Gearing Up For the ACORN Census

Frugal Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Warehouse ^ | September 1, 2009

[2ndDivisionVet]

A fellow blogger alerted me (or actually reminded me) of the upcoming census, brought to you by ACORN. This time, it will be a 20-page form loaded with questions that have nothing to do with the census, but everything to do with learning ways to tax you: How many televisions do you own? How many computers do you own? How many cars do you own? Do you attend your local library? How many times a week do you eat fast food? What's your annual income?...and so on.

Here's how to deal with it all: give non-answers to all but questions regarding census issues.

Example: How many cars do you own?

My answer: On file with the local DMV.

What's your annual income? On file with the IRS. Do you receive Social Security? On file with the SS Admin. Do you have health insurance? On file with my employer and my doctor. How many TV's do you own? Since you can undoubtedly see one over my shoulder, I'll claim it. Do you own a cell phone? On file with the phone company.

There's supposedly a penalty (fine) for refusing to answer questions, but I'm giving answers--I'm also making them have to HUNT for the information! They already have access to the data, but don't have the time or inclination to go get it from all the different areas it's being kept. Out of privacy interests, I suggest you do the same--there's no law on earth that says you have to give this stuff to a stranger at your door just because they say they're from ACORN. We ask to see ID when other so-called "officials" want in our homes, right? If they present you with a badge, take the time to call and verify their identity and employment with ACORN, then start giving your non-answers to their questions.

This information is meant to find ways to tax us--other countries have a TV and/or telephone tax, and count on it coming here. We're already taxed at state level for phones, computers (personal property tax), cars, houses, and other things, but apparently Obama's after his cut of this revenue to help fill his coffers.

After all this, even if you incur a fine for "not answering", consider it the price of privacy. God knows what the ACORN people will do with this data before it gets to the Census Bureau--they could use it to steal your identity.

I'm going to be right there with you in the "non-answer" campaign, and I fully expect to get hit with the fine (whatever it turns out to be).

[2ndDivisionVet]

They won't say they're from ACORN, they'll have U.S. Census badges and shoulder bags. Whether they were hired in conjunction with ACORN, La Raza, the New Black Panthers or off the street, I would merely tell them "Three adults reside here" and slam the door, myself.

[chris37]

2 people live in this house.

If they require any further information, perhaps my 100 lb. German Shepherd will enlighten them.

[dalereed]

I urge everyone to answer X homosapians in residence and NOYB in red marksalot on the rest of the form!

That’s what i’ve done on the last 4 census forms and only had to thretan one of the slimey bastards with arrest for trespassing once.

[Las Vegas Dave]

I plan not to be home that day~~~ ;^)

[2ndDivisionVet]

They’ll hound you like a Drive Time bill collector, especially this go-round with the Head Nut of ACORN at the helm.

[antceecee]

3 people in my house and I take the 5th on any other questions.... as I have no idea how they may use the info to try and incriminate me for something... dirty b@sturds.

[Bad Jack Bauer]

If they require any further information, perhaps my 100 lb. German Shepherd will enlighten them.

I have an unconsolably surly, 90 pound Catahoula Leopard Dog that walks with me to the door and then stands there with this look on his face that says, "Can I bite 'em? Huh? Huh? Can I bite 'em now? Can I? Pleeeeease! Let me bite 'em!" If I even suspect the bozo is from acorn, I'll say, "Yes, bite 'em!"

[Pajamajan]

"NOYB"

Or you could use "NUNYA" (Nunya Biznass).

[personalaccts]

I saw a car in my inlaws neighborhood that read US Census and under that it had ACORN. I’ll lie, lie, lie, lie.....We’ll do the census on the curb.

[Drago]

Mostly conducted with a mailed form like last time:
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/2010_census/014018.html

The form:
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/pdf/2010_Questionnaire_Info_Copy.pdf
Wonder if we are allowed to not answer race/ethnic Q’s?? I may check ALL the race/ethnic boxes, as that is legal:
https://ask.census2010.gov/cgi-bin/askcensus2010.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=7376&p_created=1219236026&p_sid=Z9YXh_Gj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MjEsMjEmcF9wcm9kcz0mcF9jYXRzPSZwX3B2PSZwX2N2PSZwX3BhZ2U9MSZwX3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PXJhY2UgZXRobmlj&p_li=&p_topview=1

Census people will probably come by if you don’t return the form.

I have heard stuff about census workers marking homes with GPS coordinates...will have to check on that one.

[ballplayer]

I was sent the Long form during the Last Census,I threw it away ,weeks later the Census guy came to the door and I told him How Many people lived in the House and How old they were ,he then started to ask more Questions and I told him Im Not anwsering anything else and He Left.
I plan On doing the same this time

[RG3]

Living in the country where a vehicle driving up to every house and sitting outside sticks out, I can verify that they did indeed mark every house with GPS.

[JimRed]

When I got the long form last time, I filled in the number of people, ages and other first page items, tore off the front page and mailed it back.

Never heard a thing threreafter.