We have received 2 ACS long forms and multiple phone calls and now a front door visit. The rest I will leave blank or make up. They came to my door at all hours. Wow! It has been done since 1790, and is mandated by the Constitution. I am appalled by the questions asked on the ACS! It's an invasion of privacy. Matthew J. Holian, "Data and the American Dream: Contemporary Social Controversies and the American Community Survey" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2021) (Podcast Episode) Movies, TV, Celebs, and more. I assumed I did it wrong, so I filled out the second one and sent that in. It's those times that make the job really enjoyable because I share their pride. We need to ban together and not cave in on this. Oh, the reason he came back? The ACS is a legitimate survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, which is part of the Department of Commerce. Census employees never ask for social security numbers or full financial disclosure. I am getting bothered by the census people now and what really annoys me to death is that I look all over the place and see all these people with basement apartments making tons of money off the books. Housing 16. Wow. Nothing illegal about that! Is there anything I can do about this? It also asked for the full names, DOB, SS# of all person including children. don't let this happen! I'm so glad I'm not alone. Bunch of grumpy anti social loners. So, basically, he screwed the taxpayers because he keeps a log of minutes and gets paid for the time. I was hot and told her I have her number and I will call when I'm ready. so the census workers who say, "if you haven't done anything wrong, just answer," well, people who are doing wrong things don't care about america -- they work for the government. Got angry and physical with me (not a lot, just a shove as I tried to take back the Public Servant Questionnaire he wouldn't fill out.). I am 66 years old and I have never participated in any census. I threw it away. That's all it is. NO ONE EVER GETS IN TROUBLE for refusing to answer. Was the government going to send us all birthday presents when they came around? A lock ( Do they ever stop with this? I will post again if there is further activity. 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! Don't fill it out. Especially after reading the comments on this page. This data is critical for government programs, policies, and decision-making. She was really trying to get the information and finally gave up and told me she will write down that I refused. A refusal to answer any question on the ACS or giving an intentionally false answer is a federal offense. So glad I found this site. But I will not tell you when I leave for work and about the medical condition of my relatives. I completed the regular census and destroyed the ACS. Horrible, and a total violation of my rights across the board. He was asking questions about me and my wife! So give them a call or send an e-mail and see if someone there can help stop the phone calls. I filled out the decennial census. OMG!! [1] The Rutherford Institute, a national nonprofit civil liberties organization, is deeply committed to protecting the constitutional freedoms of every American and the integral human rights of all people through its extensive legal and educational programs. What the hell are you mad about? Finally a man identifying himself as a supervisor came to the door and demanded I answer. He said, "I'll see what I can do." Unlike the traditional census, which is limited to a simple head count every ten years for the purpose of establishing representation in Congress, the ACS is sent on an ongoing basis to about 3 million homes every year at a reported cost of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.[2]. i wish i still had my camcorder so i could do like the person said. I wonder how many of those opposing census questions will annually volunteer much more private information and their personal wealth to a real evil unconstitutional organization - the IRS. . 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. I didnt think so. anon77096: Why would anybody want federal funding for anything? Just remember that most of these people are decent people who need money to eat just like the rest of us, especially in these hard times. Don't be rude to the people who are sent out to your house because you think you're too "special" to answer your census. Let me get this straight: we cannot ask an illegal alien for papers because of racial profiling but we can try to force american citizens to fill out the ACS which has profiling information in every question? My recommendation is that secondary prevention be used with the possibility of tertiary prevention since he appears to be in the initial stages of exploring these behaviors. Measuring America's People, Places, and Economy. As said by Mr. Justice Field in Re Pacific Ry. What they dont tell you is that the information is available to a long list of private corporation, research agencies and think tanks, who use the information to justify and pursue their own agendas. Get class action lawsuit news sent to your inbox sign up for ClassAction.orgs free weekly newsletterhere. Before the second visit, I posted a 'no trespassing' sign at the bottom of the stairway leading up to my garage apartment. Just hang tough and they will eventually leave you alone. Let them in and then fart really loud. It's not good politics. The times they are a-changing. 