They even sent me a Federal Express package telling me how important the information they still wanted to collect was. 2019 American Community Survey (ACS) Census region x Metro/Non-metro 2020 CPS March Supplement Volunteerism 2021 American Trends Panel Annual Profile Survey/2019 CPS Volunteering & Civic Life Supplement . I hung up immediately and called the sheriff. The 22-page lawsuit against U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Bureau of the Census Director Robert Santos says that unlike the normal ten-year Census, the yearly American Community Survey asks detailed and personal questions regarding a persons sexual orientation, gender identity, fertility history, marital status and divorce history. [15] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/YearBuilt.pdf. The threat is there because it works. It's an invasion of privacy. They're not authorized to do that. The study found 86.1 attacks for every 1,000 transgender women and 23.7 attacks for every 1,000 cisgender women; it also found 107.5 attacks for every 1,000 . If there was no response by the time we finished our list, we were to call again. But I hit the brakes big time when they ask for your birthdate, among other garbage of race, sex, etc. A: There are significant and legitimate questions concerning the authority of the government to require, under threat of prosecution and penalty, that persons answer questions posed by the ACS. Again, we refused and she threatened their fine. Complete this form and mail it back as soon as possible. That includes visitors then which would not be falsifying info. Well it started for me. I am glad to know there are plenty out there who are refusing to let our rights be trampled on!! In this workshop, you will find out how important the American Community Survey is for the nonprofit community and the unique ways nonprofits can use ACS data. All i have to do is tell some temporary worker my family's medical history, financial history, and of course, what time we can be burglarized (oops, I mean the time of day that we leave and come home from work). This appears to be the same scenario as the ACS. "; "What is your favorite color on Thursday afternoons between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m.? I wish I would have kept the census person's name. And when I'm asked what my address is, I'll respond with, "I pay taxes, look it up.". He told me that my info was not received and that he would be sending it back out in the mail. What time did this person usually leave home to go to work last week? The next day, a woman came to my gate and was asking me to fill out the form with her. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Perfect. How much is the regular monthly mortgage payment on this property? When are they going to get the hint and stop? Like many, I received the original short census form, completed it and mailed it back immediately. I just get to pay more taxes for their tax free gain and it just is not fair. Comparing the American Community Survey and the Population Estimates Program (February 17, 2021) Coordinator: Welcome and thank you for standing by. For years I've been very concerned about the direction that our country has been taking. Apparently my post office would not send it to me. I just thought I would throw that out there! Thank you to this site and to all those who have posted comments about the survey. No one from the Census has been escorted off your property by the police - Title 13 gives them the right to be on your property. So, my husband filled it out with the lady standing at my front door. The US government already has all the information they need on people who file their annual income tax. When they arrive on your property, order them off your property. It can't be done if the government is a complex, dishonest mess. I just got my request from ACS today, late july 2010. I will not answer the questions on the ACS. The survey taker shows up at the residence unannounced to request that the resident comply with the survey or otherwise face potential legal repercussions. No reason to be rude to someone doing their job. I am so thankful for this website! then maybe somebody will get the hint that we don't want our lives invaded. This crap has been going on for almost a month now! It is not the same people each time - many different ones wondering around. One of the three enumerators did canvass my neighbors and got hold of one of them, who tried to call me and advised the census people were looking for me (I did not return the voicemail). I'll see "YOU" on the tube."You Tube". I assumed I did it wrong, so I filled out the second one and sent that in. So today I found this census worker peeping tom at my windows, which face the back woods. I work for a defense contractor, and when I applied for a security clearance, there were way fewer questions, and much less invasive than were on the ACS long form. I feel kind of sick too. in the '90s the Commerce Dept decided that I was a resort or apartment complex owner and harassed me to fill out a survey detailing my expenditures on repairs, income reports etc. Yeah right! I will give the information to those who really need it to improve my neighborhood, city, county, etc. Some hypothesize that the Census Bureau will not take legal action against, or pursue fines for, noncompliance with the ACS because doing so would likely attract much negative media attention. An official website of the United States government. Ask yourself this question. These people are trying to "do their jobs", but there are better ways to make a living, one that doesn't help enslave Americans even further with more "government help" and ultimately, taxation. ClassAction.org is a group of online professionals (designers, developers and writers) with years of experience in the legal industry. Wow! So go ahead and fill it out 235. on the back it says dec 31 2011 is when approval from OMB expires. So they bully and threaten and use fear to scare people into compliance. Two weeks later, I received a second call from a different zip code with another lady asking if I still had the ACS form. Do you think Cass Sunstein knowing how many people, of what age, have physical and emotional disabilities is for the benefit of your family? First in a 2021 survey, support for hard authoritarianism is low, as only 9% of U.S. faculty were willing to