Neither one of us filled it out, nor mailed it in. When she called tonight at my employer, I told her I was moving. So glad I came across this website while researching whether or not I had to respond to this stupid ACS I just got in the mail. [3] U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3. I said I may have the second one, but discarded the first as a scam attempt. I am a nurse, taxpaying honest citizen and I will not be forced into answering these obscene questions! And everyone should have to fill out the same thing-how come I get the long form every time? Learn more about 2021 ACS data releases, including the latest release of new 2017-2021 ACS 5-year PUMS files and Variance Replicate Estimate Tables. 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. We did not return the census, and received continuous letters and threats. 1 found this answer helpful | 0 lawyers agree | Voted as Most Helpful Helpful Unhelpful 2 comments Alice M. Cabrera That and the census has been used in the past to identify people of Japanese, German, and Italian descent. 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. My husband and I run a small trucking company, and we received a census form for the business. Life lived in paranoia and bitterness is not worth living. "; "How many times a day do you fantasize about blowing up a federal building? What time do I leave for work, -26:00 in the afternoon. But the Supreme Court is not supreme over the other branches of government; it is supreme only over lower federal courts. Now the latest. First of all, get a clue! I had never heard of such a thing. 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 BIG 2010 census count is coming soon. I am becoming more and more ashamed I fought for this newly founded socialist government. This city hasn't had its streets fixed in years and we always fill out the census. With enough people, we can make a change. 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! Well, our credit cards, social security numbers, and who knows what else, are now being used by illegal aliens and fraudulent companies. We have 273 people living in this house with no plumbing, I go to work at 2 a.m. and get home at 2:30. Let's see how much they like it. This scared him and on top of that, he did not know most of the answers to the questions. The ACS purpose is to collect demographic data only. This workshop will demonstrate through hands-on exercises on how to access data using the Census Bureau tools for short and long-term Community planning. If it was a problem, she then had my phone number; it wasn't blocked. I threw it away. NO ONE EVER GETS IN TROUBLE for refusing to answer. No one will email you or be peeping at you from the census. I personally do not want to answer because it's just a habit but if they did catch me off-guard, I would probably give them an answer of some sort (like I am a boyfriend who is watching my girlfriend's house while she's away with the peace corps for six months and that I already answered the census for my home a few blocks away). I received two surveys. I emailed my Congressman (John Larson, CT) twice, over a month ago, but he (and/or his staff) has failed to reply by e-mail or phone. 1. What the hell are you mad about? Instead of counting the entire population once a decade like the census, the ACS surveys a sample of the population (about 3.5 million addresses) every year to create statistics for the nation, states and communities down to the "tract" or neighborhood level. We have always taught him not to talk to people he does not know and never give out information. It actually notes in it "Your response to this survey is required by law (Title 13, U.S. Code, Sections 141 and 193).Title 13, as changed by Title 18, imposes a penalty for not responding." Wrong. I then slammed the door shut. Now I wish I hadn't answered her on the phone. You will not be fined. With a president and congress that constantly lie about everything, how do they expect me to believe that the information on the Census form is truly confidential? So get a clue, and if you are so upright and truthful, use your real name. Before commenting, please review our comment policy. The provision for the Census is found in Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 of the Constitution. Washington, District of Columbia, United States. Funny, we are required to get social security numbers at birth, but the social security administration will not protect that number. I never thought at age 47 that I would ever see our country go this far the the left. I filled out the form only giving the required information by law and that is how many people live here. The response given is not intended to create, nor does it create an ongoing duty to respond to questions. A refusal to answer any question on the ACS or giving an intentionally false answer is a federal offense. The 2019 American Community Survey counted 139.69M housing units, up 1.15M from 2018, and up 7.90M from 131.79M in 2010. To the small minority who have sneered at me and closed the door, get some help. If I have 1, 2 or even 3 people in my house, that is all I need to give. I will sleep well tonight. Yes we find the government annoying, but we could turn things around to our advantage and make things fun. The survey also demands to know how many days you were sick last year, how many automobiles you own and the number of miles driven, whether you have trouble getting up the stairs, and what time you leave for work every morning, along with highly detailed inquiries about your financial affairs. I filled it out. I did some research over the summer after I found out about the ACS from reading a WSJ article. He was very surprised. No reason to be rude to someone doing their job. 1388. For these reasons and likely more, the ACS has been said to be unanswered by about 45% of its recipients. Q: What is the American Community Survey (ACS)? The U.S. Census has nothing to do with Obama nor most of the accusations you are flippantly throwing up online. Stonewall them out. I have a meeting with my congressional representative this morning to let him know that I am not returning this form, and to hand him personally the form that I was sent. They are not better people, more deserving, more intelligent, more experienced they didn't know "how" things were going to work out they just knew they would. The small, everyday, humdrum, quietly approved bills they do each day are where the danger lies and more attention should be paid to those. The last person who called our home sounded like he was contracted through India? 