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Some Say Census Questionnaire Getting Too Personal
CBS 11 ^ | 03 Aug 2009 | Carol Cavazos

Posted on 08/05/2009 12:19:51 AM PDT by BGHater

The American Community Survey is a questionnaire that was recently sent out by the federal government. Three million Americans were asked to complete the information.

The questionnaire is much more detailed than the regular census, leaving some North Texans wondering if 'Big Brother' is acting more like a nosey neighbor.

The American Community Survey is sent to random households every year.  The information updates the census, which is given every 10 years.

But some people say the yearly survey is getting too personal.  A Richardson resident, who didn't want to be identified, just received the survey.  She says it not only wants to know if she's been married, but how many times!


The questionnaire also wants answers about where she works, how much money she makes, and what time she leaves for work each day – the hour and minute!  "I thought it was intrusive. I don't have a high regard for the federal government collecting this information anyway," the woman told CBS 11 News.  "You don't know what they're going to do with it."

Officials with the Census Bureau say the data is needed so the government will know where to build things like roads and schools.

"Why do they need to know this?  They don't, in my opinion," the woman said, before further stating that she thinks the personal questions are un-American.  "Do they really need to know if we have a mortgage and whether this house is free and clear? That's intrusive."

Don't think you can just chuck the survey or skip questions.  The Census Bureau says they'll call, and call, and call, visit you or finally fine you.  The government wants answers.

But the Richardson resident is hoping more people are offended by the questionnaire.  "If enough people are outraged then somebody will rethink this and decide it really is too intrusive," she said. 

Read the questions planned for the 2010 Census and American Community Survey.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2010; 2010census; bigbrother; census; imnotanumber; questionnaire; texas
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To: upchuck
No worries. I always have a Public Servant Questionnaire[PDF] available.
21 posted on 08/05/2009 3:44:06 AM PDT by BGHater (Insanity is voting for Republicans and expecting Conservatism.)
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To: Paleo Conservative
How many guns do you own?
Nowhere near enough.

Where do you store them??
I carry them on my person.

How much ammunition do you have??
Plenty. Maybe more.

N'kay? Buh-bye. :-)

;-/

22 posted on 08/05/2009 3:56:07 AM PDT by Gargantua ("Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people..." John Adams)
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To: BGHater
Officials with the Census Bureau say the data is needed so the government will know where to build things like roads and schools.

Except the gov't will need three to four year at the minimum to analyize the information, and then another three to four years to plan, fund, and actually build a new road or school, and by then, the initial information is obsolete and the new road becomes yet another waste of our money.

23 posted on 08/05/2009 3:58:06 AM PDT by Labyrinthos
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To: BGHater
The questionnaire is much more detailed than the regular census, leaving some North Texans wondering if 'Big Brother' is acting more like a nosey neighbor.

I remember similar concerns during the 2000 census. Is this one even more inquisitive than that one was?

24 posted on 08/05/2009 4:03:52 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: ctdonath2
a 4th Amendment defense - which I hope we’re all looking forward to exercising.

Just in case some reading your post wants a reference:

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.


25 posted on 08/05/2009 4:08:58 AM PDT by Lucky Dog
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To: MarMema

I only answer questions that are pertinent to establishing my existence and residence. I specifically do not answer any questions that pertain to race. IMHO that in and of itself is racist.

If I’m ever challenged, I’ll simply say that I cannot be made to incriminate myself.


26 posted on 08/05/2009 5:05:37 AM PDT by dools007
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To: Lucky Dog

Why the hub-bub? Fill it out incorrectly.


27 posted on 08/05/2009 5:11:05 AM PDT by 19kofcagnra70
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To: BGHater
Here's an ironic section. Why should any of us have to answer these questions?


Where was this person born?
▢ In the United States - Print name of state.

__________________________________________
▢ Outside the United States - Print name of foreign country, or Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.

__________________________________________


Is this person a citizen of the United States?
▢ Yes, born in the United States → Skip to 10A
▢ Yes, born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas.
▢ Yes, born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents.
▢ Yes, U.S. citizen by naturalization - Print year of naturalization

____________________
▢ No, not a U.S. citizen.


When did this person come to live in the United States? Print numbers in boxes.

Year _________

(I couldn't figure out how to replicate their boxes, so I just used an underline. It makes Question 9 look odd, but it's the best I could do.)

28 posted on 08/05/2009 5:16:04 AM PDT by BykrBayb (Damn the naysayers. Full speed ahead. ~ Þ)
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To: BGHater

Declaration To Make To Census Takers

“I hereby affirm that the provisions of Title 13 ``requiring’’ me to disclose my race, personal financial data, birthdate, or any other personal, private information to the Bureau of the Census, an agency of the United States government; constitutes an unreasonable, unwarranted search of my person, house, papers, and/or effects; and a governmental invasion of the sanctity of my home and the privacies of life. As such, these provisions violate the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution, and are thus wholly void and I am not bound to obey them.

