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. For everyone saying what's the big deal- go play in traffic. I guess all the info requested I am OK with. The census is not going to do this or that. I have had them endlessly harass me on the phone after I filled the form out two times and talked to someone they sent to my door. Let's see if she comes back for her shower. The American Community Survey sends around a questionnaire with 40 different items, asking such things as whether a person is receiving disability benefits (number 16) and how many vehicles. How much is the regular monthly mortgage payment on this property? Why am I in the unlucky 2.5%? Even in police states, they don't ask these questions asked by the Census Bureau for the ACS. The census cannot ask or get your social security number in any way and you can supply any name you want. SSV-6. Should be interesting to see if they ever follow up again. Why don't they survey me to find out my opinion on illegal immigrants, unemployment benefits to people who have barely held a job down in their life, giving child care benefits to unwed mothers who just keep popping out babies to numerous baby-daddies, who will never pay into the system so that I can collect Social Security when I want to finally retire after 50 years of non-stop work,or putting this country into mega-debt while giving money to impoverished countries that will never help us or appreciate us. So give them a call or send an e-mail and see if someone there can help stop the phone calls. Do not give them your info! They have no authority to uphold the ACS laws and they WON'T take action b/c they KNOW if this survey got out in the media it would be eliminated by public outcry. i have nothing to hide but i shouldn't be forced to tell anyone anything and that's what makes me mad!!! You need to stop peering in my window and you need to leave right away." I told her the story and said I didn't have time for this right now. 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. These questions clearly violate any privacy guaranteed to me by the US Constitution and over step the Census Bureaus authority. However, the gap between homeownership rates not only persists, but has grown. Dr. Richard Pan is an innovative, dynamic, mission-driven health care leader with over thirty-five years of experience in health policy and public health as pediatrician, educator and legislator. The Census Bureau can't issue a fine, they have to refer the case to the Dept. It's hard to believe that a patriotic, high school social studies teacher, and law-abiding citizen, such as myself, could be compelled to suggest such civil disobedience--but here I am, and hear me loud. State citizens can help in this process by refusing to cooperate with federal demands (all of them). Well its going to get colder before I give them the info. I not only told them that I sent it in, but added that if I received another call, I would report it as harassment, and hung up immediately. "; or "How many fingers does Mickey Mouse have?". When we do the ACS on the phone, we do not ask for your SS #, we do not ask how many times you go to the bathroom. About how much do you think this house and lot, apartment, or mobile home would sell for if it were for sale? If every household in the nation received this survey at once, there might be more of any outcry and uproar for our government to cut out the nonsense or face a revolution! Condos hire people inside the condo as census people. Amazing. Q: Has the government prosecuted persons for refusing to answer the American Community Survey? How do I know these census folks are trustworthy? Don't be afraid. To complete the survey on the internet, visit https://respond.census.gov/acs. Can anyone tell me about this? Year: 2021. This is a very big, complicated country we live in. We keep refusing them and they keep threatening us. The rest I will leave blank or make up. I refused to answer these as these are not required. TheAmerican Community Survey(ACS) helps local officials, community leaders, and businesses understand the changes taking place in their communities. By the way, the is a new grassroots site that is just starting called Town Roots. They came to my door at all hours. Any illegal can purchase your number for any amount of money. I set it aside. In fact, the ACS launched in 2005 to replace the census "long form." How am I supposed to know who these people are? The ability of our federal government to properly train temporary, and permanent, employees in PII and cyber security are not well represented in recent historical accounts. The next day I got an e-mail saying that the "government guy" was OK with it and that I should return the form. However, that's not all. When are they going to get the hint and stop? [8] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/Ancestry.pdf. For this census at least and I assume for the 2010 Census the initial person that will come to your house, if you did not fill out the form, is just a normal citizen with a temporary job as an "enumerator". There should be a law against this. God bless America and individual freedom! He came by every hour starting at 6 Thursday. Throw the thing in the garbage, leave on your answering machine for a few weeks, and slam the door in the face of anyone who comes by. We told a census worker to come back on Friday at 6 p.m. Wrong. we filled out the form the day it came