Census American Community Survey … Did you get a letter?

1-20-22

[nuconvert]

Just wondering how many others were sent a letter to respond to this? I got one after the previous census also.

Wish they'd take me off their list.

[fruser1]

That used to be the “long form” of the census, given to a sample of the overall census population. I forget the rate, maybe 1 in a 20 or something. They ask a lot more questions in that than is in the regular census.

[Valpal1]

Sure it is and they won’t prosecute you because they don’t want to test the legitimacy of their bureaucratic regulations in court.

Answer all the questions writing “I am uncomfortable answering” in all the free choice space.

They even came to my house to get their bloody answers and left without them. You don’t have to answer their questions any more than you have to talk to the police.

[kiryandil]

“It’s okay to tell them no or ask to be removed from their list.”

nuconvert wrote: Here’s what the letter & the envelope it comes in says: “ YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW”

Right. The minute you engage, you'll probably become "a project".

A friend of mine asked for some advice that he didn't want to hear about this. He thought that he had the right to protest, and tell them where to get off [faithful Blue Dog Democrat, union guy, hard worker, flag-waver].

I told him that's not how it works.  

The Democrat union guys in my area are real entertaining. They vote Dem because that's all they've ever known. But they're also freedom-first guys, Muh Rights, and 'Merika.

I like to disabuse them of their very mistaken notions.

[kiryandil]

Answer all the questions writing “I am uncomfortable answering” in all the free choice space.

Actually, good advice.

They even came to my house to get their bloody answers and left without them. You don’t have to answer their questions any more than you have to talk to the police.

You got a neophyte. My supervisors were good, and they'd been at it for decades.

You just don't want to get made into "a project".

[Valpal1]

I’m old and bored, so I make a great project ;)

[DaiHuy]

I got a knock on the door by a census taker, the conversation went something like this.

opening door, “What do you need?”
Census taker “ I am with the Census Bureau I need to ask you some questions.”
Me: “go away”
Census taker: Sir you are required to answer my questions for the census since we don’t have your form”
Me: No one in this house wants to talk to anyone from the government.”
Census Taker: Sir you are required....
Me: Get off my porch” door slams.

[nuconvert]

It’s intrusive. They want to know how much you pay monthly for gas & elec. bills, annual water & sewage bills, mortgage, homeowners Ins, how many cars you own, what your house is worth,... Most intrusive is where your income comes from and how much from each source.

[Valpal1]

Pretty sure my “neophyte” just filled in her best guesses after she left.

Been a very long time since our household got the big survey. Maybe it’s random chance.

[kiryandil]

   

  

[kiryandil]

Pretty sure my “neophyte” just filled in her best guesses after she left.

Possible.

The grizzled vets pride themselves on getting the interview.

[Noumenon]

My response has always been, “Two people live in this house.”

[Afterguard]

Pretty much everything I get from the Feds goes straight thru the shredder. I would definitely recommend shredding anything from the census at this point in time. They’ve had their day...

[fruser1]

Yes, it is. The data is generally used by analysts in various organizations. You can probably search around to see how older sets have been used.

Up to you if you want to toss it or not. Only real personal advantage I would see is that after many decades it becomes public and perhaps if you have future descendants looking into genealogy, they’d have more info on you that they might appreciate. I’ve looked into old census stuff for my family and haven’t found anyone that filled out long forms.

If you’re worried about being in trouble for tossing it, don’t. Just remember burden of proof is on accuser. They would have to prove they had it delivered to you, so unless you signed a certified mail receipt, it could’ve “wound up at your neighbor’s house”.

[SisterK]

No one in this house wants to talk to anyone from the government

LOL

I have never participated in the census in my adult life.

[usconservative]

Throw it away. They can’t prove you received it.

[outofsalt]

5 minutes of funny! https://cdn.dbolical.com/cache/videos/members/1/522/521765/encode_mp4/snl-christopher-walken-census-skit.mp4

[cyclotic]

Please get off my porch or I’ll report you as a trespasser.

[nuconvert]

That was funny. Thanks. Would have been funnier if Walken had memorized his lines.

[Jacquerie]

I haven’t participated in a census since 1990.

They sent me an ACS some years ago. Didn’t answer that either.

[algore]

I have gotten these ACS surveys

they will harass the crap out of you if you let them, and your neighbors too.

1st time I answered what I thought was relevant, but since it was not complete they sent people to my house, called me many times, and asked my neighbors about me for about a year.

2nd time I got one of these I refused altogether.

I printed out copies and gave them to all my neighbors while explaining that I refused to answer, and apologized in advance if G-people were to ever knock on their door.

I had to make several leave my property, because fortunately if you tell them to leave and they do not they can be charged with trespassing.

strobe flashlights in their eyes made them whine.