So, the American Community Survey has nothing to do with the U.S. Census which is required by the Constitution. It serves other purposes, most likely associated with how the Federal Government distributes money to state and local governments.
Has anyone ever been prosecuted for refusing to participate in the American Community Survey? If so, how did the courts rule? I answered all 10 questions on my census form and returned the form to the government. There was no question on the form that the government could not already answer with information that they already have, except to confirm that my wife and I were living at the address on the form on 1 April 2010.
Tahnks for posting this — I saw many people have questions about the ACS.
Here is what I posted on Jan 24th of this year (I got the ACS survey):
Recently completed the census “long form” (ACS) that includes demographic information. Sent it in.
Received this evening a call from someone saying they are from the Census and they are calling to verify information on the form.
I told the heavily accented mexican woman calling that I will not discuss personal information over the phone, that if they want to verify information they can do so by coming by my address and speaking to me directly.
She insisted I speak with her. I declined. She then said she can provide me a telephone number to call to verify she is with the census.
I said, no thanks, you could have easily set-up an “toll-free” number and again, I do not discuss personal information on the phone. I refused the number, as well, because I did not want to hunt for a pen and paper. It is Sunday evening, for goodness sake.
She said she was going to enter into my file that I am not cooperative and hung up.
These people, who the heck are they? Besides, it was clear from her accent that English was a second language to her.
(As a side-note, last year I was a victim of attempted identity theft and am very protective about my personal information.)
FOLLOW-UP:
About 2-weeks later I received another call, this time from some woman claiming to be from the Census. I told her I don’t talk personal stuff over the phone and she said she has three ways I can confirm she is who she says she is. I said, no way, it is your responsibility to prove to me who you are. It is NOT my responsibility to prove who you are, and if you really are with the Census, you have my address and drop by and we will chat.
Nothing heard. . . . .
What is Person 1’s age and what is Person 1’s date of birth? I actually answered in years based on Mercury's orbit. They give you three boxes for your numbers, so I used them.
Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin? Yes, another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin – Print origin, for example, Argentinean, Colombian, Dominican, Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, Spaniard, and so on. "América del Norte"
Race? "HUMAN" (as on the Census)
Has this person given birth to any children in the past 12 months? "Yes" (I helped deliver a baby for a total stranger who didn't make it to the hospital) - a fun answer since I'm a guy.
What is this person’s ancestry or ethnic origin? "Mixed ancestry, 50% male, and 50% female."
Does this person speak a language other than English at home? "Yes - Greek, Aramaic" (Hey, I talk to myself when I'm studying, so it's true.)
How many separate rooms are in this house, apartment, or mobile home? "one" They're all part of the same structure, so they are not separate.
Does this house, apartment, or mobile home have –
a. hot and cold running water? "NO" (they're not running at the moment)
b. a flush toilet? "NO" we have more than one.
Which FUEL is used MOST for heating this house, apartment, or mobile home? "No fuel used" (since the heat runs a lot less than half the time)
Let’s not scare people off of answering the census. It is stupid. What Michelle Bachmann did was dumb, and she should have corrected it. Reports say many conservatives are avoiding the census because of paranoid and inaccurate information. BIG mistake. Rest assured illegals and leftist groups are filling out census forms with gusto to increase their representation and therefore the amount of largesse handed to them.
I'd like to know where in the Constitution is says they can so this.
I got one of these POS early last fall. Talk about intrusive! Download this sucker and look at the questions it asks.
I got the broadest tipped marker I could find and "filled out" the form and mailed it in.
Several week later they called me and said the form had not been received. Asked if they could ask me the questions over the phone. NO! I explained that I had received the form, filled it out, mailed it back and that my involvement had ended. Never heard back from them.
It would be a cold day in hell before I filled one out. There is nothing they could do to make me do it. They would have to kill me first. As far as the regular form, I told them 2 people live here and to get the hell off my property before I called the sheriff and let the dogs out.
This is hogwash.
The multiple possible legal reasons for this are discussed in my post, Census 2010 and the Law.
Free Republic is very careful about misleading headlines. Please correct this one by removing the word "mandatory" - the American Community Survey is NOT legally mandatory, according to the specifications of the Title 13 Census Code.
Thanks.