and mailed it. The census is satanic. . do we have a hot water heater? I suggest that people find a petition out there against this census survey. How much do I make per year? How come I get the ACS? In an age when the government has significant technological resources at its disposal to not only carry out warrantless surveillance on American citizens but also to harvest and mine that data for its own dubious purposes, whether it be crime-mapping or profiling based on race or religion, the potential for abuse is grave. It doesn't do any good to argue with the census taker. Start Here . this census is complete crap and an invasion of my rights a a citizen. This questionnaire id just too personal and invasive of ones rights as a citizen in any country, let alone (supposedly) "The Land of the Free and The Brave" did Cheney, Bush, McCain, Obama fill one out? The last thing the execs at the Census Bureau want to see is a video of one of their "enumerators" on YouTube, the Six O'clock News, or in Congress or a courtroom harassing and threatening a citizen/voter with a big fine or jail time if that person refuses to give out the personal details of his life to a perfect stranger. ACS was conducted vigorously and continuously during the presidency of George W. Bush. It is also known that the Bureau inadvertently posted sensitive information of over 300 innocent citizens. I answered only the necessary information on the first census, then was mailed the ever intrusive ACS. I too am going to do the same. After spending almost an hour answering questions the first time the census take came to my house, they start calling me on Sunday afternoon -- enough is enough! Do you have a debit card, credit card, a loan, a job, own a house, a car, driver's license? Isn't this harassment? The last time that happened was more than 40 YEARS ago. Census Bureau Table. The ACS is a legitimate survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, which is part of the Department of Commerce. They are instilling fear. Unless an individual has been charged and convicted of some criminal offense connected to the Census and the crime falls within section 3559, this $5,000.00 fine does not apply. Life lived in paranoia and bitterness is not worth living. If the stories in this thread are true, those census workers are scum. The highly sensitive personal information provided on the ACS form gets keyed into a master data bank. I suspect the caller will hang up and take you off the list. The public also plays a role in the erosion of our judiciary. There's comfort in knowing I'm not alone! If I receive the same treatment again, I may consider filing a class action lawsuit. I answered the questions on the Census that are Constitutional, and that is it. That wasn't supposed to be able to happen. I asked them what does my birthday have to do with enumeration count of my household? Are they too dense to realize that word just means "to count?". The states collect the tax and turn the money over to the federal government. There are friends who ask me if I want to put up with the harassment from the government -wouldn't it be easier to just give in and give the information to them? Empowered by Congress with greater powers to amass information about citizens, the Census Bureau introduced the ACS in 2005. If a citizen doesn't comply with the ACS after a period of weeks, Census Bureau guidelines instruct enumerators to stop calling the resident. He has trouble with all these things. Your response is required by law. I've been in some pretty terrifying situations and I don't scare that easily. Something is wrong in this country when the hard working middle class is getting stomped out from top to bottom. There, I think I got my point across. The ACS is not part of the enumeration required by Article I of the Constitution, and that constitutional provision only applies to a census for purposes of counting the number of people in each state. [22] For 12 of those categories, the information is used to assist private corporations. If you waiver or hide, they will keep trying. They say they are from the U.S. Dept of Commerce. Not more that 10 minutes ago, a person came to the door unannounced, said she was from the ACS, and did I have a few minutes to fill out the survey. I will pay the fine if that is what it takes. I think that I will put this in the woodstove-just don't tell the EPA or they will be here to take away my woodstove. Where is the America I grew up in? Quid pro quo," then slam the door in their face. I will not answer the questions on the ACS. I sure am glad I ran across this site. Since many citizens lack basic knowledge of our Constitution and federalist system, they are easily manipulated by media and academic elites who tell them that judges are the absolute and final arbiters of US law. They have also threatened to fine or jail me. Don't you think someone high up already has their * in a wringer over that? how Fourth amendment. . If anyone would love to start a case action in this matter feel free to get a hold of me. The highly sensitive personal information provided on the ACS form gets keyed into a master data bank. OK anon75478: Then you won't mind answering these question will you? Then, the phone calls started and they won't stop. Census workers are trying to do a decent job like everyone should try to do. This is to help the community -- like heck. They have been to my house, my place