Why doesn't the gov just sell us some cyanide instead of slowly picking away at our bones? You don't want your personal information in some library, online or in an archives someday do you? When I got to the financial questions I thought - what?? I informed the caller, "Eric", that I did not wish to participate in the survey and to please remove my name from their phone list and mailing list. Quite honestly, you are not that important. Enough is enough and get real. Matthew J. Holian, "Data and the American Dream: Contemporary Social Controversies and the American Community Survey" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2021) (Podcast Episode) Movies, TV, Celebs, and more. Statistical analysis Plaintiffs declarations also do not support a finding they were subject to a genuine threat of imminent prosecution.. The efforts to secure a response to ACS seem fairly on the mark, but 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. He wanted my son's name and address. I received the ACS and the regular Census. Using new satellite data analysis techniques, researchers found that, since 2000, summer wildfires have expanded in boreal forests, which wrap around the northernmost parts of the Earth. Is that something you would want to get into the wrong hands? If one of these goons shows up at your door you should immediately get out your camera phone or camcorder and put it right in their face and turn it on. [14] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/StructureRooms.pdf. Finally a man identifying himself as a supervisor came to the door and demanded I answer. My question is: "Doesn't our government have enough information on us from our mandatory tax returns?" Make the Census people eat this Supreme Court ruling: Neither branch of the legislative department [House of Representatives or Senate], still less any merely administrative body [insert Census Bureau], established by congress, possesses, or can be invested with, a general power of making inquiry into the private affairs of the citizen." I have worked as an enumerator. Camp Lejeune residents now have the opportunity to claim compensation for harm suffered from contaminated water. The Supreme Court upheld that against Bill Clinton's attempt to implement statistical sampling for the 2000 census. Answering the US Census Is Required by Law - ThoughtCo The Nazis were just doing their jobs, also, "anon75478" but that doesn't make it right. Look it up. Hurrah for Senator Michelle Bachmann (MN) who has said, I understand, that she will not fill out this piece of trash. I am being harassed and threatened. I am a tax paying, hard working citizen, who would die fighting for my country and my rights, but didn't our forefathers already settle this fight? Oh wait -- the U.S. postal would never misdirect mail. To complete the survey on the internet, visit https://respond.census.gov/acs. I'm too old and sick. Hello, Legally, yes, you are required to answer the census survey. However, because the government has not brought a prosecution for a refusal to respond to the ACS, the question of a persons right to refuse has not yet been decided by a court. 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. If you do/have, chances are your information is already out in the open for various public/private agencies. I'll see "YOU" on the tube."You Tube". I will fill it out and send it back to Census Bureau but I won't feel good about it. I heard I had to answer the questions or face a possible fine of $5000.00 so I answered the questions. For another 22, the information is used to aid advocacy groups, and in nine of those cases, the Census Bureau states that the responses will be used by advocacy groups to advocate for policies that benefit their groups, including advocacy based on age,[23] race,[24] sex,[25] and marital status.[26]. This crap has been going on for almost a month now! I even downloaded a sound bite that said this number has been disconnected and is no longer in service. No one has been fined for failure to comply, and no one ever will be. I hung up. He came by every hour starting at 6 Thursday. Pericles, 460BC. 1 in 4 Black transgender and nonbinary youth attempted suicide in past We will then see them online. This questionnaire asked how we got the funds to open the business, and how much money we spent to start up operation! On Monday, a worker left a letter at my door advising he would return again. After reading many of the earlier posts, I feel I am doing the right thing by not returning the survey. Funny, we are required to get social security numbers at birth, but the social security administration will not protect that number. I've been through it. It has taken almost two decades to get it to this point where something intelligent can actually be done to manage our mess. But not allthat other information. Access to COVID-19 vaccines was not an issue, given that 93% of . Recipients of the American Community Survey are told several times that the information given is necessary for the operation of our government, is very secure and is kept private. This means your answers can and most likely will be linked to you even if it is forbidden by law to share your individual responses. Measuring America's People, Places, and Economy. [33] Gardner Selby, Americans Must Answer U.S. Census Bureau Survey by Law, Though Agency Hasn't Prosecuted since 1970, Politifact, http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2014/jan/09/us-census-bureau/americans-must-answer-us-census-bureau-survey-law-/. In addition, some point to the possibility of human error as a security concern over such personal and confidential information. 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! ACS estimates are all period estimates representing an interval of time, not a single date like April 1, 2010. It feels good to see so many of you willing to take a stand against this invasion of privacy. Where did they get the data? Read the Constitution. Mind your own business. Haven't heard from the ACS people, "government man", or my dorm supervisor since then. My paper shredder has been complaining of hunger, so I'm going to feed the "survey" to it when I receive it in the mail next week. The ACS is a legitimate survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, which is part of the Department of Commerce. My son answered the door, the guy announced who he was with. 