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. I even gave them the date I mailed it on. He had to come through a closed gate. [20] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/Language.pdf. I told the lady that I regarded the ACS as some kind of personal info fishing scam by criminals masquerading as the federal government and again stated that I had more than Constitutionally complied with the short form questions. Census workers are trying to do a decent job like everyone should try to do. 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. She said OK, left and then returned again within five minutes, saying it was her job to help me fill it out. We do not have to fear picking up the phone or answering our door. I didn't sleep well last night worrying how my civil disobedience might cost me dollars and jail. Kilbourn v. Thompson, 103 U.S. 168, 190. He was asking questions about me and my wife! She was really trying to get the information and finally gave up and told me she will write down that I refused. She was asking the questions again and I told her that I already filled out the form so there is no reason for me to fill it out again. If they refuse, call 911 and report a hostile trespasser. Think anyone is going to get approval to send out US Marshals to issue tickets? At first I thought this was the census under another name, then as I read it I could not believe how invasive it was. To those who say they can't publish anything like that, I have seen it. You cannot be fined or worse for not filling out the survey. In three weeks they should mail me a duplicate form. Filled out the short form months ago. Too many are dependent on the government already. In 1960, the gap was . My blood pressure is through the roof right now after reading this survey. Camp Lejeune residents now have the opportunity to claim compensation for harm suffered from contaminated water. View All 26 Products. I was just contacted by a representative for the Census Bureau at my home and asked to answer his questions. [2] Jill Wilson, R.I.P., Census Long Form, New Republic, May 12, 2010. https://newrepublic.com/article/74934/rip-census-long-form. Can I file a harassment claim somewhere? Cowards! Person 48. Government entities do illegal things. Why all the bad-mouthing of these people who are taking these jobs to support their families in these hard economic times? I started researching and am grateful for the advice by others here and on other sites. SSV-6. If you are a business person you could benefit from having accurate demographic information for the United States. Wound up yelling at anyone who would speak to me and finally the harassment stopped. I am wondering is a night time visit legal? [34] http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2015/04/will-kinder-gentler-census-survey-placate-congressional-foes. I was hot and told her I have her number and I will call when I'm ready. The $5,000.00 fines referenced in section 3571 are post conviction fines that only apply to an individual who has been charged and convicted of a crime defined in section 3559. However, the gap between homeownership rates not only persists, but has grown. They do not give the Defendants the limitless power to compel Plaintiffs to produce personal information or opinions to Defendants.. 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 This is just crap. No need to respond to the intrusive survey. Next step will be implanting us with chips, or tattooing our arms. [19] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/EducationalAttainment.pdf. 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. Those of you who filled it out have no backbone or common sense. It seems when the phone number is given, that is when the harassment starts. I thought the purpose of census was for representation purposes. But it did. Anyway he proceed to stretch as much as he could so he could look into my living room. Bottom line: we are supposed to give private information to individuals who are part time, temporary employees of Uncle Sam, the ACS seems to be confused about what they have and have not received and the US Postal Service seems not to be working either. I assumed I did it wrong, so I filled out the second one and sent that in. I started my business for 75 cents. She finally walked away but now I am sleepless as a result of this because I am not certain as to what will happen next. You will need the 10-digit user ID included in the mailing your household received. How many, each age, and each sex. I am so glad to see I am not alone in not wanting to fill out this survey. I upgraded my cell phone to one that I can take video with and that has a large memory. No one I have talked to since I received this survey has known anything about it. Decennial Census. 