Posted on 07/30/2005 2:00:35 PM PDT by Indy Pendance
THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
Article. I. Section. 2. Clause 3:
The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.
On the envelope:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Jeffersonville, IN 47132-0001
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Penalty for Private Use $300
ACS-46(2003) (1-2004)
The American Community Survey
Form Enclosed
YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW
Dear Resident:
I recently sent a letter to your household about the American Community Survey. Enclosed is a questionnaire and mail it back as soon as possible in the postage-paid envelope.
This survey collects critical up-to-date information used to meet the needs of communities across the United States. For example, the results from this survey are used to decide where new schools, hospitals and fire stations are needed. This information also helps communities plan for the kinds of emergency situations that might affect you and your neighbors, such as floods and other natural disasters.
The U.S. Census Bureau chose your address, not you personally, as part of a randomly selected sample. You are required by U.S. law to respond to this survey. The Census Bureau is required by U.S. law to keep your answers confidential. The enclosed brochure answers frequently asked questions about the survey.
If you need help filling out the questionnaire, please use the enclosed guide or call our toll-free number (1-800-354-7271).
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Charles Louis Kincannon
Director, U.S. Census Bureau
Enclosures.
Frequently asked questions:
What is the American Community Survey?
Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a census. During Census 2000, the population of the United States was counted, and additional information was collected to describe the characteristics of the Nations population and housing.
The next census in 2010 will count the population, while the American Community Survey collects the information about population and housing characteristics throughout the decade. Based on the American Community Survey, the Census Bureau can provide data about our rapidly changing country more often than every 10 years.
Why dont you use the information I provided on my Census 2000 questionnaire?
We need your response even if you completed a Census 2000 questionnaire, because the characteristics of your household may have changed since Census 2000. As we move further away from 2000, information provided in Census 2000 becomes outdated.
How do I benefit by answering the American Community Survey?
The American Community Survey provides up-to-date information for the Nation, states, cities, counties, metropolitan areas, and communities. By responding to the American community Survey questionnaire, you are helping your community to establish goals, identify problems and solutions, and measure the performance of programs.
Communities need data about the well-being of children, families, and the elderly to provide services to them. The data also are used to decide where to locate new highways, schools, hospitals, and community centers; to show a large corporation that a town has the workforce the company needs, and in many other ways.
Do I have to answer the questions on the American Community Survey?
Yes, your response to this survey is required by law (Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 193). Title 13, as changed by Title 18, imposes a penalty for not responding. The survey is approved by the Office of Management and Budget. We estimate this survey will take about 38 minutes to complete.
How will the Census Bureau use the information that I provide?
The Census Bureau can us the information you provide to statistical purposes only and cannot publish or release information that would identify you and your household. Your information will be used in combination with information from other households to produce data for your community. Similar data will be produced for communities across the United States.
We may combine your answers with information that you gave to other agencies to enhance the statistical uses of these data. This information will be given the same protections as your survey information. Based on the information that you provide, you may be asked to participate in other Census Bureau surveys that are voluntary.
Will the Census Bureau keep my information confidential?
Yes. All of the information the Census Bureau collects from this survey about you and your household is confidential by law (Tot;e 13, United States Code, Section 9). By law, every Census Bureau employee-including the Director as well as every field representative-has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term, a fine, or both if he or she discloses ANY information that could identify you or your household.
Where can I find more information about the American Community Survey or get assistance?
You may visit our Web site www.census.gov/acs/www, or call 1-800-354-7271 if you need assistance or more information.
This is a 12 page booklet describing how to fill out the form. It is similar to a tax preparation booklet.
You guys have it all wrong...if you want on the gravy train, you need to answer to get the federal hand-outs--personally, I just became a disabled gay black Muslim woman on public assistance the moved here from Mexico to have a baby in an American Hospital that has been repeatedly subject to sexual harassment by 32 year old white guys at my former place of work, who cannot now get a job because of massive corporate downsizing and whose ancesters were slaves thrown over the side of the ships leaving trails in the Atlantic that the sharks still follow looking for food...(do I get the money yet?)
