Help for Survey Participants. On the first occasion, the guy produced a badge and said he would like to come in and talk to me. You can find no instance of someone being 'required' to respond, or being fined for not doing so. My blood pressure is through the roof right now after reading this survey. I bet some of the people who are so desperate for food and necessities in other countries would love to change places with you and they would probably be thrilled to answer a few questions. If you have other privacy questions about a communication you received from Medallia, please contact the company on whose behalf Medallia contacted you. Data from the American Community Survey is available but only the information regarding current marital status is included in the data files. I, too, have been harassed by the Census Bureau. They DO go away. Continued refusal may lead to additional visits by a supervisor. Then I received the ACS. This site provides answers about our surveys and who to contact for more information. One of the three enumerators did canvass my neighbors and got hold of one of them, who tried to call me and advised the census people were looking for me (I did not return the voicemail). Has anyone ever been fined or penalized for not complying? At the time of the survey . 241, 250, of all the rights of the citizen, few are of greater importance or more essential to his peace and happiness than the right of personal security, and that involves, not merely protection of his person from assault, but exemption of his private affairs, books, and papers from inspection and scrutiny of others. I have no problem filling out the main census form but not this BS. Why the hell should I tell the government all this business about me? Please show me where the US Census Bureau was given the right to fine you or even where they are mentioned in these laws? What the hell was someone on Obama's team thinking about? I assume she was a supervisor. mandatory. 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! If there are any lawyers out there, we would like you thoughts -- non-attribution of course. Lumoa. We do not have to fear picking up the phone or answering our door. Never give any phone numbers (tell them you don't have a phone and your employer forbids giving out the company cellular phone number). We had mailed the form back the day after we received it. I immediately informed him that on the advice of counsel I was refusing the survey. As a result, Congressional districts will need to be redrawn. Are they too dense to realize that word just means "to count?". I have not opened or returned them. If it gets to the point where they actually come to your house, the "enumerator" is going to tell you it's too late to give your answers to the Survey in writing, and he'll insist (threaten) that you must tell him the personal details of your life while he types it into his laptop computer. Publication of the new marital data is anticipated in late 2009. A truly honest, upright government does not hire goons and bullies to do any work for them. Explore census data with visualizations and view tutorials. If you read and listen to them carefully they actually say that it's mandatory and you could be fined. 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. So be it. Avoiding them will not really be possible since we have a houseful of teenagers who will most likely keep answering the door. Is there anything I can do about this? BTW my survey went into the guinea pig cage, it will come out the same it went in: crap. 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. Suggestions include "With whom did you last have a sexual encounter and when and where did this take place? Fine, sue me, I dare you, but stop holding me hostage in my home. To verify that someone who has texted you is a Census Bureau field representative, you can enter their name in the Census Bureau Staff Search, a database that lists name and contact information for all Census Bureau employees. Shame it's only once every ten years. Life is too short to be so mad about insignificant things. To support any of this is not like killing, it is killing your neighbor, your dog, your wife, your kids and your kids' kids - maybe slowly and with pretty lights and shiny trinkets, but it is. I just hope one of them won't be on my 'case.'. 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. If threatened with a fine or even prison, I will say, "Bring it on!" The only thing is, I lied my butt off! I'm sorry you feel the need to spread such fear and lies. The second visit, I handed him a sealed census envelope, and he came back and left a note that the computer kicked it out. Over a college survey they want me to take. Then I asked the census taker her birth date, and I again got no answer. I looked the form up online and balked at the intrusiveness of the question. Thank you for answering, I am grateful for this site, but hesitant to put email addy, or other info about me. The notices must describe in general terms the bank's information sharing practices. The present state of affairs is a direct result of our collective ignorance. The government is doing nothing wrong! And if they threaten you, video record all of this exchange. "For the Boise market, people don't necessarily move here for the best home prices, they move here because of the way of life: family values, safety, adventure and freedoms are a few of the reasons people have migrated . 