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. Individuals who receive the ACS must complete it or be subject to monetary penalties. She informed me if I did not answer her questions, eventually the county sheriff would come. What is the North American Industry Classification System? The US Census Bureau makes it clear that the American Community Survey (ACS) is authorized under Sections 141 and 193 of Title 13 of the United States Code, and that compliance with the survey is legally mandatory. Sorry, but you are really just not important enough for them to worry about, certainly not as much as you are obviously worrying about them. That alone, in the wrong hands; is reason NOT to respond to such a blatant abuse of power. 6)repeal criminal legislation like H.R. I would never be pleasant with someone who intentionally makes a living trying to make my life unpleasant. 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. Their job is to get the form completed, that is all. Thanks Mom, for teaching me a little Italian. We don't have a home phone but I imagine the reps will get hold of our cell numbers? I intend to scan the thing and email it to everyone I know, plus my congressman and senators. Report Inappropriate Content Isn't this harassment? I made the decision right then and there that I would not respond to an ACS survey under any circumstances. The most aggressive "ally" nation caught spying on the United States is Israel. I hung up. About the American Community Survey It's just another way to peg the American people to find out who's doing what. To all the census takers who have the nerve to put their 2 cents here to tell us how safe it is, why don't you also post your personal information for us? We are so fortunate to live in this country. I hung up immediately and called the sheriff. Person 33. 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. Matthew J. Holian, "Data and the American Dream: Contemporary Social 2d 570, 572 (N.D. 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. she said go ahead i'll wait. all this while he was getting ready for work. 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. Federal law mandates as much, but the bureau also doesn't seek to penalize individuals who fail to participate. The Founding Fathers wanted the power to stay with the people - but it took a revolution to secure it. This is about a rental property that is currently empty and was on April 1, if that really means anything. I'm also going to contact her opponent and see if we can get some action on it for the upcoming debates. I am appalled at this whole thing and believe me when that survey taker arrives at my door again, she is going to get an ear full. ACS has only been going since 2005. 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. The funny part is the local grocery store has this job post up. Some doubt these assurances based on the survey collection process itself. Somewhere in the process we got some messages on the answering machine asking us to call their 800 number and refer to our "case number." This BS is incredible. PDF [From the ACS recipient to the Census Bureau] John H. Thompson Did not need the closing statement. 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. We should not have to fear such "power hungry, and commission-crazy animals! 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. He ignored the legality but admitted there were corporate sponsors involved. So give them a call or send an e-mail and see if someone there can help stop the phone calls. What? I will not answer the questions on the ACS. It's supposed to be confidential. Nobody is listening -- another reason not to send in the ACS. Granted, I'm sure they can find it, but the census would have had to use some powers beyond their department to find it, since I intentionally left that form blank on the 2010 census. Should you answer personal questions from the American Community Survey The gov has lost what is called common sense and buried it under a ton of manure. A sympathizer to the Census said it was to help the government to function. As soon as they identified themselves as being with the Census Bureau, I quickly informed them that I sent it in. The survey goes to a random sample of addresses in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The oath means something to us and I for one am going to continue to tell them to stick it where the Sun Does Not Shine! They came to my door at all hours. And send a Federal Marshal out to write you a ticket. 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. i get home don't even get out of the parking lot, she pulls up. I sent an e-mail to headquarters. Copyright 2023 The Rutherford Institute. An official website of the United States government . I have a right to not be harassed in my home. Interesting. Thank you for being here. I did not send it back, I received another and still did not fill it out. They left before they arrived. It seems to me that *all* the information they need and want should be available to them from our 1040's. So get a clue, and if you are so upright and truthful, use your real name. 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. I started my business for 75 cents. A week later, a woman came to my door and said they hadn't received my form. Soundbar sold separately. Now I wish I hadn't answered her on the phone. United we stand divided we fall. The small, everyday, humdrum, quietly approved bills they do each day are where the danger lies and more attention should be paid to those. A: According to one report published in early 2014, the government has not prosecuted anyone for refusing to respond to the ACS. I suppose if they have the info to redistrict, they have all the info they need. !Now I have to pay for temp workers who have my private info to sell overseas maybe???? Get your head out of the clouds and step into reality. