I am grateful for this siteI just got the survey in the mail and felt very intimidated into having to complete it.or else. confinement or community-based facilities or staff. In order to do that people response is required. Official websites use .gov do we have a hot water heater? I feel like that in itself is an invasion of my privacy. Do you have a debit card, credit card, a loan, a job, own a house, a car, driver's license? The 2019 American Community Survey counted 139.69M housing units, up 1.15M from 2018, and up 7.90M from 131.79M in 2010. From what I've read online about the operation methods of the Census Bureau staff that won't have any chance of avoiding a phone call "Computer Aided Telephone Interview" But I'm hoping that by telling them every time that their OMB# is expired it will shorten my interview process somewhat. That this money is funding from the government, which makes it socialism. Q: What kind of questions are contained in the ACS? I told him "We're done here". 1. It's just like a bunch of whiners. And I did so right away. Decennial Census. Explain that their responses will constitute consent to display the video online. For instance, the ACS asks about the acreage of your property and any agricultural sales from the property,[7] your ancestry,[8] your citizenship status,[9] your daily commute (including when your leave home and how long it takes to get to work),[10] the computing devices you own,[11] the fertility of women in the household,[12] the fuel used to heat your house,[13] the number of rooms in your house,[14] and the year in which your house was built. I see no reason to comply. Whose damn business is it if I own my house and whether I have a mortgage? If every household in the nation received this survey at once, there might be more of any outcry and uproar for our government to cut out the nonsense or face a revolution! Person 18a. They can have my age, race, sex and opinion about corruption in government. However, we will make it quite clear we will accept the risk and continue to take this stand. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (8-27-2019) SURVEY OF SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION, 2018. Look up the original data at Pew Research. (ACS question number 33). It is my constitutional right to privacy. It also asked for the full names, DOB, SS# of all person including children. The Founding Fathers wanted the power to stay with the people - but it took a revolution to secure it. Constitutional Q&A: American Community Survey - Rutherford EXCLUDE State operated juvenile residential facilities. You get the picture. He asked if I would consent to a phone survey and I could decline from answering any questions I thought were too personal or intrusive. Thank goodness for this web site. Unfortunately, the guy probably already knew the answers to some of the questions. Empowered by Congress with greater powers to amass information about citizens, the Census Bureau introduced the ACS in 2005. Tell me, if you were in charge of managing a company and you asked your staff for information so you could make an important decision and they could not answer any questions, how long do you think it would be before a major problem arose? I threw them off my property. I'm glad they didn't refuse to answer such personal questions as name and age. I do believe that the census information is mostly kept private though after a period of years or decades, it may become public. "Popcorn? Although they have a mandate and articles and codes under the US code, this is all for the census not the ACS. We randomly sample addresses in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Get class action lawsuit news sent to your inbox sign up for ClassAction.orgs free weekly newsletterhere. Thank God I'm not the only one questioning the Constitutionality of this blatant invasion of personal privacy. At the moment, I am pretty furious with the current political band of thieves and third world dictators "wannabes" in power. One week later, we got two more phone calls in one night because I hung up on the caller and he called back 20 minutes later. So, I tore off the page with my address on it and shredded it, and then I tossed the rest of the survey into the garbage. --JAS. But I can promise I'll promptly feed it to my hungry paper shredder. [31] https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/survey-is-mandatory.html. While talking to the ACS lady on the phone I found out they didn't have a complete address and had sent me a form. It is simply nobodys business. Perhaps the people who did not answer the questions do not want to end up like the Japanese Americans did during World War II when the census was used to track them down, and it took 50 years to find out about it! I told this supervisor that no one came by my home. Thus, if they want a specific task force to track illegals and tax invading americans, then so be it. We change so quickly now compared to 40-50 years ago. the Supreme Court's decisions over the years has established that the rights to privacy is a basic human right, and as such is protected by virtue of the 9th amendment. Instead, you are