Hey everyone!
I just got the American Community Survey (ACS) long Census survey in the mail and am shocked to say the least...I am terrified of completing this particular survey linked to the Census Bureau. This is the same Census department that fired ACORN and who knows may have re-hired them as the current ACS survey takers. I researched the Internet on Census Takers and found that in the past many of them had criminal records and were allowed to visit people in their homes using aggressive measures in forcing them to complete the Census questionnaire. See similar comments found at the below links. I don’t trust ACS at all and am feeling apprehensive on my overall well being should I answer any question found on this survey. I feel my civil liberties have been violated BIG TIME as well as my personal safety may be in jeopardy should I dare reply back to ACS with my personal info they request of me on this survey. Here are some of the questions that seriously have me concerned... What time do I leave/return for work each day? How much is my home worth? How much are other homes valued for in my neighborhood? What is my telephone number (I don’t give my phone # out to anyone)? There are many more of these types of invasive questions on this form that have me seriously concerned for my personal safety. See questions listed below. I am being forced by law to give up my private info to possibly criminals. See info on this topic at the below link. I understand that I will be fined $100 for failure to respond to this survey--I will pay the fine since this is a small price to pay for my freedom and safety. If you haven't gotten the ACS yet then you most likely will receive it any day. Some of you may say do your civic duty so funds can be allotted appropriately. I have no problem with the Census' short survey we get every 10 years but the ACS is the survey I refuse to respond to. This is an American issue people, not only a republican, democratic or libertarian issue and we all should be fighting to keep our personal information private. Read the below questions found on the ACS questionnaire and then see if you agree with me. If you do agree that the ACS is way out of bounds in invading our basic civil liberties then please sign the online petition to have them stopped. The petition will be sent to all of Congress and will demand an immediate action in stopping this survey as it is currently written. [b]Note: The web masters of the below links (web sites) are not responsible for this post or for my posting their links on craigslist. Online Resources Aimed at ACS Find ACS questions posed on their survey shown below or visit their web site for the actual survey at: ACS Survey found at: http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/ACS-1(info)(2010)%20Stateside%20English_web.pdf Find the online petition to stop ACS at this site: http://www.petitiononline.com/STOPACS/petition.html Read up on "Ex-Felons Hired By The U.S. Census" at this site: http://www.whiotv.com/news/22635850/detail.html Read up on comments others are saying about ACS at: http://www.dailypaul.com/node/50362 How to legally refuse to participate in the ACS census survey...info found at this site: http://www.truthistreason.net/how-to-legally-refuse-to-participate-in-the-census-survey Below are the questions asked on the required Census long form survey called the ACS or American Community Survey. This is an outright attack on all American's civil liberties and no one should be answering their ridiculous questions. Where is the damn ACLU when you need them? I feel in no way compelled to share my private information with the government by answering the following questions: ACS Survey Questions - Found below and online at: http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/ACS-1(info)(2010)%20Stateside%20English_web.pdf ACS Questions: Phone Number including Area Code Sex Age and Birth Date If I am of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin My race What type of house I live in When my house was built(year) When I moved into this house(year) How large is the lot? Is there a business on this location? How many separate rooms are in this house, apartment, or mobile home? How many of these rooms are bedrooms? Do I have Hot and Cold Running Water? Flush Toilet? Bathtub or shower? Sink with a faucet? Stove or Range? Refrigerator? Telephone Service? How many vehicles of 1 ton or less are kept at this address? What fuel is used to heat this house, apartment, or mobile home? What was the cost of electricity last month? What was the cost of gas last month? What was the cost of water and sewer for the past twelve months? Did I receive Food Stamps? Is my house, apartment or mobile home part of a condominium, and if yes, what are the fees? Do I own the house with a mortgage? Do I own this house free and clear? Do I rent? Do I occupy without rent? What is the monthly rent for this house, apartment, or mobile home? How much do I think this house, apartment, or mobile home would sell for? What are the annual property taxes? What is the annual property and flood insurance? How much is the regular monthly mortgage? Does that include the property taxes? Does that include the insurance? Do I have a second mortgage on this property? How much are the monthly payments on all second and junior mortgages? Where I was born? Am I a citizen? Have I attended college or school in the last three months? What is my highest degree or level of school completed? If I have a bachelor's degree, what is it in? What is my ancestry or ethnic origin? Do I speak any other languages besides English at home? How well do I speak English? Did I live here 1 year ago? Do I have health insurance? What type? Do I have difficulty hearing or am I blind? Do I have difficulty doing physical, mental, or emotional conditions that make it difficult for