10 minutes ago I felt apprehensive. No way was I going to submit that kind of info. I don't see what the big deal is. I completed the survey. He has trouble with all these things. There's no excuse for making a living out of trying to intimidate American citizens and using lies about the law to create a threatening and harassing atmosphere on one's own private property. You are not the property of business or governments you are continually the result of your feelings. D. oes anyone understand what is involved in managing 300 million people spread out over an entire continent, each thinking all that matters is their individual needs? I want to know how long these temp workers are going to be employed? The census taker left a note me a note today. I got a call last night from the Census folks, wanting to know our birthdays. Click here to learn about phishing and other scams. Then, there were just basic questions for everyone. This is what made me so suspicious. my wife and I pay our taxes and feel if that's not enough for our government, then "Too bad Charlie". One dear government lady actually said she did not have time for prank phone calls. I'm too old and sick. The census collectors or enumerators can ask for some sensitive and detailed information, such as salary or income. Now, do we all agree that harassing people is against the law??! 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. 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. It felt so good. During the past year and especially with the current administration in D.C., I am so angry and distrustful of our government. People, look around you and see. As a retired LEO, state law keeps all my info private, unless court ordered. Someone brought up a good point, either here or on another forum. I ripped it up and threw it away. Daily calls (five or six) two invasive questionnaires mailed, and now intimidating and threatening phone calls. He presented me with an ACS envelope and said a "government guy" had come to school and was having random students fill them out. Emails from the Census Bureau will have instructions or information to complete a survey online, by phone with a Census Bureau representative, or by paper. I do not think I should have to give out that kind of information. If that thing were to get lost or some person where I mailed it, there's a lot of things that I don't want them to have. The bad thing is, this is information that is collected by the government. 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. I don't believe the ACS should, or has the right, to require more. I am standing firm this time. Your household or business may be selected to participate in a survey. Maybe they should change the name of the survey to "American Communist Survey". My husband and I run a small trucking company, and we received a census form for the business. The next day I saw this guy talking to my neighbor and figured he was submitting him to the same harassment I had received. The field representative will present an ID badge that includes: They will have an official bag and Census Bureau-issued electronic device, such as a laptop or smartphone, bearing the Census Bureau logo. Well it started for me. This was mailed to me approximately three months ago. These tabulations are used to determine how many representatives each state has in Congress. Sure, businessmen could use the info -- but because someone wants it, doesn't mean that I have to give it. There are even amendments to the amendments. I have received two forms, and have no intention of responding. so the census workers who say, "if you haven't done anything wrong, just answer," well, people who are doing wrong things don't care about america -- they work for the government. However, the ACS wants to know what time my husband and I leave for work each day, our employer's address, our work location address (if different from our employer's) and if we commute via car, carpool or public transportation. This also happened the last time. If Big Brother wants to bring the law so be it. The American Community Survey is part of the decennial census, and replaces the census "long form" that previously was sent to a percentage of households once every 10 years. "; "How many times a day do you fantasize about blowing up a federal building? What the hell are you mad about? How will my information be protected? If you would like to broadcast your personal information, go for it. A week later, the same worker showed up and said it was my last chance or I could be fined and possibly jailed. Poster 188. For location-based community surveys, you need to narrow your focus to a small region, for example, Austin, Texas. Fight the power. It is SBO-1 (Survey for Business Owner and Self Employed) and states that it is mandatory per Title 13 USC. That's all it is. A final note to those of you who are, or consider yourself Republicans: ACS after initial testing, "went national" in 2004. 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. In the case of direct taxes (a direct tax is a tax on property based on ownership), this provision requires Congress to apportion the tax among the individual States based on population. Objections to the ACS include the personal nature of some of its questions and, despite government assurances to the contrary, associated confidentiality issues. 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. OK then, so why waste my time asking questions? If you wish to independently confirm that the person at your door is a Census Bureau field representatives conducting a household survey = you can enter their name in the Census Bureausstaff searchwebsite, or contact theRegional Officefor your state. I then hung up. Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). I have the kind of front door that has a small window near the top and if people stand on their toes they can peek into my living room. 4) If they do not agree to answer any personal questions, assume the Hannibal Lecter voice and say "Tut, tut, tut. Let's see how much they like it. How come I get the ACS? 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. The employees of the Nazi Gestapo and Brownshirts said the same thing. With enough people, we can make a change. I am not giving my personal information out to anyone authorized by this government. I told this supervisor that no one came by my home. It's an invasion of privacy. But, on a positive note, we were all meant for happiness - it is our purpose. Then the phone calls started. I received the ACS a few months ago, did some research and never filled it out. That's the truth. Its as if this part of the government wants to create dirt on someone if they can find it! What Percent of the US Population do Teachers Comprise? I walked over to my neighbors later that evening and they told me that she did not come by to see them, but she was very persistent about getting the birth dates, ages, place of employment, phone numbers. And, further, we cannot wire tap calls coming into this country from suspected terrorists, but we can create bogus laws to try to make us fill out the ACS which provides more personal information than any wire tap could on american citizens. i feel like a jew in germany when these goons come knocking. Or are they? Don't get mad because many of us don't want to fill out the form. Now I find out he has been to my place of employment looking for me. I hope this helps. I am so glad to see I am not alone in not wanting to fill out this survey. No one I have talked to since I received this survey has known anything about it. 6 The typical opt out activist is a highly educated, white, married, politically liberal parent whose children attend public school and whose household median income is well above the national average. It is widely known that in a five-year span the Bureau lost at least 672 laptops. Tell me, if you were in charge of managing a company and you asked your staff for information so you could make an important decision and they could not answer any questions, how long do you think it would be before a major problem arose? The Census Bureau may follow up with you regarding the information you provided. Participants were 77% female and . I told him that on the advice of my attorney I had shredded the form. 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." 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. Stonewall them out. P.S. I am a patriot. (Don't worry there are no cops or former cops that are census workers. If a person of the same sex comes to your door, act like you're interested in them and start touching their hair. Your address or business cannot be substituted with another. I will fill it out and send it back to Census Bureau but I won't feel good about it. My husband and daughter fielded a few of them and honestly told the workers they didn't have the information or the form so they'd have to try to catch me. Well, I wonder what he's thinking now. Person 30. I like the idea of video taping them and guess I will charge up the old video camera. How can I verify that an in-person interviewer is a Census Bureau employee? If Americans wish to be free of judicial tyranny, they must at least develop basic knowledge of the judicial role in our republican government. These vermin can pound sand. The census man came to my house eight times, two of which he sat in my driveway for a total of 50 minutes. Thank you to this site and to all those who have posted comments about the survey. A sympathizer to the Census said it was to help the government to function. In a climate of identity theft, unscrupulous banking practices, private interest( I mean industry) running the Federal Reserve, Private "credit" companies like experian controlling human potential by keeping track of every citizen and their spending (and why would they care if they get your credit report wrong because just who is their client - not you, it's "businesses"). To anon89810: I am all for taking action against them. ), so did my 80 year old mother in another state. anon82113: umm, I worked for the census too. For our government to function basic knowledge about the country as a whole, and individual states is required. I don't owe the government anything for going to college. They have to get past the doorman first. If it was a problem, she then had my phone number; it wasn't blocked. so no more. Then why am I being asked what my race is? I did this and then disposed of the form. 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. 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. The calls stopped and no one ever visited. Don't be rude to the people who are sent out to your house because you think you're too "special" to answer your census. Bunch of grumpy anti social loners. She stated that her supervisor sent her back out. What things do we never ask for? Should all of us contact our local media so that everyone knows about ACS? When approached by census officials I will state that my religious beliefs prohibit giving any information beyond my name and the number of people in my house. Here are some ways you can verify an individual is a Census Bureau employee: For Census Bureau surveys, Census Bureau field representatives report to one of six Regional Offices across the country. For the first time in the 25-year history of AmCham China's business sentiment survey, a majority of responding companies said China is no longer seen as a "top three investment priority". 