encouraged to call one of the Census Bureau's two telephone centers directly to determine the legitimacy of the call you just received: Jeffersonville, IN: 1-800-523-3205. I won't either. When I said I would not be probed by his questions from the government and continued by saying that I meant no disrespect to him; however, I hate what the government is trying to do to us he responded. They had been to my house (outside) and told me this was coming. Are they too dense to realize that word just means "to count?". Without the enjoyment of this right, all others would lose half their value. [The bracketed words added for clarification], Interstate Commerce Commission v. Brimson, 154 U.S. 447, 479 (May 26, 1894). We aren't answering these questions for anyone unless they show up and arrest me and a judge makes me do it in court. we filled out the form the day it came and mailed it. The virus was not developed as a biological weapon, and it probably wasn't genetically engineered. Well I received my census, and it had questions that i refused to answer, which under the requirements should not have been on it. I've been harassed by phone at night and Sundays. I said yes for about the third time and hung up. So I did not send it back. Then I'll find a place to post it and tweet it to my 350+ followers. When I returned home he was scared and thought he did something wrong. If he shows up, he'll get the same response (or none at all). Access American Community Survey data on the Census Bureau's new platform, data.census.gov. Get your head out of the clouds and step into reality. (Don't worry there are no cops or former cops that are census workers. Don't get mad because many of us don't want to fill out the form. We didn't receive phone calls first, we had two visits at 7 p.m. from this lady with her little laptop. Where did they get the data? Dr. Richard Pan is an innovative, dynamic, mission-driven health care leader with over thirty-five years of experience in health policy and public health as pediatrician, educator and legislator. I am currently working for the Census as an enumerator. And how do they fine/prosecute a person if "answers" cannot be used in court or obtained by law enforcement? 10 minutes ago I felt apprehensive. Report Inappropriate Content However, because the government has not brought a prosecution for a refusal to respond to the ACS, the question of a persons right to refuse has not yet been decided by a court. We had mailed the form back the day after we received it. Would you believe they just called again? Apr 15 -- The Census Bureau invites comments to OMB by May 16, 2022 on the three-year extension of the American Community Survey and the Puerto Rico Community Survey. Also, it can't hurt to tell your representatives. If a person of the same sex comes to your door, act like you're interested in them and start touching their hair. There's comfort in knowing I'm not alone! 0607-810 expired on 05/31/2008. But, (knock on wood again) no visits ever occurred (yet that is). Why am I being asked what my age and birthdate are? For these reasons and likely more, the ACS has been said to be unanswered by about 45% of its recipients. And then I get this BS from a government agency? Yet, it seems lately that these rights are being taken from the American people. I will not answer and/or return this form in spite of threats of fine, imprisonment or court appearance regardless of where the threat comes from. I received by first survey in early December and a second one just three weeks later. Comparing the American Community Survey and the Population Estimates Program (February 17, 2021) Coordinator: Welcome and thank you for standing by. I'll see "YOU" on the tube."You Tube". About one month later I received a phone call from a supervisor. When you are counted, it helps to decide the number of representatives a state can get, as well as determining federal funding for schools and hospitals. Another concern raised by the Brookings Institute is the use of ACS information by law enforcement for crime mapping, a surveillance tool used to predict crime and preemptively target certain neighborhoods for policing. If, as you say, all of this info can be found online already, then get it online, without my help. I see on the accompanying letter that the destination of the form was intended to be the address only and not a particular person. Any thoughts? Of course I would expect them to correct this oversight in the near future. so i will protect myself and my privacy and never give in just for the fact its my right!!!!!!!!! But I hit the brakes big time when they ask for your birthdate, among other garbage of race, sex, etc. Similarly, the plaintiffs contest that nothing in the federal code allows for a fine for refusal to answer the American Community Survey to be considered a criminal offense. People, what is so terrible about giving out the number of people who live in your household? Shame on you! Since when has the Federal government come to my door or anyone elses and said "We want to help you get your road paved" or any other helpful act, and then asked me for my help by filling out a form to prove the