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. Do they ever stop with this? I've been through it. This browser does not support PDFs. And then I get this BS from a government agency? Correction, now it's been a total of seven times. The present state of affairs is a direct result of our collective ignorance. The government is doing nothing wrong! A: While the Census Bureau claims that an individuals information will be kept strictly confidential,[28] it does require a recipient to put their name on the survey, ostensibly for the purpose of asking follow-up questions in the event of missing or incomplete answers.[29]. Especially after reading the comments on this page. 5.6K views 5 years ago The Wild Life #53 FULL EPISODE: Have you ever heard of the U.S. Census Bureau's "American Community Survey"? 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). I also refused the deputy entrance for the purpose of a census and said that I wished them both to leave as I would not comply. The reason she looked at you in shock is because her husband didn't know she was there - she'd be fired on the spot and fined if she told her husband that. I tried to assure her that this indeed was not a prank but she was too busy being rude and just kept talking, finally telling me to call my senator, which I did. --JAS. Even the IRS does not ask such personal questions as to how our private lives are lived each day. My 89 year old mother was scared out of her wits after answering some questions, thinking she gave too much information and didn't even know who they were. Get over yourselves. Are they too dense to realize that word just means "to count?". I hope you folks do not live in my county or state. I may not bother with this anyway. 4) If they do not agree to answer any personal questions, assume the Hannibal Lecter voice and say "Tut, tut, tut. Got a phone call wanting the birth dates. Access to COVID-19 vaccines was not an issue, given that 93% of . Overall, the lawsuit says that [n]othing in these statutes gives Defendants the authority to compel Plaintiffs to speak when Plaintiffs invoke their First Amendment right to refrain from speaking by refusing to answer the American Community Survey.. Since direct taxes must be apportioned based on population, an enumeration is needed to determine the percentage of tax for each state. After giving it some thought, I felt compromised by the invasive questions asked, and decided that my right to privacy was surely being violated. And the survey demands that you violate the privacy of others by supplying the names and addresses of your friends, relatives and employer. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, nor a paranoid, but goodness knows the intrusiveness of these questions can certainly drive a person to it. If the IRS has no info on you, you're illegal anyway. any lawyers looking for some pro bono work ready to take up this issue? That wasn't supposed to be able to happen. May the Lord grant my fellow citizens victory in their battles with this unconstitutional invasion of privacy, too. I suppose if they have the info to redistrict, they have all the info they need. If you do/have, chances are your information is already out in the open for various public/private agencies. They have to get past the doorman first. A week later, a woman came to my door and said they hadn't received my form. How many times has this person been married? A study published in 2021 by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law found that transgender people in the United States are more likely to be violently attacked than cisgender people. We didn't receive phone calls first, we had two visits at 7 p.m. from this lady with her little laptop. Call your senators and congressman now and lets get these commie creeps out of our lives and off our backs. You'd better hope that you are aren't one of the unlucky three. A: The ACS contains questions that go far beyond typical census questions about the number of individuals within the household and their age, race, and sex. I said, what makes you think I'm going to turn over my personal information to a total stranger knocking on my door. To anon89810: I am all for taking action against them. If there was no response by the time we finished our list, we were to call again. The census has gone outside the Constitutional limits for years with what they ask on the actual survey and now this? This is ridiculous. Horrible, and a total violation of my rights across the board. The ACS program provides estimates annually for all states and for all medium and large cities . EXCLUDE State operated juvenile residential facilities. Thank God that we still live in a country where we can still tell a thug where to go. lets hope this isn't all to simply mark people who do and do not comply. The states collect the tax and turn the money over to the federal government. It is widely known that in a five-year span the Bureau lost at least 672 laptops. And if they threaten you, video record all of this exchange. First from a phone bot then yesterday a phone call from a real person. From the American Community Survey and your tax dollars at work. and gently close the door. I said yes for about the third time and hung up. In the end, the Census Bureau has the legal authority to conduct the survey and legally has the option of imposing fines for non-compliance. I don't see what the big deal is. This second survey is going right in the burner. The judge summarized that general statements made by the Census Bureau with regard to, say, the support of federal law or that taking the ACS was required by U.S. law fall short of the benchmark necessary to constitute a specific threat of prosecution. I noticed a car pull up to my neighbor's house. The issuance of summary judgmenta judgment entered by the court in favor of one party over anothermarks the end of the road for the proposed class action lawsuit detailed here. They left me a message to call them back and referred me to a case number. We do live in a relatively remote area, and none of them can make sense of maps they are provided with. A Census Bureau representative is quoted in this report as saying that the Bureau is really not in the business of prosecuting people who dont comply.