[fr_freak]

The Census form is short this year. You fellas need to just answer the basic questions (especially for geneological research in the future) and let these people do their jobs. Every time you make it hard, you just cause the government to spend more money with more visits, phone calls, etc.

Actually, you miss the entire point. It is not about whether the questions are too many, or too intrusive. It is about whether the federal government has the authority to compel or harass you into answering them. Even if we were to assume that the questions were entirely reasonable, we should still be free not to answer them, if we so choose. The attitude that we should cooperate with the government in all things without question is poison, regardless of how trivial the thing is.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Even if we were to assume that the questions were entirely reasonable, we should still be free not to answer them, if we so choose.

You constitutional rights argument is overidden by this from Romans 13:1 -- Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

And this -- Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same;

Romans 13:4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.

I truly understand the disgust with the present government. However, that doesn't call for rebellion against EVERY government function like I'm beginning to see. That's foolish. The way to change the country is to first change yourself. If the people in this nation will turn to God, then the government will again have a solid foundation like it used to have. The reason it is going poorly is because the people are not following God. How can one expect a person who is immoral, lies, cheats and/or steals to elect an official to office who is better than the individual? It's not going to happen. The only way around that is to become the "governing authority" and maybe you're ready to do that. I'm not.

[La Enchiladita]

Well then, you need to contact your elected representative and propose legislation that would allow more flexibility in cooperating or not with the census. Perhaps someone could devise a formula of making an “educated guess” in the absence of being provided information.