necessity? I ordered him to leave and he said he would have to go get the sheriff and return. So glad I found this site. This is how those rich people are rich, those "powerful" people are "powerful", and those happy people are happy. The agent asked about receiving the survey and I informed him that mailed addressed to "resident" was not the responsibility of any named occupant to open but I was also familiar with the unconstitutional intrusion of the personal questions in such a survey and the corporate partners with which the data is shared. How am I supposed to know who these people are? VERIFY: Yes, the American Community Survey is legitimate - 11Alive.com According to the Census Bureau, it randomly selects 3.5 million households each year as targets of the ACS. Then we find out she is our next-door neighbor! My high school son came home and read the questions and his first response was "this is communist." of Justice. Census workers are trying to do a decent job like everyone should try to do. There are two of us living here. this person got in the building somehow! Matthew J. Holian, "Data and the American Dream: Contemporary Social It's sent out to about 3.5 million households. Anyone else with other info/advice is politely requested to add their two cents. The survey also asks how many bedrooms and bathrooms you have in your house, along with the fuel used to heat your home, the cost of electricity, what type of mortgage you have and monthly mortgage payments, property taxes and so on. That's a load of crap. I filled in only the number of adults and children and wrote a note on the form that this was the only information I would provide. It is so obvious that the same person keeps responding over and over here. So before you go crying about your rights being violated, try actually reading the document that has given you these rights. He claimed he'd be back. I started to take the survey and the more I saw the more upset I got. Now the latest. There is absolutely no possibility they can guarantee this information will not be disseminated to others or exposed to malevolent wrongdoers. During dinner a census worker shows up. The funny part is the local grocery store has this job post up. How many times has this person been married? Thank you, fellow Americans! We were hired to call people who did not respond and we left messages on answering machines. ACS has only been going since 2005. An official website of the United States government . This person has stopped to "chat" with the neighbors, asking who lives in our home, how many people, what their names are, what our schedules are. I've heard rumors that they will send their people to relentlessly pound on my door for answers, and then start canvassing the neighborhood to find the answers to the questions that were on my form, about me. Some citizens believe that city planning should be carried out through the collection of anonymous, aggregate information. I have no problem with telling folks how many people, even our ages and nationalities. My caller id usually reads 'unavailable' or 'out of area'. The last time that happened was more than 40 YEARS ago. anon77096: Why would anybody want federal funding for anything? Government entities do illegal things. Too late I read the comments about this article and I got a phone call from the ACS. This crap has been going on for almost a month now! [It does not appear that Census is proposing any changes to the ACS instrument.] I was truthful in all 10 short form answers. I heard I had to answer the questions or face a possible fine of $5000.00 so I answered the questions. an American History (Eric Foner) Civil Liberties and Rights. I want to know how long these temp workers are going to be employed? Fact Sheet Aug 25, 2021 Fact Sheet: Protecting and Advancing Health Care for Transgender Adult Communities New data and analysis reveal important health disparities and barriers to care for. PDF The American Community Survey 2020 Questionnaire - Census.gov He wanted my son's name and address. I just sent the supervisor who knocked on my door packing! I can go on the internet and find more about you then anything the census is looking for. So far no challenges to our door visitors. But obviously they want to know everything about you. Now.I look forward to answering that door, cell in hand, and pressing the "video record" button. what the hell??? The other info that the ACS wants can be obtained from other Departments. [29] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/Name.pdf. "The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing survey that provides vital information on a yearly basis about our nation and its people. No one from the Census has ever e-mailed you - they don't have e-mail and even if they did, they don't have yours. And it is supposed to be maintained private otherwise the census worker can go to prison or be fined or both. If I have 1, 2 or even 3 people in my house, that is all I need to give. they started harassing my boyfriend and some how i got thrown into it because i live here. so earlier before i got home he called me and told me his story of her showing up. I would like to recommend