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! A number of findings also closely match results obtained from surveys of U.S. faculty and graduate students. I am only a man, a man who believes in his liberties and will stand against this government crap! I might have to go outside and see if Big Brother is installing hidden cameras. Still, some citizens do not answer it. It sure the hell is. I threw it away. My high school son came home and read the questions and his first response was "this is communist." I assumed I did it wrong, so I filled out the second one and sent that in. Clemons v. Dep't of Commerce, 562 U.S. 1105 (2010). an American History (Eric Foner) Civil Liberties and Rights. * Compared to other measured TV manufacturers in the 2022 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey of customers. 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? Not about us - about adjoining property! I feel like that in itself is an invasion of my privacy. Rights Radio with Dr. Joyce Starr Anything that you answer can be used for this book, which is usually for your town, county, etc. The American Community Survey (ACS) qualifies as a government program whose purpose, while seemingly benign, raises significant constitutional concerns. I said I may have the second one, but discarded the first as a scam attempt. Read our FAQs or call us for more help with the survey. 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. Just say, "I respectfully decline." No thanks, poster 188. All this and I live on an Army installation! I wish I would have kept the census person's name. Even in police states, they don't ask these questions asked by the Census Bureau for the ACS. However, we will make it quite clear we will accept the risk and continue to take this stand. Ct. 524,and it cannot be too often repeatedthat the principles that embody the essence of constitutional liberty and security forbid all invasions on the part of government and its employees of the sanctity of a mans home and the privacies of his life. I live in upstate New York and was just threatened that the census taker would be back with the police and his supervisor because I refused to fill out the form. While there is no specific wording in the Bill of Rights regarding the rights of privacy. Now the latest. As a retired LEO, state law keeps all my info private, unless court ordered. I just get to pay more taxes for their tax free gain and it just is not fair. 12286: Don't worry, and don't respond. He said he'd have the "government guy" contact me the next day. They only get idle threats. So he then left. The gov has lost what is called common sense and buried it under a ton of manure. to be human so be sure to count them in as well! The study found 86.1 attacks for every 1,000 transgender women and 23.7 attacks for every 1,000 cisgender women; it also found 107.5 attacks for every 1,000 . It's the amendments that congress is busy adding to the original Constitution while you guys are busy working, fishing, etc., instead of watching congressional actions on C Span or some such that are killing us and our rights. I told him that was fine. The states collect the tax and turn the money over to the federal government. don't let this happen! We got our second ACS in the mail along with a follow up postcard. If you read and listen to them carefully they actually say that it's mandatory and you could be fined. I want to thank you for this site and for all of the posters sharing their experiences and offering insight and information. 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. Happy Holidays. 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 filled in only the number of adults and children and wrote a note on the form that this was the only information I would provide. As a result of widespread concern and perhaps out of frustration with the survey, several websites have been set up to provide public forums for recipients of the ACS. anon10731 is obviously a census worker!!!!!! The law does not say you have to answer their questions (so don't). 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. Let them in and then fart really loud. I told her to get a US Marshal with a warrant. We change so quickly now compared to 40-50 years ago. In 2000 I refused to fill mine out. I hope you folks do not live in my county or state. Be advised that no matter how intensive your efforts become, nor what kind of fine, penalty, prosecution or imprisonment you may wish to threaten, I, as a free American citizen, will not allow any agency of this government to demand, under penalty of law, that I disclose private and personal information about the members of my household. 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. This is to help the community -- like heck. I have already received two calls. First survey last month. Does anyone know? im a normal 27 year old female, trying to live my life. The Census Bureau claims that it has the right to impose a $5,000 fine for failure to fill out the American Community Survey, but online sources suggest that they have never actually ever used this "power" - possibly due to the lawsuit that might result. Be sure to document any interactions you have with Bureau representatives for your own files. To complete the survey on the internet, visit https://respond.census.gov/acs. Also, it can't hurt to tell your representatives. If they aren't paying my bills they don't have a need to know how much they are. My husband sent him away as we were eating. I've worn a uniform to serve my country and, apparently, most of you feel as I do. I completed the regular census and destroyed the ACS. of Justice. Do i have a Fifth amendment right not to incriminate myself? I never will. It's supposed to be confidential. Don't you think someone high up already has their * in a wringer over that? I told them they were barking up the wrong tree and they need to follow the U.S. Now they called again and wanted to ask these questions over the phone. He was shocked and said it was required by law. Therefore, if a person representing a two-person household refused to fill out any questions or simply answered nonsensically, the total fines could range from upwards of $10,000 and $50,000 for noncompliance. Then, there were just basic questions for everyone. Government entities do illegal things. I don't mind giving my name, the name of my spouse, children, ages and occupations but that is it. 