of business, also calling my place of business and if told I am busy they inform me they will call again in one hour. When I said I would not be probed by his questions from the government and continued by saying that I meant no disrespect to him; however, I hate what the government is trying to do to us he responded. The survey also asks how many bedrooms and bathrooms you have in your house, along with the fuel used to heat your home, the cost of electricity, what type of mortgage you have and monthly mortgage payments, property taxes and so on. Neither one of us filled it out, nor mailed it in. I can understand the desire to keep the information private. If Big Brother wants to bring the law so be it. I will comply when they 1) remove the millions of illegals from U.S. soil, 2)oust criminals who do not even pay their taxes from political power positions, 3) listen to the will of their constituency and remember we are a "representative republic" not a "Banana Republic" 4) stop plotting the demise of American citizens with their plans for a Eugenicists health care plan. I don't feel they need to know all the crap they are asking. I filled out my form sent it back and now i am getting harassed by the census bureau calls of at least eight a week! I have contacted the media (Fox News), but no one seems to be covering this. I did respond to the regular census and regret answering all of those questions. we demand a trial by jury of our pears, but how many wiggle, squirm and lie every which way to get out of serving when it's their turn? But, I still don't have a clue where to send the $100 fine. So they bully and threaten and use fear to scare people into compliance. Anyway, this guy knocked twice or three time so I ignored him. I am standing firm this time. Now the latest. 2d 570, 572 (N.D. I don't even tell my grown kids this much information. This summer I sold my house and tried to cancel my FEMA flood insurance. We are law abiding, tax paying citizens and always do the right thing. Spending good taxpayer dollars on another social joke. The data bank, like any data bank, runs the risk of being hacked or accessed by dishonest parties. The new research by the Trevor Project, which surveyed nearly 34,000 LGBTQ youth ages 13 to 24 across the United States in fall 2021, also found that Black and nonbinary young people reported . Washington and California residents have filed a proposed class action in which they object to being asked to participate in the American Community Survey, which enquires about certain demographic details more specific than those central to the decennial Census. That is just crazy. Let me get this straight: we cannot ask an illegal alien for papers because of racial profiling but we can try to force american citizens to fill out the ACS which has profiling information in every question? At the very least, if you are going to refuse to do the census, try to be respectful, as some of the census workers are former military. According to some accounts, those recipients who chose not to return the form and did not respond to phone calls or private visits appeared to be hassled the least. We didn't send in the regular 2010 one and they came by the house. And the survey demands that you violate the privacy of others by supplying the names and addresses of your friends, relatives and employer. The name of my employer, my wages for the previous year, the number of exemptions for my house, my social security numbers as well as those of my dependents, my marital status. [3] U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3. I asked who he was and he attempted to open the screen door. I'm so glad I'm not alone. The court agreed with the defendants contention that courts have consistently considered unripe for review cases wherein there was no specific threat of enforcement or history of prosecution under the relevant statutes.. At first I thought this was the census under another name, then as I read it I could not believe how invasive it was. And, based on the Census, Virginia had 30 percent of the population of the United States. Information from the survey generates data that help determine how more than $675 billion in federal and state funds are dis Continue Reading MA Pennell As long as there are enough people who didn't fill out the census? Apr 15 -- The Census Bureau invites comments to OMB by May 16, 2022 on the three-year extension of the American Community Survey and the Puerto Rico Community Survey. Finally, she said I am not answering anymore questions and they left her alone. The 24-page survey, which can be found on the Bureau's website, is sent out to about 2.5% of the American population to collect statistical information for city planning. Survey/Program: American Community Survey. Thanks Mom, for teaching me a little Italian. About 40 phone calls to date, some leave messages while others hang up. Since direct taxes must be apportioned based on population, an enumeration is needed to determine the percentage of tax for each state. She said she would mark me as "refusing" and I said fine and hung up. Then we started getting the calls. I have not opened or returned them. I started my business for 75 cents. (I was astonished to note that apparently only about 12,000 households have resisted so far.) Unlike the 10-year Census, this survey runs all year, every year. Anyway he proceed to stretch as much as he could so he could look into my