[33] However, a refusal to answer the survey violates the letter of the law and a prosecution might be brought if the government decides to adopt a policy to do so. They left before they arrived. The survey is clearly an invasion of privacy, and any attempts of the ACS to pursue a fine for failure to submit the survey should be challenged in a court of law on unconstitutional and invasion of privacy grounds. That didn't go over to well and he told me that I was refusing to comply with a government agency and wouldn't get my money back. That's all it is. That's the truth. Just got my second second ACS survey in the last three years. I thought to myself, now they are going to harass them. Also available, The Rutherford Institute has developed a form letter that you may use in standing up against the governments attempt to force you to disclose personal information. This is Government out of control. So I received two ACS forms in the mail and they are not going to be filled out. It is also known that the Bureau inadvertently posted sensitive information of over 300 innocent citizens. This is harassment, I am no threat. I told her to get a US Marshal with a warrant. I suggest that people find a petition out there against this census survey. They are so proud to be counted among the blessed. Housing 16. The census worker also tried to "bait" me into giving false answers by saying "just answer the question anyway you like even if it's not true." I've been in some pretty terrifying situations and I don't scare that easily. It has been more than 40 years since that was done and they do not want any court case to be brought up that can challenge the constitutionality of their threats. Help people, can I really get fined if I don't fill this crap out? [22] For 12 of those categories, the information is used to assist private corporations. Confidentiality? [27] Andrew Reamer, To Take a Bite Out of Crime: Safeguard the Census, https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/to-take-a-bite-out-of-crime-safeguard-the-census/. of Commerce rep, and called on my cell phone. He stated I would receive no further calls from the census but the next contact would be from the Justice department. Will these jackasses really come after me or is all this talk about fines and such just a scare tactic? This was mailed to me approximately three months ago. And if said "enumerator" doesn't like it, tough! I guess it's too simple, or full of common sense. They have done a great job keeping businesses from behaving unethically, unsafely, and preventing them from attaining wealth at the cost of human life - whether from unfair wages and industrial practices or from the mass-physiological effects (brainwashing) of citizens from the huge-budget video/audio buy-buy-buy television addiction machine, or from the shortening of each human life and the human race entirely that is the natural result of reallocating, changing, destroying natural resources to produce worthless tidbits of crap (no matter how "convenient or interesting or entertaining it may seem in the end it is crap and it won't make you happy or more lovable or life more simple or whatever their marketing department's angle is -- it is just crap that is killing all of us and wasting all those workers' lives). But obviously they want to know everything about you. We need to stick up for our rights. I am appalled by the questions asked on the ACS! So why do they need how many rooms are in the house, what I use to heat the house, what amount was my electric bill and so on and so on? She offered me her badge and supervisors number. That's a load of crap. We did not support and defend the Constitution for this crap. (These facilities will be contacted directly for data on sexual victimization.) I am so glad I found this website. "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". Here's what it says online: The American Community Survey is a legitimate survey conducted by the CensusBureau. This ACS thing is quite detailed. thanks for answering back with any helpful info. Optimize Your Non-Profit with Census Data. At least they are working instead of collecting welfare checks. Everyone tells me to throw it in the trash! He was shocked and said it was required by law. Different people call at all hours and they block the name and number. But it hasn't ever needed to be collected by a government agency that is supposed to serve WE, the people and then threatens us with fines, treating good citizens like criminals (I thought counting people was like one, two, three, four,?). This is a very big, complicated country we live in. Browse our topics and subtopics to find information and data. A number of findings also closely match results obtained from surveys of U.S. faculty and graduate students. No one has been fined for failure to comply, and no one ever will be. However, the Website for the U.S. Census Bureau. It is most effective when analysts can see the relationship between various types of criminal incidents (e.g., homicides, drug dealing) and neighborhood characteristics (risk factors such as poverty, population density, and vacant housing), pinpoint where crimes are most likely to occur (hot spots), and focus police resources accordingly.[27] The Brookings Institute notes that because the ACS provides data every year, rather than every ten years, crime mapping is more effective and cheaper.