support various dismissal campaigns and only 7-18%, depending on the issue, supported ousting a dissenting academic. They would have to take you to court, and they haven't done that EVER. Then, the phone calls started and they won't stop. Being able to have the best information available in targeting a potential market based off this information is invaluable. What Percent of the US Population do Teachers Comprise? I received by first survey in early December and a second one just three weeks later. Want to save up to 30% on your monthly bills? Thanks, people, for your informative and oftentimes humorous posts here. [14] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/StructureRooms.pdf. finally he told her he would call the cops if she didn't leave. The info tells them how many live in a certain area. For our government to function basic knowledge about the country as a whole, and individual states is required. (Don't worry there are no cops or former cops that are census workers. Keep your cool and you'll be fine. How many, each age, and each sex. Although I suspect it's really only one or two of you. and even spells it. It is SBO-1 (Survey for Business Owner and Self Employed) and states that it is mandatory per Title 13 USC. I'm also going to contact her opponent and see if we can get some action on it for the upcoming debates. They aren't the enemy, so I don't act hostile towards them, but it still unnerves me how they got my cell phone number. During the past year and especially with the current administration in D.C., I am so angry and distrustful of our government. How many is all they need to know. The last time I looked, American's had the right to privacy. I left the notice stuck to the door. Don't you think someone high up already has their * in a wringer over that? "Isn't that enough?" If I received the ACS survey in the mail, I would probably just put down the number of people in my household, but there is nothing on the 10 question survey that any Tom, Dick, or Harry can't find out on the internet quite easily. Fine. I just received the ACS survey and will not be sending it in. The only one who seemed to do anything on it was Freedom Watch Judge Napolitano. I didn't hear from them for about two weeks. I am an american citizen and i will not be forced to give my personal information! We are law abiding, tax paying citizens and always do the right thing. From what I've read online about the operation methods of the Census Bureau staff that won't have any chance of avoiding a phone call "Computer Aided Telephone Interview" But I'm hoping that by telling them every time that their OMB# is expired it will shorten my interview process somewhat. Movies. Well, it's just arrived in the form of a mail packet that asks volumes of personal, none of your business information. I'm so glad I'm not alone. Comparing the American Community Survey to the American Housing Survey. Cowards! [3] U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3. I asked them what does my birthday have to do with enumeration count of my household? The funny part is the local grocery store has this job post up. This survey is one of only a few I am just not going to answer any questions. I still am in my boxers since I just woke up and surely was not prepared for a slew of questions from this guy who was getting paid my tax money to invade my privacy). Just perfect for making and uploading videos to YouTube and the news agencies. I plead the 5th amendment because the government can ask legally, according to the attorneys office, but I can also remain silent legally. 1. I firmly told her I had no intention of filling out the survey as I felt it was no one's business. Just got my second second ACS survey in the last three years. Apparently there are quite a few people who expect miracles out of thin air. Plaintiffs do not allege Census Bureau representatives directly threatened them with prosecution, nor do they submit affidavits to that effect, Judge Estudillo wrote. The surveyor didn't respond to that one when we had a "terse" discussion with them today. "; or "How many fingers does Mickey Mouse have?". I am not saying that the US government would or could ever go to this extreme but, for the purposes of garnering ever more political power and authority over the citizenry, I have no illusions about how far this government will go. Got a phone call wanting the birth dates. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) is a national measure of customer satisfaction since 1994, trusted by US government and reflecting annual feedback from . This is Government out of control. I tossed out both copies of the ACS long form. Start here to respond: Responder en espaol First five digits of User ID:Last five digits of User ID Can't find the User ID? There are two adults and two children living at this residence. I'm planning on returning it blank, with a letter stating the reason for not complying is the OMB# expiration. If such a law exists, it should not exist, for it would be truly unconstitutional. The census is unconstitutional - read the enumerations - and the amendments already cited. We monitored our caller ID and just refused to answer the phone when they called (along with any other numbers listed as "unavailable"). Perhaps act so insanely crazy they will be glad to leave. And if there isn't a law protecting these rights, then we need someone to make it happen! View All 26 Products. We haven't been bothered since. I would rather pay the $100 fine to keep my freedom in check. Never logged on (implicit refusal) 2.11 524 Survey completed after close of the field period 2.27 2 In other contexts, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that citizens have no obligation to answer questions posed by the government and are free to refuse to do so. With Halloween right around the corner, how about scare the crap out of them. Why the hell should I tell the government all this business about me? A concerned citizen. I received two surveys. so i would be prepared. There is absolutely no possibility they can guarantee this information will not be disseminated to others or exposed to malevolent wrongdoers. We are still Americans and do not need to share personal information against our will. Thus, they cannot use the census as the pretext for the ACS. I also, as many of you, returned my census form (as I should and as the