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. The Rutherford Institute stands ready to defend your rights if they are violated by the government. (address, city, county, state, zip). We received the form last spring. I had never heard of such a thing. Can anyone tell me about this? Comparing the American Community Survey to the American Housing Survey. I am a 64 year old woman, living alone. A: Federal law makes it mandatory to answer all questions on the ACS. Opponents of the American Community Survey disagree with the court's findings about its constitutionality. 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. I put up with some minor harassment and then after a few weeks it stopped. It ridiculously says that the form is to help know where to put roads, schools, etc. The survey taker shows up at the residence unannounced to request that the resident comply with the survey or otherwise face potential legal repercussions. Sad, but I simply do not trust the government anymore. The Census sites say as much if you read them, something like 'well wee don't really want to fine anyone'. If it is kept under the radar, then there are not enough people screaming to make a difference. I got a call last night from the Census folks, wanting to know our birthdays. Some doubt these assurances based on the survey collection process itself. The census man came to my house eight times, two of which he sat in my driveway for a total of 50 minutes. I hope this helps. [15] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/YearBuilt.pdf. The 10-digit code appears above the address and to the right. Q: Is this an unconstitutional invasion of privacy? Can I file a harassment claim somewhere? The Census Bureau insists that personal information contained in these devices was protected by passwords and other security measures. do we have a hot water heater? I hope my great-grandkids appreciate it, too. Apparently the obnoxious butt head pounding repeatedly on my door at 10:00 AM (I work at night) was a census worker. finally he told her he would call the cops if she didn't leave. 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. and these so called representatives. Yes we find the government annoying, but we could turn things around to our advantage and make things fun. City Manager; Commissioner of the Revenue She left me with a notice of visit with her name and I suppose her personal phone number. Those . After the first couple of letters I received I started getting harassing phone calls from them. We were hired to call people who did not respond and we left messages on answering machines. 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. Poster 235 is on to something: maybe my neighborhood can get a new school, a new hospital, and a new fire station. Lock and Load. It's a breath of fresh air. Look for the Official Census Survey and Avoid Fraud - AARP lets hope this isn't all to simply mark people who do and do not comply. There were laws in place to protect those people and they were not protected. Why am I being asked for my name? You can't actually expect all of the decisions to be made accurately and take into account the needs at the consumer level based on a head county every 10 years. 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. Isn't this harassment? I am looking into who passed legislation to approve this questionnaire. Person 33. Ive requested that you respect my privacy once, in writing, in the note I returned with your survey. 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. . [28] http://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/is-my-privacy-protected.html. We didn't receive phone calls first, we had two visits at 7 p.m. from this lady with her little laptop. we filled out the form the day it came and mailed it. There is only a theoretical possibility that they could fine you. [18] Furthermore, the questionnaire also demands that recipients provide information about their family and other people in their home, such as their educational levels, how many years of school were completed,[19] what languages they speak[20] and when they last worked at a job.[21]. This summer I sold my house and tried to cancel my FEMA flood insurance. Post Office Box 7482 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. this implies you have obligations to help the government count but not to answer every intrusive question they might ask. She noticed that I was very irritated and told me that she just needs the number of people who live here and ages. I never thought at age 47 that I would ever see our country go this far the the left. Look up the original data at Pew Research. anon88369: Census enumerators have every right to walk onto your property if they are assigned to do a questionnaire for your address. If anything, they could have made it easier for us all so we wouldn't have to be in debt for years just to get an education. [22] http://www.census.gov/acs/www/about/why-we-ask-each-question/. Are you willing to roll the dice that this information will remain protected? Follow your happiness and I promise the universe will be there for you: subtle, slow, obvious or quick it will respond to your emotions. If you got grilled before then they are trying to find out the change in your situation over time. Copyright 2023 The Rutherford Institute. See Clemons v. U.S. Dep't of Commerce, 710 F. Supp. There is absolutely no possibility they can guarantee this information will not be disseminated to others or exposed to malevolent wrongdoers. Best policy is to avoid answering the door to strangers but it's difficult to do if you are outside a lot. What we have here is a violation of HIPAA. She said they don't do that. Unlike the traditional census, which is limited to a simple head count every ten years for the purpose of establishing representation in Congress, the ACS is sent on an ongoing basis to about 3 million homes every year at a reported cost of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.