their employees are fully exempt from being held liable for anything that they do on their job, except when they create a dangerous condition on public property or when they violate someones civil rights. If a policeman negligently allows a criminal to steal his vehicle and gun and the person goes off and kills several people, the policemen may not be held liable even if he left the individual in the back of his car with no restraints. They say Census workers giving up information may result in a $250K fine being levied against them, but I would like to know if and when any such fines have ever been levied. The reality is that the Census Bureau does need information but they do not need real names or birth dates, and they should not be given information that is unique enough that it might lead to personal identification. The reality is that historically the census bureau has not maintained our privacy, and this lead to the internment of thousands of Japanese Americans during WWII. More recently they gave up information on Arab Americans as a “security measure” following 9/11. To put it bluntly, the Census Bureau cannot be trusted. I am perfectly willing to give up real statistical information as long as that information remains anonymous, but that is impossible with the survey that has been constructed. Personally, I would rather pay the $100 fine than participate and that is what I am going to tell the Census Director.
I just received the ACS on 8/31/2011; this is 2011, the census was 2010 wasn’t it?? I read the form and I found the questions very intrusive, they’ll get only a head count from me!
I just received the ACS on 8/31/2011; this is 2011 the census was 2010 wasn’t it?? I read the form and I found the questions very intrusive, they’ll get only a head count from me!
In section 221 it says “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” It says “ANY” Not “ALL” so that tells me I can answer what I want on the survey
Sorry Bo, but you’re a socialist shill, and these socialist/marxist types like Obama depend on you and others like you to keep their regime going. The American Communist Survey is just that, and when you find your offspring in chains and manacles maybe you’ll change your tune. Read some history, but not the sludge you get in your gubbamint schools.
You people are lazy and arrogant and constantly complaining. Just do the darn thing like I have and send it in.If you go to the census.gov website it explains to you ignorant people how important the survey is to your community. I did my research and then I happily filled it out completely. All of you should be concerned about more important things in your pathetic lives.
Hi, I’m currently encountering a different type of survey which does not involved threats of fine or jail. In fact, the rep’s note stated that my address has been chosen to represent my neighborhood. He reassures it will be easy, fun, now and then he’ll give me gift and money. He also promises that my info will be kept private. He’s one of the Nielsen’s which I’d never heard of. First visit I wasn’t at home, second visit my guts feeling it was him so I looked out thru the window blind and the dog barked until he left, the third visit when I was leaving for work and realized that he was stalking from across the street. When I came home there’re card, note, and gift at the doorstep. Somehow I feel angry like he’s opened up my old wound because I’m having the same freaking feelings as with the ACS. I left the gift there and left him a note asking him to discontinue the visitation since I do not want to participate in ANY survey. If he doesn’t remove the gift asap it will be donated to the local Goodwill.
ps: He seems to go straight to my house but not the other. Hmm….any connection here?
As I’ve already said, more-or-less, the whole threat of a legal requirement to answer is a scam based solely on the constitutional requirement for a census every 10 years for the sole purpose of reapportioning congressional districts. Read my previous comments.
For the real purpose of this farce, call it what it is – The American Communist Survey. People of conscience are simply not answering. Period. They’ll send a moron to your house who will threaten you. Ask for complete immunity in writing. Or refuse to answer on 5th Amendment grounds or whatever. Or tell them to come back in 2020 when the real census is supposed to be conducted, and then you’ll give them only the information required for constitutional redistricting purposes: how many adults and children living here; no race or any other info. Let them have this pretended authority and next they’ll be sending in the TSA to feel up you and your children in the name of freedom.
Here it is August 2011 and I have received a survey questionnaire from American Community Survey (ACS) and it is 28 pages long, asking all kinds of personal questions. Is it really “illegal” not to answer this survey. lots of questions about race,, where you were born, how long you have been in this country, and your hours and place of employment, how many vehicles you have, and what time you leave for work.
Should I be worried about answering this survey questionnaire. My gut feeling is giving me fits. Any comments out there? Ruth
Here it is August 2011 and I have received a survey questionnaire from American Community Survey (ACS) and it is 40 pages long, asking all kinds of personal questions. Is it really “illegal” not to answer this survey. lots of questions about race,, where you were born, how long you have been in this country, and your hours and place of employment, how many vehicles you have, and what time you leave for work.
Should I be worried about answering this survey questionnaire. My gut feeling is giving me fits. Any comments out there? Ruth