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. "; or "How many fingers does Mickey Mouse have?". We do not have to fear picking up the phone or answering our door. Today I received a notice in the mail from the Census Bureau Director, Robert M. Groves, advising me that next week I'll receive a 2010 Census form in the mail and would I fill it out and mail it in promptly. Well the federal government is functioning way beyond its legal powers and I will not feed that machine. The American Community Survey (ACS), conducted continuously since the early 2000s, is an ongoing survey of just a portion of the population. Adapting the American Community Survey Amid COVID-19 That's four times today and it's just past noon on Saturday. its nothing short of communism folks!! ), What in the world is wrong with you people? As long as there are enough people who didn't fill out the census? * Compared to other measured TV manufacturers in the 2022 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey of customers. The CFPB has set up a phone number at (855) 411-2372 expressly to help customers in more than 180 languages, and it provides free educational materials on banking in dozens of languages. Spending good taxpayer dollars on another social joke. Last year I was hounded by these people and they are back I am so glad I did not answer or call or contact them I cannot believe this information is relevant for city planningthe person above said it best. I gave only the necessary information for an actual enumeration of my household. But please do not chastise me for maintaining my personal and family privacy and refusing to respond to an unconstitutional intrusion into my personal affairs. I am just not going to answer any questions. I told her the story and said I didn't have time for this right now. For instance, the ACS asks how many persons live in your home, along with their names and detailed information about them such as their relationship to you, marital status, race and their physical, mental and emotional problems, etc. Public servants are just public burdens and every time their benefits cost more I have to pay for them and I don't even have any myself!!! If there are any lawyers out there, we would like you thoughts -- non-attribution of course. Why am I in the unlucky 2.5%? I have no problem with telling folks how many people, even our ages and nationalities. We need to ban together and not cave in on this. It is SBO-1 (Survey for Business Owner and Self Employed) and states that it is mandatory per Title 13 USC. That's the truth. I do not want to complete the American Community Survey, but I - Avvo Why the hell should I tell the government all this business about me? Then they came to my door while I was out of town and left me a note with their name and number. Nevertheless, fines and legal action are technically possible. I finally left a voice mail for the person who kept calling me that if I got one more call or personal visit, I was contacting my state senator and tell him I was being harassed. Don't fill out anything if you don't want the public to know some of your private information. The ACS program provides estimates annually for all states and for all medium and large cities . I assumed I did it wrong, so I filled out the second one and sent that in. It is pages and pages of personal questions. It felt so good. I don't even tell my grown kids this much information. I never will. I received a phone call from the bureau asking me to read them the info because there were only two days left to respond. Sad, but I simply do not trust the government anymore. U.S. Census Bureau Notice and Consent Warning You are accessing a United States Government computer network. Still, some citizens do not answer it. The census collectors or enumerators can ask for some sensitive and detailed information, such as salary or income. And if I were paranoid, I'd be accusing the census takers of taking my new baby's ss card that has still not arrived in my hands in four months! we have every right to keep our privacy!!!! Good luck everyone! My hubby has served this country for over 30 years, we are about to retire and what a lovely retirement gift we are receiving (NOT)!.Harassment, compliments of the government, just lovely (NOT). I stupidly started filling out my ACS before I learned of this. They have came to my door unannounced on many occations. I contacted an attorney's office on my questions and objections to see if they were valid and what the legal interpretation was of the constitution and the US code. Empowered by Congress with greater powers to amass information about citizens, the Census Bureau introduced the ACS in 2005. I did call the police on them. So, I tore off the page with my address on it and shredded it, and then I tossed the rest of the survey into the garbage. This is a bunch of crap. [12] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/Fertility.pdf. I say the heck with Big Brother, ours is going in the garbage, and I'm no longer answering their calls (love caller ID)! lets hope this isn't all to simply mark people who do and do not comply. Civil Liberties and Rights - Civil Liberties The constitutional I told her I wasn't calling anybody. If he shows up, he'll get the same response (or none at all). i told her no, she kept asking, i kept telling her no and eventually snuck in my apartment when she drove to park. 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. Low-Income Renters Spent Larger Share of Income on Rent in 2021 I ripped it up and threw it away. That wasn't supposed to be able to happen. No thanks, poster 188. 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. The U.S. Census has nothing to do with Obama nor most of the accusations you are flippantly throwing up online. Thus, they cannot use the census as the pretext for the ACS. They can't take my free will. The highly sensitive personal information provided on the ACS form gets keyed into a master data bank. I said it sounded like a great idea. On the back of the ACS form it states: "Respondents are not required to respond to any information collection unless it displays a valid approval number from the Office of Management and Budget.". My blood pressure is through the roof right now after reading this survey. I noticed a car pull up to my neighbor's house. And if they threaten you, video record all of this exchange. American Community Survey questionnaire. Best wishes, and see you all after the election. The rest I will leave blank or make up. Have no fear. I have no idea about the ACS (or any of their personal questions). I am glad to know there are plenty out there who are refusing to let our rights be trampled on!! 