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American Community Survey - Mandatory Census
3/01/12 | Lady Lucky

Posted on 03/01/2012 10:48:59 AM PST by Lady Lucky

"Your response to this survey is required by law (Title 13, U.S. Code, Sections 141 and 193). Title 13, as changed by Title 18, imposes a penalty for not responding. We estimate this survey will take about 38 minutes to complete."


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: census; mandatory
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A relative of mine who values her privacy, just got this "mandatory" survey in the mail. Although it says she was picked at random, the survey demands her name and that of each member of her household. For each person it demands to know educational history, ethnic composition, where they lived a year ago (full address), what sort of health insurance they have, what hearing difficulties, what vision problems; whether they have difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions due to physical, mental or emotional condition; difficulty walking or climbing stairs; difficulty dressing or bathing; difficulty doing errands such as shopping due to physical, mental or emotional condition; marital status; complete marital history, how many spouses, when; children AND grandchildren; info on disabilities; employment info, where, when, two whole pages of work/income inquiry.

I looked up the "penalty" on internet, seems they can punish you with up to $5000 fine.

The survey is sent at random, it says, so I'm trying to find out if she can just hand it to any neighbor who'd like to have a go at it.

1 posted on 03/01/2012 10:49:05 AM PST by Lady Lucky
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To: Lady Lucky

Tell her to lie.

That way, the data won’t be any different than Holder, Obama, or any of the other felons currently infesting Washington.

Hey Obamaloon, shove it up your own very smelly Obama.

Take it out.

Shove it again.

Repeat ad infinitum.

Butthole.


2 posted on 03/01/2012 10:51:59 AM PST by Da Coyote
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To: Lady Lucky
Your friend never received this in the mail.

No, really,...your friend never received this in the mail, and she should never answer the door for anyone she does not know or expect.

3 posted on 03/01/2012 10:54:30 AM PST by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it. (plagiarized))
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To: Lady Lucky

She could pass it on to someone else who doesn’t mind aiding the fascist central planning dept. in DC. That is it’s real purpose with all those unnecessary prying questions.
They really do not prosecute and if you ignore them enough they go away and leave you alone.
She can throw the survey in the trash. They will send out a few more. After she throws them away she may get a visit or a phone call or two. She can politely send them on their way.
They haven’t bothered us since I called both of my representatives in DC and complained. I was told the answers to the questions were used to determine how “government money” is spread around. I replied that was exactly what I objected to.


4 posted on 03/01/2012 10:59:01 AM PST by Wiser now (Socialism does not eliminate poverty, it guarantees it.)
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To: Lady Lucky
I looked up the "penalty" on internet, seems they can punish you with up to $5000 fine.

Technically yes, in reality most likely not. Their have only been something like 5 people fined in the last 50 years for not returning the census and none for the community surveys portion. The reason? Well, Census Bureau is on very shaky legal ground with the Community Survey anyway, they are afraid if they start fining people that someone will challenge the constitutionality of it in court. So the most they will do for a non-response is harass you will calls, letters, and visits for a while.

(I got this information from a story somebody posted back when the census was a big issue, maybe someone will repost it?)

5 posted on 03/01/2012 10:59:14 AM PST by apillar
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To: Lady Lucky

http://www.truthistreason.net/how-to-legally-refuse-to-participate-in-the-census-survey

If I am not mistaken, they have yet to fine anyone for refusing...


6 posted on 03/01/2012 10:59:37 AM PST by EBH (God Humbles Nations, Leaders, and Peoples before He uses them for His Purpose)
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To: Lady Lucky
The survey is sent at random, it says, so I'm trying to find out if she can just hand it to any neighbor who'd like to have a go at it.

1) That doesn't work; it's based on the address.

2) They never, ever actually fine private citizens.

3) A succession of Census workers will call/visit over the next several months if it is not returned or she does not conduct the interview in person.

4) The form does not have to be completely (or even mostly) filled out to be considered partially complete, and thus satisfy the Census. All of the health info, employment, etc. stuff can be skipped. They'll never tell you what the minimum, is but it's pretty much full names and ages, and maybe 1-2 other things.

7 posted on 03/01/2012 10:59:41 AM PST by Strategerist
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To: Lady Lucky

As long as there is no return postage involved, tell your friend to mail it back to them with a big Fu%k You. Or have her mail it to me. I’ll do it.


8 posted on 03/01/2012 11:00:13 AM PST by Focault's Pendulum (If Obama was any more thin skinned, he'd have a receptacle end: Dennis Miller)
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To: Lady Lucky

http://www.freetoassemble.com/blog/cincinnatuschili/refusing-census-bureaus-american-community-survey

You might be interested to know that prior to 2009, the census bureau was part of the US commerce department. In 2009, President Obama’s chief of staff Rahm Emanuel directed that the census bureau report directly to the White House.


