Have You Received an "American Community Survey"? (Census)

9/16/13 | Self

[Haiku Guy]

Another FReeper indicated that he had received the American Community Survey, which is the 28-page extended survey from the Census Bureau that asks all kinds of invasive questions about income, health, living arrangements, etc.

I had also received the American Community Survey some time ago. I did not return it, and I have not heard from the Census Bureau since.

In the thread, it seemed like a number of FReepers have received this survey, which got me to thinking... Is it possible that the Census Bureau is targeting folks like FReepers, collecting data for political purposes?

A few years ago, I would not have believed it. Now, after the NSA and IRS scandals, I am beginning to wonder.

So, how about it. Have you gotten this survey? If so, what did you do with it? Did you fill it out, or did you roundfile it? Let's see if we can generate some data.

If FReepers have been targeted disproportionately with this survey, it would be a big deal. Hugh and Series. I'm talking Shower Time, big time.

[sergeantdave]

I never answer these census things. If they come around, I speak Russian to them.

[laplata]

Do they know if you “Freep” and where you live?

---

Yes and yes.

[Haiku Guy]

This is an unscientific survey for sure, because I think you've counted me three times.

You're right! Back to Seven. Sorry.

[Ouderkirk]

I figure if the government goon wants some of this information they can spend a week observing my house from down the street.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

It is NOT designed to target conservatives or Tea Partiers, since it's been around longer than TeaParties.

So have IRS audits.

Does not mean they can be used to target conservatives.

[steve86]

Do you have to respond to the ACS? Yes.

Bureaucrat talking, not constitutional authority.

[Haiku Guy]

It is NOT designed to target conservatives or Tea Partiers, since it's been around longer than TeaParties.

I would agree that initially the survey was, apparently, a randomly target effort to gather data. To my mind, it is wrongheaded, because that information is none of the government's business, either in the specific or the abstract, but that's just me.

The question is, has the selection methodology been changed to target more surveys to active opponents to the current administration, specifically, FReepers. If so, that would represent a huge problem.

[B4Ranch]

Tell them you charge $50 per hour to fill out forms.

[fwdude]

"Responding to the American Community Survey (ACS) is about helping national, tribal, state and local officials make informed decisions with timely and accurate data."

A free market can do that 100x better - and quicker.

[Haiku Guy]

Tell them you charge $50 per hour to fill out forms.

I like it!

[Haiku Guy]

"Responding to the American Community Survey (ACS) is about helping national, tribal, state and local officials make informed decisions with timely and accurate data."

They're just going to give all the money to their cronies, anyway... Why do they need data to do that?

[KrisKrinkle]

“Do they know if you “Freep” and where you live ?”

I get mail, so somebody knows where I live.

They probably know KrisKrinkle “Freeps”. Whether or not they’ve connected my screen name with me, I don’t know.

They may have the appropriate data in the files to make the connection, but I don’t know that they have bothered or why they would have bothered to pick on me out of the probably millions they could chose to pick on.

[Doug Loss]

Hmmmm. I threw mine away unopened, and haven’t responded to any follow-up mailings. I thought it was just luck-o-the-draw, but now I wonder...

[Haiku Guy]

Kieran Healey - Using Metadata to Find Paul Revere

[Haiku Guy]

Eight

[kitchen]

I do not recall receiving "American Community Survey", and if I had, I would not be disposed to speak of it at this time.

[maxwellsmart_agent]

I did! I sent them a letter stating that I filled in the 10 year census. I said I was not going to fill it out. I got a letter from the census, a lady who was quite surly. She stated that I was required by law to fill it out, and that they would prosecute the issue if I didn’t. I trashed the letter along with the census. I’m waiting now about three years. Just ignore it!

[Haiku Guy]

Nine

[arthurus]

I got the survey quite some time ago. I did not send it back. The law is that you have to answer the questions and send it back. The reality is that the Census Bureau wil not contest it because they do not want it to be adjudicated. Most folks send it back and going to court to force a noncomplier to comply would make it publicly known that there is no penalty and compliance would decline substantially.

[Haiku Guy]

Ten