Constitution requires) but this has gone so far over the line that it's ridiculous. I told that I had already fulfilled my Constitutional duties as a citizen with my mailed-in short form, and then told her the ACS and her harassment of me in my home is unconstitutional. Call your local U.S. congress member. I decided I did not want to answer the census because of the invasiveness of the questions. At least they are working instead of collecting welfare checks. The SS Admin does not care. Good-bye". The government is collecting information such as how many rooms we have in our houses, how many acres of land, what time do we leave for work, etc. OMG!! [22] For 12 of those categories, the information is used to assist private corporations. [6] https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about.html. The times they are a-changing. I say the heck with Big Brother, ours is going in the garbage, and I'm no longer answering their calls (love caller ID)! Charlottesville, VA 22906 Waiting for their next move. It seems what is good for the goose is not good for the gander. I told her I wasn't calling anybody. Remember Germany. However, that's not all. Are we going to let this happen? That's the truth. And you all sound sober and mature, not the lunatic fringe at all. Referring to financials, I told them to ask the IRS. This tool helps you do just that. The census cannot ask or get your social security number in any way and you can supply any name you want. The information that they collect will be used against us in our most crucial moments. Corrado Rizzi is the Senior Managing Editor of ClassAction.org. Really glad I found this site. A Woodsboro couple is refusing to respond to a U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, saying the federal government's questionnaire is too invasive. Estimates: 1-Year . Be sure to document any interactions you have with Bureau representatives for your own files. Section a authorizes every 10 years starting April 1. The next day I saw this guy talking to my neighbor and figured he was submitting him to the same harassment I had received. Now who you work for, when you go to work, how much you make; is all stored in a government database. Or are they? Finally, the last enumerator knocked one more time, then took away the last notice, which I decided to leave there. Thank you for your time and attention to this, and I expect this matter to be closed. A: The law requiring answers to the ACS also provides that a person who fails to answer shall be fined not more than $100.[32] The actual fine for a refusal to complete the ACS could be much greater because a failure to respond to certain ACS questions could be considered a separate offense subject to the $100 fine. Title 13 of the United States Code, however, requires that the Census Bureau keep this information confidential and subjects employees who violate this confidentiality requirement to a fine of up to $250,000 USD, up to 5 years imprisonment, or both. I will not be giving some 18 year old pimple face unemployed moron my personal information. And so is mine. It's the amendments that congress is busy adding to the original Constitution while you guys are busy working, fishing, etc., instead of watching congressional actions on C Span or some such that are killing us and our rights. So he then left. That's four times today and it's just past noon on Saturday. Mailed it in. Enough is enough and get real. Ultimately, you might just need to either answer the census to get them to stop coming or, as an alternative, make up answers to protect your privacy. Unlike the 2020 Census, the American Community Survey is an annual survey, sent by the US Census Bureau to a sample of the population each month (approximately 3.5 million households annually).. This second survey is going right in the burner. (We filled out and mailed our census form as soon as we received it.) I was truthful in all 10 short form answers. (Same woman who was no longer employed with the census). I hollered at the door that "I'm a crippled senior and DO NOT open my door unless its my kids". she yelled through the door announcing her name & bla bla "census, have some questions for you"..I'll just leave my card & you can call me next week!". Once at 6:11, 7:15, and then 8:05. My wife and I were not home at the time the census work stopped by. I have contacted The American Center For Law and Justice. If someone knows where in the constitution it states this, please share. A man was arrested and charged with attempting to place an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft after his bag triggered an alarm at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Pennsylvania, US . Sure, businessmen could use the info -- but because someone wants it, doesn't mean that I have to give it. He was asking questions about me and my wife! And finally, to the person who looked up the Census rep's name then mentioned her husband had called and wanted her to stop at the store so she looked at him in shock? Objections to the ACS include the personal nature of some of its questions and, despite government assurances to the contrary, associated confidentiality issues. Most U.S. representatives have local offices. The Census Bureau would have to refer a case to the Dept of Justice, they have no power of their own. I have no problem with telling folks how many people, even our ages and nationalities. I was told if I didn't answer then his supervisor would come out and if I didn't respond to his supervisor, they would return with a Larimer County Sheriff and then I would have to answer or else! I told her I wasn't interested. Thank you for answering, I am grateful for this site, but hesitant to put email addy, or other info about me. The House GOP proposal would eliminate any increase in funds for 2020 planning, and it cuts nearly $500 million in total from the administration's request, including reductions for the American. The bad thing is, this is information that is collected by the government. 