Posted on 09/03/2014 6:05:13 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER
It was just about dark, I was at the kitchen table when the dog barked, headlights were coming up my driveway. I went outside to see who it was...he was a stranger.
He announced that he was from the Census Bureau and wondered if this was a good time for a 40 minute interview. He proceeded to tell me all about the Census, how it established demographical statistics and how I was required by law to answer the questions.
I told him two people live here and we are American Citizens, and that I would tell him nothing more. He said he doesn't make the rules, the politicians do, and the Census isn't political. I replied that is was and asked him why it was now being run by the White House...he denied it.
He claimed all information is "confidential" I said, just ask the NSA, they already know everything about me, have you heard about the NSA scandal? (No.) I said, all information with the IRS is supposed to be confidential, and they are sharing it with political organizations. He said "I don't work for the IRS." I told him, "I don't care, people don't trust the federal government."
Then he told me it's all about money, and we print the money that everyone uses. I said, it is the medium of exchange, but we could use gold just as well. And it's none of your business.
He repeated that it's required by law that I answer the questions. I asked, what is going to happen am I going to jail if I don't? He said; "No, this isn't criminal, it's civil."
I asked, so you are going to file a civil suit against me if I don't comply? He said, "I didn't say that." I asked, "Well just what are you saying?"
He said, "It could cost you money" and that's all I can say." I said, "Who told you that? By what authority can you violate my right to privacy and fine me if I don't comply?" He replied, "It's federal law."
I said, "Do you know what the Constitution does?" He answered, "It authorizes the census." I told him, "It limits what the federal government can and can't do, and it doesn't say you can come on my property and cross examine me."
He said, "I work for you."
I was wild..."I've told you all I'm going to tell you, and if you claim you work for me, I'm telling you we're done." and pointed towards the road.
He left. The whole ordeal took about 30 minutes.
Has anyone here had a similar experience with a tenacious census taker? I'd say don't engage them in the yard, and for God's sake don't let them in the house.
You did fine...
The law however is exactly as he stated. You are by law, supposed to comply with the survey. They usually try to do it by mail, I have a few of them that I never replied to and would have handled it in exactly the same way as you did.
However, the law has no teeth. It has no enforcement mechanism for a penalty, unless they decide to do it by executive order...which would add another constitutional violation to Obama’s growing list.
I have one, but he's everybody's friend. I really enjoyed our red Dobie, I should get another one.
What's black and tan and looks good on a democrat?
They do do this, but I don’t think anyone is doing it now. The census is every ten years and it was over 6 years ago.
I don’t know what kind of place you live in, but if it’s small enough you might want to call your local law enforcement, the guy might be using this as a ruse to get in to people’s homes.
He might just have argued with you, instead of leaving right away, in order to seem legit to you.
The next person might not be so “uncooperative” and they could end up with a bigger problem.
LOL
Love your poster.
Very effective.
(Now why did I think of you before I scrolled down to see who posted that, hehe.)
Thanks...and probably because I’m so infamous?
:D
[I’m thinking of making one showing two Dobes playing tug of war with a body]
LOL
IF this just happened recently-—it might be a total scam.
The CENSUS is taken only every 10 years—on the tens-—2000—2010-—2020-—etc/.
Did you get any real ID from this creep???
I foiled the last census taker who came on my property by speaking Russian. If the census bureau had sent out a Russian speaker, I would have sent out my wife who speaks Chinese. Husband-wife tagteams work well.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++==
Well done. Thanks!
“No Trespassing”
“Beware of Dogs””
Those who survive the dogs will be shot.
Fair enough. But there are scammers, too.
I worked the 1980 Census too! I called transient locations to get the population on a given day. One of the less stressful jobs.
LOLOLOLOL!!! {^) I bet they got about 50,000 other census forms just like yours!!! {^)
I got the long form in 2000. I filled out the number of people living in the house & wrote D O Y D B on all the rest of the pages.. and sent it back.
None Of Your Damn Business
I got another form with a nasty gram. I still have it. Never sent it back. F’em. I have gates for a reason.