me to do errands alone, such as shopping or visiting a doctor's office? Am I married? Did I get married, widowed, or divorced in the last twelve months? How many times have I been married? What year did I last get married? Am I a grandparent responsible for a grandchild living here? How long have I been responsible for the grandchildren? Have I ever served on active duty? If so, when? Do I have a VA service-connected Disability rating? What is that rating? Did I work for pay last week at a business? Last week did I do any work for pay? At what location did I do this work? What is the address? How did I get to work last week? How many people rode with me to work? When did I leave my house to go to work? How many minutes does it usually take? Who was my most recent job with? Name and location What kind of work do I do? What are my most important activities or duties? What are my wages for the last twelve months? What is my self-employment income for the last twelve months? What are my interest and dividends(even small amounts)? What are my social security or Railroad retirement amounts? What are my Supplemental Social Security Income amounts? Did I receive any public assistance or welfare payments from state or local welfare offices? If so, how much? What was my total income in the last twelve months? |
Is this post part of the TeaBagger onslaught of D.C.? Like a roll-out? |
lol |
Op here - I am a Democrat not a tea bagger but what difference does it make to whom you're politically affiliated
with when all Americans are being subject to losing their privacy info to possibly criminal census takers. Everyone should be outraged about this. Read the questions the Census is asking and see if you are fine with these types of questions before placing judgment on reference to this post. |
Isn't half of this stuff already with the IRS and/or county governments? |
OP, why are you copying posts from Craig's List (and New York's Craig's List, at that)? You really didn't get the form did you? The distribution of the forms was finished back in April. |
"Isn't half of this stuff already with the IRS and/or county governments? "
+ At least half of my family & neighbors have criminal records. |
OP sounds like one of those "Democrats" that hasn't voted for an actual Democrat at the federal and state level in 30+ years. |
Stop being a ninny. It's in the Constitution. You have to answer it. And BTW, Republican presidents send them out, too. I didn't much like having to sign up for selective service, but you do your duty. Tell them how many goddamn flush toilets you have and stop whining about it. |
Op here - Got the ACS survey this month (Aug. 2010) - I had already completed and sent in
the required Census short survey we get every 10 years some months back. I have no problem with the short survey - Only w/ACS survey. |
You mean you have a problem with the Constitution. Tell them if you have hot and cold running water, for Pete's sake. It's not a national security issue. |
All the constitution states is that there should be a count of the people. Where does it say that it is necessary to know any of the other information? |
Op here - ***We need to hold Congress men and women accountable for selling out our civil liberties relating to the ACS Census survey - Vote for only those congressional leaders who are looking out to protect your privacy rights. *** Contact your Senators and Congress members today and tell them to re-write the ACS survey in a way that does not sell out your basic right to keep your personal information private!***
Found the following info online regarding all irrelevant questions that shouldn't be asked on ACS survey: The number of questions in the decennial census has varied widely since the first in 1790, where census takers logged the name, gender, and race or each member of a household, to 2000, where a multi-page form with dozens of questions was sent to one out of every six households. In 2010, the Census Bureau trimmed the questionnaire to just the basics: name, gender, race, and ethnicity or each person, and whether the dwelling was owned, rented, or "occupied without payment of rent." A more detailed list of questions, called the American Community Survey (ACS), is sent to selected households in addition to the shorter headcount forms and in non-decennial years to allow the Bureau to do statistical sampling. According to the Census Bureau, about 3 million households are selected to receive the ACS each year. The law requires, in the case of both the decennial census and the ACS, that all households that get a form must fill it out in its entirety, under penalty. Generally speaking, the Census Bureau is not interested in levying the fine, and prefers to gather the data. If a survey is not returned, the Census can follow up by phone or with a personal visit. There is, however, the threat of a penalty for non-response. The current penalty is $100 for failure to fill out the census forms. The authority of the Congress to conduct the census in whatever way it wishes, and thus to require that the forms be filled out is found in the Constitution itself, which notes: [The Census] shall be made ... in such Manner as [Congress] shall by Law direct. The Congress is also authorized to ask various questions in the census aside from the basic headcount by virtue of this clause and by virtue of the Necessary and Proper Clause. Advice to leave the form blank or to fail to fill it in may actually bring more of the government into your life than you want — as noted above, unfiled and incomplete forms will be followed-up upon by actual census workers, either in person or by telephone. |
Well, that excludes all Republicans. I'm afraid they all voted to support spying on U.S. phone calls and internet traffic. |
Sigh. This has been asked and answered by the Supreme Court as early as the 1800's. |