A profile like that INCREASES the financial gains and defense programs for these disabled gay black Muslim women! You need to become ex military, white and retired, not able to afford food or medicines.
Why are we re-electing sissies who can't fight?
Education, said Aristotle, is the only way to make a constitution work as intended.
i received the long form and just filled out the number of residence... and a short while later a friendly volunteer showed up on my porch to help me fill it out... i said i did... she said do you own your house? i said three people live here now get off my porch or you will meet the forth resident... my dog.
teeman
so far 5 years without a fine... though we moved recently... and i am not opposed to posting human in the race category... did it on my federal gun form and the dealer changed it... i asked why and he said the feds don't have a sense of humor...
ovbiously he never read the way the feds interpret the constitution...
teeman
Not only no, but HELL no...
It's profoundly disturbing to me that they think they are entitled to this information. They have NO right to this informatino about my family, PERIOD.
I wonder what would happen if I didn't know the answer to all those questions? What would happen if I just answered with a question mark to all the questions, or "N/A" or "unknown"? Would I be prosecuted because I don't really know the answers to all their prying questions?
i received the long form and just filled out the number of residence... and a short while later a friendly volunteer showed up on my porch to help me fill it out... i said i did... she said do you own your house? i said three people live here now get off my porch or you will meet the forth resident... my dog.
teeman
so far 5 years without a fine... though we moved recently... and i am not opposed to posting human in the race category... did it on my federal gun form and the dealer changed it... i asked why and he said the feds don't have a sense of humor...
ovbiously he never read the way the feds interpret the constitution...
teeman
Can I wipe my butt with it before I send it back? I can leave a big stain right where that indoor plumbing question is . . .
Throw it in the trash. If the government contacts you or sends someone to your house, tell them that you have a problem with stolen mail. If they don't hand you one, and mail another one. Repeat. There is no way to prove otherwise.
Bump to find again.
What a bunch of HOOEY!!!!
GPS can enable electronic evesdropping on your phone, can filter out satellite tv and cellular phone service from entering the co-ordinants, block internet access, shut off your electricity, smack you with missiles........ You raise a good point.
All these great electronic ideas are beneficial to mankind but only when used with good intent. Putting that ability into the wrong hands could make the iron curtain seem transparent.
What a wonderful world we are entering!
What if you just respond by writing "Up Yours, Bureau-Rat!" on the paper and mailing it back, taped to a brick?
BTTT!!!!
"...businesses will be better able to identify likely markets for their products and services..."
That's all that I had to read to fully understand why this survey is required by "law."
The "fix is in" for special interest.
"whose ancesters were slaves thrown over the side of the ships leaving trails in the Atlantic"
Ummm...I have a question for anyone who claims their ancestors were thrown over the side of slave ships...
(/sense of humor)
Right...this would be a wonderful opportunity to throw the statistics....just think.... a 4 bedroom home with 25 people of caucasian persuasion living together...etc. etc. etc.
I was hasty in urging the recipient to shred this intrusive piece of busybody mail. We should have a contest to find the most ... creative ... way to comply with the law. I like the idea of completing it in crayon, complete with stick-figure drawings, dog poop stains, and a return envelope stuffed full of coupons for adult escort services. The first two become especially poignant when they read the questionnaire and discover that there are no children or pets in the household, except for Algernon the Mouse.
The second letter was a little more pointed. It said that if they didn't get it back a person was liable to call on me personally.
Regarding the ACLU, they probably require proof of DIMocratic voter registration.
Under what law is your address required to comply?
You know liberals are only too happy to fill these things out. They looooove to tell people all about themselves, as well as their opinions.
Same reasons they talk to pollsters, while we conservatives tell them to get out of our faces. I figure that is why the exit polls were so skewed.
pollster; "Who did you vote for?"
liberal; "I voted for Kerry because he is such a wonderful hero. And he's not evil. And he can speak French!"
conservative; "None of your business."
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