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). Filled out the short form months ago. And the Justice Dept is not going to spend time on this. Title OFFICIAL ADDRESS TELEPHONE Number City State ZIP Code FAX . However, while The Rutherford Institute has been made aware of Census Bureau agents engaging in harassing tactics and threatening behavior, to date, we are unaware of the Census Bureau having levied any financial penalties for non-compliance with the ACS. Comparing the American Community Survey to the American Housing Survey. But I hit the brakes big time when they ask for your birthdate, among other garbage of race, sex, etc. That is how they get "past the guard". Commission, 32 Fed. Thanks to all of you for your comments. PDF In Defense of The American Community Survey Michael Lewyn Especially after reading the comments on this page. Complete this form and mail it back as soon as possible. It is the premier source for detailed population and housing information about our nation. They have no right to know. The next day I called back and talked to a different agent or whatever they are. Q: What are my options for objecting to the ACS survey as an intrusion on my Fourth Amendment rights? I told her actually it's not. OMG!! It's all very true, and very real. Explore census data with visualizations and view tutorials. Wow! and these so called representatives. Census Bureau Table. Our Constitution is being dismantled before our eyes, but this will be one stand we'll make and keep encouranging others to do the same. You want me to trust the census with information that is very private? I hope my great-grandkids appreciate it, too. OK then, so why waste my time asking questions? It's not their business. the census is just a way of allocating seats for elected officials and that's all. I told him if he was good at counting, he could try counting my angry rottweilers as he ran for his life. You need to stop peering in my window and you need to leave right away." Matthew J. Holian, "Data and the American Dream: Contemporary Social I've been harassed by phone at night and Sundays. We randomly sample addresses in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Referring to financials, I told them to ask the IRS. In 2000 I placed a large sprinkler by my front door. You'd better hope that you are aren't one of the unlucky three. the Supreme Court's decisions over the years has established that the rights to privacy is a basic human right, and as such is protected by virtue of the 9th amendment. [20] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/Language.pdf. First I didn't send the form back "as soon as possible". These "enumerators" aren't policemen and they can't make you answer their questions or let them into your house. Do I Have to Respond to the ACS? - United States Now Lock 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. Without the enjoyment of this right, all others would lose half their value. [The bracketed words added for clarification], Interstate Commerce Commission v. Brimson, 154 U.S. 447, 479 (May 26, 1894). Here's how you know ( Data.census.gov will be unavailable due to scheduled maintenance from 6am to 10am EST on Saturday, 3/4/2023. That's a load of crap. I will file a class action suit against the Government if they continue to harass me and hope to gain momentum in order to force the government to be liable for any information lost on their part. We sent in the form with the number of people, then called the girl who left a note on our door. Since then, they have called three or four times and stopped by multiple times. Is the enemy offshore or some creep in a bloated Federal Dept we don't even need? 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. The guy at FEMA said he needed my closing statement-I had sent that in but removed all the dollar amounts as that was none of their business. But I will not tell you when I leave for work and about the medical condition of my relatives. If I have 1, 2 or even 3 people in my house, that is all I need to give. They say they are from the U.S. Dept of Commerce. One concern with the collection of such private information, especially financial information, is that ACS information could be compared to information provided to the Internal Revenue Service on tax returns. I thought to myself, now they are going to harass them. If at some point they insist you are declining, plead the Fifth Amendment. I suspect the caller will hang up and take you off the list. the government was never constitutionally mandated to provide funds. Questions and Answers about the ACS in , , Franais, Kreyl ayisyen, , Polski, Portugus, , Espaol, Vit Ng. PLEASE let's get them back once and for all! We monitored our caller ID and just refused to answer the phone when they called (along with any other numbers listed as "unavailable"). This is just crap. We filled in very basic info and did put in the drive times. Anyone out there actually worked for this part of the Census with accurate info? (ACS question number 33). DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS. I would like to inform all participants that your lines have been placed on a listen-only mode until the question-and-answer session of today's call. If a person of the same sex comes to your door, act like you're interested in them and start touching their hair. If the stories in this thread are true, those census workers are scum. We are all Americans of the human race. I may not bother with this anyway. Someone said they can find all our info on the internet anyway. Thank God that we still live in a country where we can still tell a thug where to go. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) is a national measure of customer satisfaction since 1994, trusted by US government and reflecting annual feedback from . I insisted that the little brownshirt leave and go look in the mailroom because I was not going to do it over again-like I have nothing better to doshe said I was in BIG trouble because she could FORCE me to do it over. Person 30. "is your name blah blah blah?" You keep referring to the Constitution's original language and writings but that's been beat back again and again over the course of the years. Fact Sheet Aug 25, 2021 Fact Sheet: Protecting and Advancing Health Care for Transgender Adult Communities New data and analysis reveal important health disparities and barriers to care for. BTW my survey went into the guinea pig cage, it will come out the same it went in: crap. And I say that is the point -- I do not want my state or city dependent on big government this is socialism and pork barrel out of control government spending.