I have completed the only those sections of the Census form pertaining to the Constitutionally-mandated actual enumeration, as follows:

The actual number of people living at the address printed on the form, excluding untaxed Native Americans;
Age of each person in accordance with US Const. Amendment XIV, Section 2.
Sex of each person, in accordance with US Const. Amendment XIV, Section 2.
I have thus fulfilled my obligation to the attainment of the actual enumeration of the populace of the United States.

Any fine or other sanction that is levied by any office or organization stemming from the unconstitutional provisions of Title 13 in connection with my response to this or any other Census-related questioning will be challenged in a court of law.”


29 posted on 08/05/2009 5:20:43 AM PDT by EBH (it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new Government)
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To: EBH

Thanks. I have it copied and saved for later use.


30 posted on 08/05/2009 5:27:59 AM PDT by Desdemona (True Christianity requires open hearts and open minds - not blind hatred.)
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To: BGHater

Sixty-Five Pages...sixty-five bleepin’ pages!

Heavy sigh.
Tatt


31 posted on 08/05/2009 5:29:27 AM PDT by thesearethetimes... ("Courage, is fear that has said its prayers." DorothyBernard)
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To: Desdemona; EBH

Thank you, indeed. We will definitely share it with all of our friends, and family. Thank heavens, we raised our kids to understand that they do NOT have to answer every question that is asked of them, and further, that they can inform the asker, that their personal information, is none of the questioner’s business.

Sixty-five pages...

Tatt


32 posted on 08/05/2009 5:35:11 AM PDT by thesearethetimes... ("Courage, is fear that has said its prayers." DorothyBernard)
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To: 19kofcagnra70
Why the hub-bub? Fill it out incorrectly.

Unfortunately, beyond issues of personal ethics and morals, a legal problem arises from falsifying official government documents (a census form qualifies), to wit:

US Code- Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 47, Sec 1001

Sec. 1001. - Statements or entries generally

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully -

(1) Falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;

(2) Makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or

(3) Makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry;

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both

Note: The reader must understand that this is United States code; there are different definitions and punishments for falsifying State documents.


The information required in a census is specified in the US Constitution:

US Constitution, Article I, Section 2. [excerpt] The actual Enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct…

Census questions that go beyond the purpose (enumeration for the purpose of allocating representation seats) specified in this portion of the Constitution can reasonably viewed as an unreasonable seizure of personal information.

Such is prohibited by the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution:

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.


Answer your question?
33 posted on 08/05/2009 5:36:21 AM PDT by Lucky Dog
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To: EBH

You neglected to list the “Right to Privacy”, which is in Article....uhhhh.... Section......errrr....

Well, it’s invisible, but we have it on the Highest Authority, it’s there.


34 posted on 08/05/2009 5:48:23 AM PDT by DeFault User
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To: Lucky Dog

Goes for healthcare too. They want your full - and very personal - records. Don’t comply, get fined. Don’t pay fine...


35 posted on 08/05/2009 6:06:36 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (Your opinion is doubleplusungoodthinkful. You have been reported to flag@whitehouse.gov.)
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To: BGHater
Don't think you can just chuck the survey or skip questions. The Census Bureau says they'll call, and call, and call, visit you or finally fine you. The government wants answers.

Then just make stuff up. GIGO

36 posted on 08/05/2009 6:08:47 AM PDT by whd23
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To: dools007

In 2000, we refused to answer the race question.
They called. We refused.
They sent someone out. We refused.

And I told the person that came out if I found out that she had filled in the race question by observation, I would sue her for invasion of privacy.


37 posted on 08/05/2009 6:10:59 AM PDT by MrB (Go Galt now, save Bowman for later)
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To: ctdonath2

Talk to any leftist,
and they’ll refuse to acknowledge that all gov’t
policies are enforced with a gun to the head.

They just don’t want to acknowledge that their
“common good” feelgoodism is forced on people
through the barrel of a gun.


38 posted on 08/05/2009 6:12:43 AM PDT by MrB (Go Galt now, save Bowman for later)
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To: GeronL

The Constitution directs the feds to do a head count for districting purposes.

Any information requested beyond that needs a warrant.


39 posted on 08/05/2009 6:13:10 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (Your opinion is doubleplusungoodthinkful. You have been reported to flag@whitehouse.gov.)
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To: 19kofcagnra70

Refusing to answer is one thing. Will cost you $100, but you have a Constitutional basis to refute it.

Falsification is something very different. Will cost you $500, and you have no legal recourse.


40 posted on 08/05/2009 6:15:27 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (Your opinion is doubleplusungoodthinkful. You have been reported to flag@whitehouse.gov.)
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