living room. I have called the local census office for our area and filed a complaint. With Halloween right around the corner, how about scare the crap out of them. The census guy showed up here. Referring to financials, I told them to ask the IRS. Once on Saturday, once on Wednesday, three times yesterday, and so far once today. I was going to fill it out and check "race: other, American" but now I just don't even want to fill the dang thing out. Back to this census nonsense: I filled out the 2000 and don't owe them a thing until 2010 census. They've also visited six of my neighbors, twice each so far. He gave his name and the number of people living here and refused to answer anything else. Uncle Sam gets my money but what happens in my home stays in my home. I am becoming more and more ashamed I fought for this newly founded socialist government. I just did not answer the door (a habit with any unscheduled visitor so not hard for me). lets hope this isn't all to simply mark people who do and do not comply. I know that some of you were harassed by the census folks. Best policy is to avoid answering the door to strangers but it's difficult to do if you are outside a lot. They haven't gone so far as to threaten, but I can sense that their tone is getting more firm. I see no reason to comply. I was truthful in all 10 short form answers. When I mentioned the threat of a fine to the last caller she seemed horrified that I would accuse her of that and went out of the way to state that she didn't bring it up. 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. 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. Report Inappropriate Content That's all it is. Don't remember getting the long form but if I did, I would have tossed it unopened since I already did my duty filling out the census and mailing it in. Mind your own business. I have a five year old. I didn't argue or discuss it, just stated the truth and hung up immediately. [1] The Rutherford Institute, a national nonprofit civil liberties organization, is deeply committed to protecting the constitutional freedoms of every American and the integral human rights of all people through its extensive legal and educational programs. I'll give you potential issues with being counted. I have contacted all of my federal and state Representatives and it is time they passed a census privacy act. She informed me if I did not answer her questions, eventually the county sheriff would come. If, as you say, all of this info can be found online already, then get it online, without my help. To anon89810: I am all for taking action against them. How do we know who these people actually are? Beyond that, please cease and desist all further efforts to gather personal and private information about the members of my household, it will not be provided. I don't know why someone said the country is going too far to left. Anyone who took the time to actually read the ACS and understand how sensitive this information is and how unsecured it actually is would join in the outrage and demand that it be given its proper burial in the grave of horrible bureaucratic policy. Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). . Great. I told her not to come back or I would spray her with my garden hose. Moreover, Title 13 of the U.S. Code allows for monetary penalties only when the ACS's inquiries are within the scope of questions included in the complete census, and only if the Secretary has Thanks to all of you for your comments. i wish i still had my camcorder so i could do like the person said. My 15 year old son was home at the time of the census worker stopping by. Funny, we are required to get social security numbers at birth, but the social security administration will not protect that number. I like the idea of the videocam. * Compared to other measured TV manufacturers in the 2022 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey of customers. [11] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/Computer.pdf. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does this person have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions? All I can think of is that every time one of us gives in and allows this servant to go unchallenged, then they get bolder, prouder, and we get used to it and then we are eventually abused by them. For the information of the people here, Congressman Poe (Texas) and Bachmann (Minnesota)have introduced legislation to eliminate the ACS intrusive questions. Let's see how much they like it. I included a note with the returned survey stating that I would continue to refuse to answer these additional questions as a matter of principle, and I requested that no phone calls or visits to my home be made by your agency. :0 We shall not be intimidated! 5) Arrest criminals from Acorn and stop our tax dollars from funding Acorn and other criminal organizations like them. Ridiculous. American Community Survey Welcome! By phone. It does make an interesting snapshot of america. Clemons v. Dep't of Commerce, 562 U.S. 1105 (2010). i hate these people. The times they are a-changing. I made the decision right then and there that I would not respond to an ACS survey under any circumstances. The first phone call was late December and was not answered. EXCLUDE incidents involving juveniles or youthful offenders held in facilities operated by your State juvenile system. Person 18a. The employees of the Nazi Gestapo and Brownshirts said the same thing. [30] The Census Bureau also maintains that responding to the ACS is mandatory and that recipients are legally obligated to answer all questions.