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. 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. 1. I say, "I don't care who you are. I propose: 1) Grabbing your video recorder and recording the entire exchange. And you just know that if I answer a survey about college, they will just send me another next year and keep tracking me. We do not live in 1930's Germany but you sure can't tell by reading the questions on this form. About how much do you think this house and lot, apartment, or mobile home would sell for if it were for sale? Perhaps the people who did not answer the questions do not want to end up like the Japanese Americans did during World War II when the census was used to track them down, and it took 50 years to find out about it! I hope my great-grandkids appreciate it, too. And finally, to the person who looked up the Census rep's name then mentioned her husband had called and wanted her to stop at the store so she looked at him in shock? You fill it out and keep it moving- we don't want to. Since then, they have called three or four times and stopped by multiple times. He was asking questions about me and my wife! finally he told her he would call the cops if she didn't leave. We said in Boyd v. U.S., 116 U. S. 616, 630, 6 Sup. Understand that they already have a lot of this info on your tax returns. He came by every hour starting at 6 Thursday. I am glad I am not the only one who tossed the thing in the garbage. The biggest, the American Community Survey (ACS), is sent annually to more than 3.5 million randomly selected homes to gather population, economic, housing and other data that helps determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in state and federal money is distributed. Well I received my census, and it had questions that i refused to answer, which under the requirements should not have been on it. 8) Stop embezzling trillions of tax payers dollars for fraudulent purposes. He asked if I was refusing to answer the survey. Who are these people and why are they telling me I am obligated by law to provide my personal information to some one or some entity I don't know. If they are unable to reach you, they may leave a message with a case ID associated with your survey. I don't know why someone said the country is going too far to left. The most aggressive "ally" nation caught spying on the United States is Israel. Different people call at all hours and they block the name and number. I told them there is a problem if they are not getting their mail. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. They can't take my free will. Not to mention the ethnic origin of any person on a questionnaire is profiling a house. Commission, 32 Fed. Get over yourselves! This is just crap. To learn more about the legal authority for a particular survey, you can search the Census Bureaus list of surveys. I guess I now have a 20 percent chance of getting a Census visitor next. I can go on the internet and find more about you then anything the census is looking for. How long it . It then adds insult and temerity by threatening me for noncompliance? I am only a man, a man who believes in his liberties and will stand against this government crap! That alone, in the wrong hands; is reason NOT to respond to such a blatant abuse of power. How am I supposed to know who these people are? We need to take a stand and not put up with all the socialist crap the government wants us to do. She informed me if I did not answer her questions, eventually the county sheriff would come. However, the severity of the challenge varies by state and community. I am a nurse, taxpaying honest citizen and I will not be forced into answering these obscene questions! Thank you, fellow Americans! They are so proud to be counted among the blessed. While we understand your assertion that this information is needed for some reason deemed important by somebody, and that the information requested will be kept strictly confidential, I respectfully decline to participate in this American Community Survey, and request that you do not misdirect further efforts to gather this private information about the members of my household from either myself or any other source. Good-bye". I needed to read this! Sometimes we do follow-up when we have incomplete responses to a survey, or if we have no response, at all. On average, they would prefer to do so half of the time. I filled out the form only giving the required information by law and that is how many people live here. This is a bunch of crap. The ACS replaced the old census long form and the questions have absolutely nothing to with apportioning direct taxes or determining the number of representatives in the House of Representatives. 3. 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. In addition to conducting the decennial census count, the Census Bureau oversees many surveys that are generally completed in-person, by mail, online, or by telephone. Well, it's just arrived in the form of a mail packet that asks volumes of personal, none of your business information. Other articles have slanted this to be a case of "men marrying into money. The Current Population Survey and National Crime Victimization Survey are examples of surveys that include multiple interviews over a period of time. By a Census Bureau field representative who provided you with a letter or brochure. The Census Bureau states on their website that failure to complete the survey is unlikely to result in such a fine, however. The Census Bureau does surveys by mail, over the phone, in person, online or some combination of these. 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