Posted on 07/21/2005 10:59:16 AM PDT by redbaiter
Two months ago a field agent from the US Census Bureau left a business card under my door, with a note requesting an interview for a survey the Bureau does on unemployment and income. The note explained the purpose of the survey and outlined the sorts of questions that would be asked (mostly income and work-related stuff). I called him back at the number provided, told him that my income was none of his business and requested that he not contact me any more.
This was not effective, and he continued to try to contact me. So I called him back again and ordered him to cease and desist. This too was ineffective, and he continues to try and contact me even now, two months later. (In the summer I am rarely home before 9PM so he has never succeeded.)
I asked around, and it turns out he has a pattern of similar behavior.
What can I do to make this guy cease and desist?
Quite right. From 2000:
No making sense of the census
The Constitution mandates a census be taken every ten years. Counting the number of people is necessary to apportion congressional representation. So all that’s really required is an accurate count of citizens be made.
Of course, that’s only if you believe in the Constitution. Few of the sophisticates in Washington do. That’s why all sorts of irrelevant questions are included in the census.
This year’s basic form demands the name, date of birth, sex, and relationship of everybody living at a residence. Keeping up with the times, “unmarried partner” is an available selection. Big Brother wants to know if you own, rent, or have a mortgage.
You have to indicate whether you’re “Spanish/Hispanic/Latino” and, if so, Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano; Puerto Rican; Cuban; or other, which you must identify.
You then have to declare your race. Options include White; Black, African American or Negro; Asian Indian; Chinese; Filipino; Japanese; Korean; Vietnamese; Native Hawaiian; Guamanian or Chamorro; Samoan; American Indian or Alaska Native; other Asian; or other Pacific Islander. If you select any of the last three, provide your tribe or race, as appropriate.
That is, as I mentioned, the short form. If 2000 isn’t your year, you’ll be one of the every six households getting the census’ long form. You’re in for a real treat. There are 46 more questions to answer.
These include marital, citizenship and veteran status, where everyone in the household lived five years ago, ancestry, and if English is spoken at home and how well everyone speaks it.
The government wants to know who has disabilities, who has a job and where they work, and who has difficulty “learning, remembering or concentrating.” How long does it take you to get to your job and what time do you leave? How many vehicles do you own? Do you carpool? If so, with how many other people?
The census folks are most interested in money. You’ll have to break down how much you get in earnings, interest, pensions, welfare, child support, alimony or anything else. How much do you pay for your mortgage or rent, electricity, insurance, property taxes and gas or oil or other fuel? If you live in a condo, what’s the monthly maintenance fee?
How much is your house worth? How many rooms does it have? Do you have a flush toilet, a refrigerator, and a telephone?
The Census Bureau estimates it’ll take about 38 minutes to complete the form. According to the bureaucrats, “It is quick and easy, and your answers are protected by law.” Now that’s reassuring. The law, too, protects FBI files and yet 900 of them ended up in the White House and, gosh darn, no one knows how.
The government’s turned out a promotional piece, “Five BIG Reasons Why You Should Fill Out Your Census Form.” None of the five BIG reasons is apportioning the House of Representatives. One, however, is: “Make Government Work for You. It’s a good way to tell our leaders who we are and what we need.”
Ah, yes, what we need. Washington will dole out an estimated $182 billion a year based on census data. So the busy bodies use that as a carrot. State and local governments encourage citizens to respond to intrusive, unnecessary questions to get their “fair share” of the pork.
Seven years ago a House appropriations subcommittee took the Census Bureau to task for doing a lousy job in 1990. The biggest complaint was there were too many questions. A report declared: “The Committee stresses that the basic purpose for a decennial census is an enumeration of the population, in accordance with the Constitution.”
Within weeks after that report was issued, the Census Bureau showed how effective it could be. It produced a listing of cities in which single men outnumber single women. Explained an agency statistician, “It’s just a basic guide for people because we get so many calls asking about this. People call because they are unhappy with where they live. They think there aren’t enough men or women – or they are unhappy with the ones who are there.”
Yet another BIG reason (in addition to the fine and harassment you’ll get if you don’t) to fill out your census form.
Census Bureau Director Kenneth Prewitt claims, “Census 2000 can be a civic event that reverses the troubling decline in the level of civic engagement across our country.” What about the troubling decline in the government’s willingness to stay out of our business?
"I'm the Census taker......Are you married or happy? NYUK NYUK NYUK......wooo-wooop-woooop-woooop"
I disagree Iggy. This information is used to social engineer society. It serves absolutely no purpose for people that have conservative principles.
Still, get on the national Do Not Call List. It only takes about a minute to enter your phone number(s) and email id. They will then sent you a confirmation email with a click to confirm link and it's all done for 5 years.
Their are a few groups exempt, politicians for example, but overall it works great, we get maybe a call a month.
Telephone marketers are required to update their list every 30 days. It matters not if it's a recording or a live person, after 30 days they can be fined for every call.
There is a big difference between believing in smaller government and believing in government as it supposedly existed in the 18th century. The later is a pipe dream as is eliminating many aspects of government that have been in existence for seventy or more years.
With all your economic credentials, did you ever hear of the Monthly Household Employment Study conducted by the Census for the Labor Department? That is what this whole thread is about, not how many toilets you have in your house. What Cracker Jack box did you get your econ degree from?
I thought I was on it. Registered again.
The Department of Labor (DOL) does manage the CPI, but the data for weighting comes from the Consumer Expenditures Survey, which is managed by the Department of Labor but is collected by Census.
Basically, if citizens need to be asked questions, Census does the pounding of the pavement. DOL doesn't have the manpower or expertise for that.
The Department of Labor (DOL) does manage the CPI, but the data for weighting comes from the Consumer Expenditures Survey, which is managed by the Department of Labor but is collected by Census.
Basically, if citizens need to be asked questions, Census does the pounding of the pavement. DOL doesn't have the manpower or expertise for that.
I agree the statute sounds ridiculous on its face. I wish you luck.
http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm
Learn something new every day. Thanks for the info.
2. I think that monetary policy should be counducted by pegging the dollar to a basket of goods.
3. I think that the fiscal and monetary authorities receive too much data, causing them to think that they are capable of reacting to it, when in fact they are not.
4. Since this is the second time that you have been unable to speak to me without including an unneccessary insult, our conversations are through. Life is too short to waste it conversing with you.
I told them there are 17 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.
All other questions were stamped in bright red (had the stamp made for this purpose): NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS!
Never heard from them again.
But its not.
3. I think that the fiscal and monetary authorities receive too much data, causing them to think that they are capable of reacting to it, when in fact they are not.
So its better for them to make decisions based on little or no information?
4. Since this is the second time that you have been unable to speak to me without including an unneccessary insult, our conversations are through. Life is too short to waste it conversing with you.
Your loss. Not mine.
Google 18 USC 1001. That's not a good idea in this case.
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