[31]. The response does not form an attorney-client relationship, nor is it intended to be anything other than the educated opinion of the author. This data is critical for government programs, policies, and decision-making. They can have my age, race, sex and opinion about corruption in government. I am so glad I found this website. Logged onto survey; did not complete any items 2.1121 65 Never logged on (implicit refusal) 2.11 887 Survey completed after close of the field period 2.27 189 Completed interview but was removed for data quality 1 Screened out . This scared him and on top of that, he did not know most of the answers to the questions. Deaths have continued to climb, with 71,238 in 2021, the most recent data from the CDC, which notes the increase was half of what it was a year earlier, when overdose deaths rose by 30 per cent . With the census bureau losing over 600 laptops, and the current abuses of power, I see no reason to give out the information that they are asking. We live in a sanctuary city and those who work and pay taxes are supporting almost half of our population. The US government already has all the information they need on people who file their annual income tax. [9] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/Citizenship.pdf. Do they ever stop with this? she said go ahead i'll wait. all this while he was getting ready for work. True Nazism at its finest. [14] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/StructureRooms.pdf. Keep your cool and you'll be fine. When I saw the personal and invasive nature of recent Census, I was irate. I have therefore included both Article 1 section 2 of the US Constitution, and the US Supreme courts decisions in upholding the right to privacy. The calls stopped and no one ever visited. They are so proud to be counted among the blessed. I refused entry into my home. 1. Oh, the reason he came back? Waiting for the calls, then the visits. I called his supervisor. Each plaintiff claims to have been visited by Census Bureau agents and informed that their response to the American Community Survey is required by law. i get home don't even get out of the parking lot, she pulls up. That's why every selfish person here complains that the government doesn't use resources in the right place; the government waits too long to address problems; the government wastes money. The ACS program provides estimates annually for all states and for all medium and large cities . Thank Gosh, I documented every call and person I spoke with. I started to take the survey and the more I saw the more upset I got. i feel like a jew in germany when these goons come knocking. We do not live in 1930's Germany but you sure can't tell by reading the questions on this form. This is plain wrong! I simply put, 'None of your business". Finally a man identifying himself as a supervisor came to the door and demanded I answer. 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. "Um, I filled it out twice". Received two survey forms, three letters and two visits at my door and awaiting a third based on a lovely letter I received yesterday announcing yet another visit. You want me to put the popcorn in the freezer?" I sent in the Census form (and that's all I'm required to provide). Not to mention that this information in the wrong hands can cause identity theft. I got a call last night from the Census folks, wanting to know our birthdays. I think when they show up at my door, I will tell them I am house sitting for the owners who are out of town for the next six months. I have received two forms, and have no intention of responding. What they dont tell you is that the information is available to a long list of private corporation, research agencies and think tanks, who use the information to justify and pursue their own agendas. If they are "anonymous" why do they need my name, telephone number and race? Access to COVID-19 vaccines was not an issue, given that 93% of . First survey last month. If this money is government funding for schools, street or seating representatives then why are so many teachers being laid off, why are the streets so damaged and incomplete. What time do the male members of your household go to work? Three times they sent people to our door, and three times I walked out the back door, and turned on the water. From original poster #188: I heard the head of the Census on NPR this morning. No one from the Census has ever said they would come back with the sheriff - the sheriff would simply laugh at them if they ever asked. Q: Is there a penalty for refusing to answer American Community Survey questions? (ACS questions 1, 3 and 4), 3. It is SBO-1 (Survey for Business Owner and Self Employed) and states that it is mandatory per Title 13 USC. But I hit the brakes big time when they ask for your birthdate, among other garbage of race, sex, etc. How many of our signers of the Declaration of Independence would fill out and sign THIS ACS form? The 2019 American Community Survey counted 139.69M housing units, up 1.15M from 2018, and up 7.90M from 131.79M in 2010. The census man came to my house eight times, two of which he sat in my driveway for a total of 50 minutes. My blood pressure is through the roof right now after reading this survey.