Some Say Census Questionnaire Getting Too Personal

CBS 11 ^ | 03 Aug 2009 | Carol Cavazos

[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.

[mewzilla]

I wonder what would happen if millions of Americans refused to co-operate with the census, giving no info other than the number of people living in the household....

[Tijeras_Slim]

Q: Are you classified as human?

A: Negative, I am a meat popsicle.

[dfwgator]

Tell you what, I’ll make them a deal. When Obama releases his birth certificate, I’ll tell them everything they want to know.

[Lucky Dog]

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

Unfortunately, the grounds for refusal to provide this type of information are less sound than refusal to provide extraneous information to a census data accumulator.

The validity of having to provide this information depends upon who is asking and for what purpose. If a citizen is accepting health care, then the providers and financiers of such care are entitled to such information on the grounds that such may materially influence the quality and/or cost of such care.

Herein lies one of the major problems with Obamacare. The government should have no role in healthcare beyond establishing standards for the licensing and/or professional competency certification of health care professionals and institutions, epidemiology, counter biological warfare and certification of the safety of medications.

[ctdonath2]

If a citizen is accepting health care

Clarification: you don't have a choice. If you DON'T "have health care" (whatever that ends up meaning) compliant with gov't standards (including opening your records to the feds), you get FINED. You simply don't have an option, and punishment isn't a valid option.

[Lucky Dog]

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.

You will find below, the Constitutional basis for what is commonly called the right to privacy. Federal courts have expanded the right beyond the scope established in our founding document. Nonetheless, this amendment establishes a privacy boundary beyond which the government is prohibited from intruding without a probable cause for suspicion of wrong-doing.

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.

[Lucky Dog]

...you don't have a choice...

You always have a choice... including, but not limited to, emigration.

However, as I noted in the past, as long as "free elections" remain, then Americans are not forced to permanently accept any federal program. There may be a temporary requirement to comply, but such requirement need last only as long as it takes American voters to change representation.

If the American voters refuse to elect those who would reverse any onerous, government infringement upon their freedoms and sensibilities, then the first option I mentioned above remains. Unfortunately, I cannot really think of any other country to which I wish to emigrate. Therefore, I am constrained to working to change the representation present in our republic that would impose such an onerous requirement upon Americans.

[ctdonath2]

Yeesh, if you get abstract enough then sure you always have a choice. You can always just “check out”.

Point is that under Obamacare, if you want to live here, your choice is either open up your private records (the ones long shielded under “doctor-patient privilege”) or be fined - an outright violation of the 4th Amendment.

[upchuck]

Wow. That is awesome. The next time I get pulled over, ya reckon I could insist the police officer fill out that form first, before writing me a ticket?

[dools007]

What was the census taker’s response to your threat?

I suspect you would be unable to sue unless the government let you sue.

I wonder what they would do if I said I was “black-irish-American. I would bet money the idiots would not know what I was talking about and put me down as being black.

Only because I would not want one more black than counted than actually exists would I not do that.

[EBH]

Nope, I didn't miss it...you did. LOL. ;)

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.

[MrB]

It was a hollow threat.

She just walked away, looked at me, and wrote something on her clipboard. I’m sure she filled in the “race” slot by “observation”.

[CaliforniaCon]

Re: “I got this once. I threw it away. When they called I told them I wasn’t filling it out. It took about 2 calls from a supervisor before they let me alone.

I never answer more than how many people live in the house on any census form.”

*************

I have not received any sort of census questionnaire since the eighties. Whatsa matter, don’t they like me?

[DeFault User]

Today, legalized abortion is the law of the land because the Supreme Court decided in 1973 that its recently created constitutional right to privacy also included a new constitutional right to abortion. If you look in the Constitution, however, you will find no general “right to privacy” any more than you will find a right to abortion — and for good reason: It’s not there. The framers assumed no general right to privacy because, to state the obvious, criminal and evil acts can be committed in privacy. Criminal codes are full of such examples — from murder to incest to rape and other crimes.

Mark R. Levin

[Lucky Dog]

Please refer to post number 46.

[AuntB]

FYI...the census...

http://www.kxmb.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=416062
The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com

CENSUS 2010-MALDEF MALDEF begins Census education project for Latinos CHICAGO (AP) A Latino legal advocacy group hopes to quell suspicions about sharing personal information with the government in an awareness campaign about the 2010 Census.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund in Chicago starts their education efforts in 11 Midwest states today.

A spokeswoman says it’s crucial minorities are accurately counted, but there’s mistrust of government officials, especially among some immigrants who worry the information will be used to enforce immigration laws.

Forms asking questions on race, age and gender are mailed to each household next February and March. The forms don’t ask about immigration status.

The states involved in the program are Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.

[leilani]

Wow! You were lucky. I got snagged by this ACS deal too, and like others here I was appalled at how extensively probing & personally intrusive the questions were - frightened, in fact & I'm not usually too spooked by that sort of thing.

I kept ignoring it, but a census thug kept coming back every couple of days & calling me every night, and I eventually learned there would be a hefty fine if I didn't fill it out. I finally consented to complete it, but I 'answered' most of the questions by either scribbling illegibly, marking it 'refuse to answer' or filling in nonsensical responses.

I figure I can always claim I was having an acid flashback when I filled it out, if O's ACORN thugs drag me into court for daring to defy our Supreme Leader's divine authority. Hey, maybe the Americans with Disabilities Act wasn't such a bad idea after all?

Anyway, I never heard from them again, but then I also moved from that residence.

[Redbob]

You don’t want to answer?

Then don’t answer: the only thing you’re legally required to tell the census is the number and ages of the residents of your home.

[SUSSA]

They came to the house several times but after the first time I never answered the door if I didn’t know the person I saw through the peep hole.

The supervisor threatened to fine me and I said I’d refuse to pay and do jail time instead. It was after I told her that twice I never heard from them again.

I knew it was an empty threat. I planned to demand a jury trial and to go line by line through their form and why I objected for the jury and the press. I figured at worst I’d get a hung jury in the first trial. Plus even if they did prosecute me,and convict me, I figured I’d get on radio talk shows and maybe get a book deal. I looked at it as a win-win situation for me.

[dools007]

Unlike you, MrB, no one followed up so I’ve not been tested yet.

I wonder how they pick follow-ups? I live on a barrier island in NJ in one of the more upscale communities. They probably made an assumpution based on that. However, this past five years or so there have been a number of black families who’ve bought homes here. The assumption is no longer valid, but that will not impede our racist census takers.

By the way I’m retired military and my wife retired from retailing. Neither of us enjoy inherited wealth to be able to move here. We managed our money reasonably well over the years. And, we took advantage of the market at the time and they seller was under some duress to move on.

Sadly, it is no longer possible to live in NJ on a fixed income. We are trying to move, but cannot sell our house. Frankly, I don’t see the situation changing much as long as The Marxist Onada and his gang of thugs are in the WH.