Sounds like a fraud. There are no census takers now. They will mail the ACS survey, but no one will come to your house.
During your 30-minute conversation with the “census taker”, I hope to God that you didn’t give him your Social Security number. If you did, then you may be totally screwed. That and your name are all “they” need to steal your identity and clean you out.
The actual Census occurs every 10 years however that is not all the census folks do. There are other surveys that they do monthly where they ask different questions to a random group of addresses. Doesn’t make any difference who lives at that address. These addresses are assigned to people who work for the Census on a permanent part time basis and do this one week each month. The addresses used change every 6 months and a new sampling of addresses are assigned.
There was one instance that a home owner hassled the Census person and brought out a gun. That is when the Census person called the Sheriffs office who sent a deputy out who explained the situation to the home owner. It is a Federal offense to hassle a Federal employee (Census employee) with a firearm or anything else.
Yes this happened to me in 2013. I live in a small remote mountain town in Colorado. Multiple mailings, harassing phone calls and visits and my house stocked by a federal employee. In the end I never complied and he was as combative and rude as I was, which of course escalated. That was a year ago, I haven’t been audited by the IRS yet, and that SOB left with his tail between his legs and understanding that I will have him arrested for trespass and harassment and stocking my daughters and that was the last I heard of him.
Details may escape me, but IIRC summary points are:
- The Constitution authorizes a census, hence you are obligated to participate.
- The Constitution’s census is a mere headcount, nothing more.
- For practical purposes, that headcount may sensibly be associated with an address.
- To wit: you are obligated to answer how many people live at your address at the date of the census (temporaries included, it’s a total headcount at a given time). As it is related to voting, and voting has an age restriction, it’s also reasonable to differentiate between count of adults and children.
- No other questions match the Constitutional purpose.
- Answers to any other questions are public information. If anything is allegedly “privacy protected by law”, remember that a stroke of a pen can make it public - and can then be used against you.
- 5th Amendment: right to silence. You don’t know how this information may be used against you.
- 4th Amendment: if they want that information, they can get a search warrant.
- Some information can be gathered just by observation. By showing up at your house, they can pigeonhole your race, age range, and other observables & inferences.
After the last census, a counter parked on the side of the road at my house waiting for me to come home. He tried to pry more info out of me, but I stated (in an agitated tone, as a complete stranger was attempting to invade my privacy under color of law) that I had answered the questions required by the Constitution. He got the point and left immediately.
The fact that this guy managed to talk to you for HALF AN HOUR does not bode well. I’d have restated “I have answered the questions required by the Constitution, now get off my property” and called 911 within half a minute. At best the guy isn’t there to debate, he’s there to gather info he has no right to; at worst, he’s casing your house or building a legal case against you (”anything you say can and will be used against you...”).
At worst, they can fine you $100 (or is it $500 now?). That’s a manageable amount; $10-50/yr for privacy is worth it. I’ve never heard of anyone actually being fined. If I’m chosen for such punishment, I’ll consult a lawyer and (most likely) pay the fine (to avoid other cumulative legal problems _and_ to establish standing & damages) and proceed to sue for rights violations and compensation for damages.
The census, per the Constitution, is necessary for establishing an orderly process of voting (drawing precincts, assigning representatives, etc.). The number of toilets in my home, the racial characteristics of residents, and my income bracket do NOT contribute to that Constitutionally established process. Insofar as that information is assuredly “protected and private”, remember that census data was used (IIRC) to round up Japanese-Americans in WWII for involuntary and extra-judicial incarceration in internment camps ... and that a whole lotta celebrities just found out how “protected and private” their computer-stored private data (pictures) were.
Of course, refusing to answer is, itself, categorical data which can and will be used against you. Lose-lose.
Not, "I wife for you."
I like the similar one marked “I can get to the fence in 3 seconds. Can you?”
Sounds like it!
I was the one who tested/hired/fired.
Office job with occasional forays in the western MD hinterlands to find warm bodies to replace those who quit when the obligatory “earnestly seeking work” requirement was satisfied and they could go back on unemployment or welfare.
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