[2]. I don't answer the door to anyone who comes. 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. It is confined to determining the number of Representatives [in the House] and imposing direct Taxes among the several States. I don't feel they need to know all the crap they are asking. By the time the phone calls started I had researched the ACS and knew what the game was and that the threat of fines was bogus. We are so fortunate to live in this country. And the survey demands that you violate the privacy of others by supplying the names and addresses of your friends, relatives and employer. Neither one of us filled it out, nor mailed it in. I also mentioned that unless a US Marshal from the Justice Department accompanied him, I would simply ignore him and would call the police if further harassed. They just closed one of the best schools in the area, and nobody surveyed me to ask if I cared about that! Mykel. I am grateful for this siteI just got the survey in the mail and felt very intimidated into having to complete it.or else. Subscribe. I am just not going to answer any questions. I plead the 5th amendment because the government can ask legally, according to the attorneys office, but I can also remain silent legally. While some of the ACS questions may seem fairly routine, the real danger is in not knowing why the information is needed, how it will be used by the government or with whom it will be shared. She said she would mark me down as 'refused' If someone actually shows up I am going to take control of the interview and video my demand that they leave and not come back, and their response. VERIFY: Yes, the American Community Survey is legitimate - 11Alive.com Tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. They have no right to know. Who has my info now? Federal law mandates as much, but the bureau also doesn't seek to penalize individuals who fail to participate. They have all the information they need from the IRS. I have now been visited six times already. Thanks, people, for your informative and oftentimes humorous posts here. He wanted my son's name and address. Yeah right! Ha! Yet, it seems lately that these rights are being taken from the American people. The response given is not intended to create, nor does it create an ongoing duty to respond to questions. What a waste of taxpayer dollars our government is spending having these census takers harass us. its nothing short of communism folks!! May the Lord grant my fellow citizens victory in their battles with this unconstitutional invasion of privacy, too. This browser does not support PDFs. Racial/Ethnic Differences in COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among - JAMA I asked her if she had related my story to the supervisor. After reading many of the earlier posts, I feel I am doing the right thing by not returning the survey. Suggestions include "With whom did you last have a sexual encounter and when and where did this take place? But in this day and age, do you really believe by not taking the census that your personal information is more thoroughly protected? 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]. I have no idea about the ACS (or any of their personal questions). Share the creative ways you use American Community Survey data to make decisions. We will not be participating. At first I thought this was the census under another name, then as I read it I could not believe how invasive it was. I don't see what the big deal is. This ACS thing is quite detailed. (We filled out and mailed our census form as soon as we received it.) New cases and investigations, settlement deadlines, and news straight to your inbox. Standing up for my rights in L.A. Why not just give em complete BS answers. The 2019 American Community Survey counted 139.69M housing units, up 1.15M from 2018, and up 7.90M from 131.79M in 2010. 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. At 28 pages (with an additional 16-page instruction packet), the ACS contains some of the most detailed and intrusive questions ever put forth in a census questionnaire. Good-bye". I again said no. We do live in a relatively remote area, and none of them can make sense of maps they are provided with. Please give that a shot, I'll find me a constitutional lawyer and challenge the constitutionality of this law, any survey or law attached and the constitutionality of this survey as well as the census survey. I filled out my form, sent it in and a few weeks later another one came. They say they are from the U.S. Dept of Commerce. You wonder why people are reluctant to give out information. They can't take my free will. This warning is clearly stated on the ACS envelope, and the form itself threatens a fine for people who refuse or willfully neglect to complete the survey. The Rutherford Institute has received hundreds of inquiries from individuals who have received the ACS and are not comfortable sharing such private, intimate details with the government or are unsettled by the aggressive tactics utilized by Census Bureau agents seeking to compel responses to ACS questions. Then the phone calls started.