an alternative method of dealing with "census workers" who show up at your door to harass you for information. These questions clearly violate any privacy guaranteed to me by the US Constitution and over step the Census Bureaus authority. Well, for all who are posting to this blog saying it is our civic duty, that its just a few questions on the census, that we should just go ahead and answer the questions, let me say this: this is not a census. A third "live" call, and I told the caller again that I'd sent it (the Census) in and that I would report this call as harassment. [14] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/StructureRooms.pdf. You fill it out and keep it moving- we don't want to. Moreover, Title 13 of the U.S. Code allows for monetary penalties only when the ACS's inquiries are within the scope of questions included in the complete census, and only if the Secretary has Just open the door, answer their questions, and they will forget about you and your insignificant existence for another 10 years. Information from the survey generates data that help determine how more than $675 billion in federal and state funds are dis Continue Reading MA Pennell This country will see a revolution of the people one day, hopefully sooner than later. They left me a message to call them back and referred me to a case number. AND ACTING AS COLLECTION AGENT. In support of this argument, the defendants submitted an assertion from ACS chief Donna Dailey, who assured that the Census Bureau does not threaten non-responding addresses with the enforcement of fines or with referral to [the Department of Justice] for prosecution. Dailey added that [i]n the history of the ACS, no one has ever been prosecuted for failing to respond to the survey, and that no one has ever been referred to the DOJ for prosecution, nor has the DOJ ever prosecuted someone, for failing to respond, the order shares. What? He gave his name and the number of people living here and refused to answer anything else. Since the threats appear to completely empty then at this point the consequences are null and void. Smile. For this census at least and I assume for the 2010 Census the initial person that will come to your house, if you did not fill out the form, is just a normal citizen with a temporary job as an "enumerator". Do I Have to Respond to the ACS? - United States Now Their job is to get the form completed, that is all. I hope my great-grandkids appreciate it, too. Moreover, the survey of about 100 questions asks about private health information and how much in taxes and utility bills a household pays, and even about how many beds, cars, and washing machines the household has, the complaint relays. The census collectors or enumerators can ask for some sensitive and detailed information, such as salary or income. Great. Then they came to my door while I was out of town and left me a note with their name and number. The census cannot ask or get your social security number in any way and you can supply any name you want. And a law without consequences is no law at all. Tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. Who are these people and why are they telling me I am obligated by law to provide my personal information to some one or some entity I don't know. US Census, American Community Survey data collection: Beneficial, or One fact I see missing is that they say you are cheating you state and city out of government funds (our tax dollars). The latest thing they are doing is having the postal carrier come to my door and have me sign a delivery confirmation. The percentage of household income spent on rent plus utilities increased from 2019 to 2021 and renters with the lowest annual income saw the largest spikes. What do you really think they use the information for? The American Community Survey releases new data every year, in the form of estimates, in a variety of tables, tools, and analytical reports. The court agreed with the defendants contention that courts have consistently considered unripe for review cases wherein there was no specific threat of enforcement or history of prosecution under the relevant statutes.. The highly sensitive personal information provided on the ACS form gets keyed into a master data bank. IE: IRS, DOT, Labor and Industry. We are entitled to "Quiet Enjoyment" of our homes. I filled out the Census form this year and still, someone came to our door. "; "What is your favorite color on Thursday afternoons between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m.? 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., The power to make laws concerning the Census is restricted to the actual enumeration.. No one from the Census has ever said they would come back with the sheriff - the sheriff would simply laugh at them if they ever asked. Then why am I being asked what my race is? You can search the internet and find many references to threats of a fine, but you won't find anyone who has ever been fined. If they want more personal financial information, then I suggest they get it from the IRS. The census man came to my house eight times, two of which he sat in my driveway for a total of 50 minutes.