9 posted on 03/01/2012 11:05:28 AM PST by EBH (God Humbles Nations, Leaders, and Peoples before He uses them for His Purpose)
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To: Lady Lucky
After couple weeks of non-response they'll send you a letter and another form just in case you lost your first one. Then in the second month month they'll start calling you. After that a portion of non-respondees start getting personal visits. Then they forget about you. I don't think anyone has been prosecuted for not filing the American Community Survey (actually it is just the long form spread over ten years rather than everyone getting it at once) and the Census Bureau really doesn't want a form not dealing with distribution of House seats to have its legality tested in court.

The survey is sent at random, it says, so I'm trying to find out if she can just hand it to any neighbor who'd like to have a go at it.

Random is different from anonymous. I think any potential penalties for lying on the form or someone else filling it out are worse than ignoring it or writing NYFB! on every answer.

10 posted on 03/01/2012 11:07:03 AM PST by KarlInOhio (You only have three billion heartbeats in a lifetime.How many does the government claim as its own?)
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To: Lady Lucky
The next official census isn't due until 2020. That's one that, IMHO, all of that legalese apply to not the one that just came in.

the landfill looks to be an excellent end state for that piece of ......

11 posted on 03/01/2012 11:21:18 AM PST by Nip (TANSTAAFL and BOHICA)
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To: Lady Lucky

Nobody has ever been fined for ignoring the census. They don’t want it tested in court.

Just be persistent when ignoring them. :)


12 posted on 03/01/2012 11:28:18 AM PST by Politicalmom (Lazamataz for president!! NO MORE RINOS!!)
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To: Navy Patriot
No, really,...your friend never received this in the mail, and she should never answer the door for anyone she does not know or expect.

Good idea. In fact the survey was sent to an obsolete mailing address that is no longer the street address of her house. Post office had her change it a few years back due to some obscure zoning issue, I believe. So she can make a case that she didn't receive it. Even the 9-digit zip code is wrong.

13 posted on 03/01/2012 11:30:30 AM PST by Lady Lucky (Gingrich 2012: Open Throttle for America)
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To: Da Coyote
Tell her to lie.

That would be my favored method. There are questions there for as many as five residents, and she lives alone. Just make stuff up. I would think as long as "Person 1" admits to difficulties concentrating and remembering, the rest is immaterial. She can give herself four Harvey rabbit roommates and an ex named Napoleon XIV.

14 posted on 03/01/2012 11:35:47 AM PST by Lady Lucky (Gingrich 2012: Open Throttle for America)
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To: Wiser now
she may get a visit or a phone call or two.

I better check and see if the survey has gun ownership questions on it! Or pit bull ownership. :)

15 posted on 03/01/2012 11:40:13 AM PST by Lady Lucky (Gingrich 2012: Open Throttle for America)
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To: Lady Lucky

Between the 2000 and 2010 census I received a mid-decade census and threw it out. They called a couple times and I told them I never received it. The resent it and I threw it out. Supposedly they were going to come visit me if I didn’t comply, but they never did.

After I failed to fully complete the official 2010 long census form (I only answered how many people lived at our address) I was visited by an official census worker on a sunny Saturday afternoon. He wanted me to answer all the questions and I told him there were only 2 questions I’d answer - the address is correct & the number of people at that address...PERIOD. He smiled and tried to get more info out of me, but then thanked me for my time when he realized he was wasting his time. I was polite to him and respectful towards the job he was paid to do, and he in turn was respectful of me not answering. HOWEVER, I heard of repeat visits, etc. from other people. I researched it and they have never fined anyone for non-compliance with their “mandatory” B.S.


16 posted on 03/01/2012 11:41:29 AM PST by my4kidsdad
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To: Politicalmom

I just read online somewhere, that 45% don’t respond. That’s a lot! Imagine if the gubmint DID fine almost half of everybody they mailed that thing to — $5k each. Ka-ching!


17 posted on 03/01/2012 11:43:56 AM PST by Lady Lucky (Gingrich 2012: Open Throttle for America)
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To: Lady Lucky

Now you’re giving me ideas. Return the survey left blank except for the notation “Pitbull on premises”.


18 posted on 03/01/2012 11:58:02 AM PST by Wiser now (Socialism does not eliminate poverty, it guarantees it.)
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To: my4kidsdad

I received 4 in-person follow-up visits because I only provided address and number of residents. Always the same woman, always on a Sunday afternoon.

She kept coming back, alway preceeding the converstation with “I know you don’t want to answer, but sometimes miracles happen.” I told her I knew she was only doing her job, but that I resented my tax dollars being wasted for her visits when I’ve already made my position clear. She’d just smile and nod.

On her 4th visit, I didn’t let her say anything. I opened the door, told her to get off my property, and closed the door in her face. She never came back.


19 posted on 03/01/2012 11:58:10 AM PST by ConservativeWarrior (Fall down 7 times, stand up 8. - Japanese proverb)
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To: Wiser now
Now you’re giving me ideas. Return the survey left blank except for the notation “Pitbull on premises”.

Census workers can request police escort.

20 posted on 03/01/2012 12:13:19 PM PST by Strategerist
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