3) If by some chance they go for it, ask them the most embarrassing, asinine, or silly questions you can think of. Person 22. They have no right to know. They are instilling fear. I hung up. makes you wonder!!!???? Want to stay in the loop on class actions that matter to you? I see on the accompanying letter that the destination of the form was intended to be the address only and not a particular person. I told this supervisor that no one came by my home. Hurrah for Senator Michelle Bachmann (MN) who has said, I understand, that she will not fill out this piece of trash. (ACS questions 1, 3 and 4), 3. Since my alleged representatives repeatedly respond to my complaints about their actions, with form letters explaining why they hear my views but plan to ignore them and do what they want to do instead, I hear the government wants my information and plan to do what I want to do instead. She left. I would never be pleasant with someone who intentionally makes a living trying to make my life unpleasant. Homeownership rates, both overall and for white and Black Americans, have increased since 1994. First of all, get a clue! It is against the law to solicit minors so therefore they do not have to be counted in the total. You want me to trust the census with information that is very private? You get the picture. Before commenting, please review our comment policy. I had already been a victim of identity theft. I will not submit. Of course I had, but she got snotty like I was lying and said we would have to fill it out over again right-here-right-now. Wow. Your name, address and phone number (front cover of the ACS), 2. First from a phone bot then yesterday a phone call from a real person. Are you kidding? Attempting to use scare tactics to get personal information - nice. Nothing illegal about that! I told her it would be easier for all of us if she did so. Empowered by Congress with greater powers to amass information about citizens, the Census Bureau introduced the ACS in 2005. Let them in and then fart really loud. Empowered by Congress with greater powers to amass information about citizens, the Census Bureau introduced the ACS in 2005. She noticed that I was very irritated and told me that she just needs the number of people who live here and ages. So, do I really need to fill this out, or can I use it to line my bird cage? me. I said it sounded like a great idea. He told the guy to just make something up. Has anyone really admittedly shown that proof that they got fined? I told him "We're done here". In what may be a coincidence, they often seem to call shortly after we arrive home and there is a vehicle marked "census" in the neighborhood. Act drunk and make like you're going to be sick on them or pretend to pass out. If it's not a big deal, then get rid of the census and don't tell me about funding- that's a load of crap! What a bunch of paranoid people you are. Copyright 2023 The Rutherford Institute. This is due to lack of security for any personal information you provide. Never give any phone numbers (tell them you don't have a phone and your employer forbids giving out the company cellular phone number). "the point that seems most lost here is that households chosen for ACS are just part of a statistical sample that is representative of the country as a whole". my wife and I pay our taxes and feel if that's not enough for our government, then "Too bad Charlie". I then slammed the door shut. I needed to read this! Last night (Monday) he showed up at 7:30. First, a Census Bureau employee left a note at his apartment asking him to contact her. The U.S. Census has nothing to do with Obama nor most of the accusations you are flippantly throwing up online. I suspect the caller will hang up and take you off the list. --JAS. I shall be contacting my Senator and Congressman to voice my alarm and concern on another gross infringement of my Civil Liberties. I was hot and told her I have her number and I will call when I'm ready. The American Community Survey is mailed to 2.5% of the American population to collect statistical information for city planning. As soon as they identified themselves as being with the Census Bureau, I quickly informed them that I sent it in. Outraged in Maryland. You can search the internet and find many references to threats of a fine, but you won't find anyone who has ever been fined. Lock and Load. The Legal Accountability Project. I've heard rumors that they will send their people to relentlessly pound on my door for answers, and then start canvassing the neighborhood to find the answers to the questions that were on my form, about me. Then the phone calls started. The information the government is requesting is violating our rights, whether or not it is written in the law. [30] The Census Bureau also maintains that responding to the ACS is mandatory and that recipients are legally obligated to answer all questions.[31]. I also mentioned that unless a US Marshal from the Justice Department accompanied him, I would simply ignore him and would call the police if further harassed. The American Community Survey (ACS) qualifies as a government program whose purpose, while seemingly benign, raises significant constitutional concerns. [3] The purpose of the decennial census is to apportion the 435 members in the U.S. House of Representatives among the several states. I repeatedly told her that I gave the legal information I am required by law and that is how many people live here. We had mailed the form back the day after we received it. I really like what anon18185 did, about looking up the census person and finding out information about them and not have thrown away the census questionnaire. Because the rich have been given free passes by laws created by and for the rich, we must beware these so called laws they create. There are two of us living here. Somehow big brother got out phone number (it's unlisted) and started calling, and we blocked him. Would you believe they just called again? The response given is not intended to create, nor does it create an ongoing duty to respond to questions. give me liberty, or give you death as the old saying goes! I grabbed the handle and slammed the door shut. They had been to my house (outside) and told me this was coming. In July, I started to receive visits. That is what I've allowed them to do. He called and left a message to call him to make an appointment to fill out the form. Get your head out of the clouds and step into reality. It's just like a bunch of whiners. Know your stuff and don't compromise! Census workers are trying to do a decent job like everyone should try to do. We told a census worker to come back on Friday at 6 p.m. The gov has lost what is called common sense and buried it under a ton of manure.