1388. I'm fed up with the ACS and all their nosing in my business. A week later, a woman came to my door and said they hadn't received my form. She didn't have the common courtesy to disclose that little fact. This questionnaire asked how we got the funds to open the business, and how much money we spent to start up operation! So go ahead and fill it out 235. Person 33. Like its children it seems it wants us to be happy and being so it has empowered us to live our dreams freely, Know you are worth it, see it and feel it and it will be. She left, but will I be hearing from her again? Featured Respond to the ACS God bless America and individual freedom! March 01, 2023 Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) is defined as unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant short- or long-term consequences to a person's health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ACS was conducted vigorously and continuously during the presidency of George W. Bush. I don't even tell my grown kids this much information. The survey also demands to know how many days you were sick last year, how many automobiles you own and the number of miles driven, whether you have trouble getting up the stairs, and what time you leave for work every morning, along with highly detailed inquiries about your financial affairs. Ultimately, you might just need to either answer the census to get them to stop coming or, as an alternative, make up answers to protect your privacy. 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 Helping this corrupt government "function" is the same thing as helping this corrupt government go kill more people, invade our privacy, tax our income, levy fines, issue permissions slips and tattoo our butts. Millions of dollars wasted! Cowards! Filled out the short form months ago. One fact I see missing is that they say you are cheating you state and city out of government funds (our tax dollars). Protect your privacy. When a citizen does not answer the ACS within 30 days, a second ACS form is automatically mailed. I actually worked for the Census in 1970. I hope it's not too late for us. It seems when the phone number is given, that is when the harassment starts. Lock and Load. they have called me several times and asked what I did with it. [8] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about/qbyqfact/2016/Ancestry.pdf. Copyright 2023 The Rutherford Institute. There should be a law against this. But, (knock on wood again) no visits ever occurred (yet that is). However, the gap between homeownership rates not only persists, but has grown. I have therefore included both Article 1 section 2 of the US Constitution, and the US Supreme courts decisions in upholding the right to privacy. As one post on this site said "bring it on.". That this money is funding from the government, which makes it socialism. Poster 209: I believe that it is better to clearly refuse up front. Unbelievable! I get hourly calls during the week. If a citizen doesn't comply with the ACS after a period of weeks, Census Bureau guidelines instruct enumerators to stop calling the resident. For another 22, the information is used to aid advocacy groups, and in nine of those cases, the Census Bureau states that the responses will be used by advocacy groups to advocate for policies that benefit their groups, including advocacy based on age,[23] race,[24] sex,[25] and marital status.[26]. And to poster 201: the survey is much more intrusive than asking how many people live in your household. Haven't heard from the ACS people, "government man", or my dorm supervisor since then. I said that I still respectfully declined the survey. We should not have to fear such "power hungry, and commission-crazy animals! I just sent the supervisor who knocked on my door packing! I told the second person who called me that I had already refused to cooperate with the first person who called. I've been in some pretty terrifying situations and I don't scare that easily. Thesis: It is best to be professional and courteous when speaking in person and on the phone to the ACS representatives. There are two of us living here. We are all empowered, so we need to get together to sue! What a bunch of paranoid people you are. I took his form and tossed it into the wood stove. I am appalled at this whole thing and believe me when that survey taker arrives at my door again, she is going to get an ear full. I have no problem with telling folks how many people, even our ages and nationalities. This all happened while I was watching from my porch. When we do the ACS on the phone, we do not ask for your SS #, we do not ask how many times you go to the bathroom. We don't have a home phone but I imagine the reps will get hold of our cell numbers? To be sure, the calls were incessant for a time -- anywhere from one to eight calls a day for about six to eight weeks perhaps. It seems what is good for the goose is not good for the gander. Decennial Census. What is the ACS (American Community Survey)? They've also visited six of my neighbors, twice each so far. I can understand the desire to keep the information private. The Census Bureau does not hire temporary workers to collect data for the American Community Survey. Neither one of us filled it out, nor mailed it in. Objections to the ACS include the personal nature of some of its questions and, despite government assurances to the contrary, associated confidentiality issues. My family has found past census information to be very valuable in genealogical research. I can not believe this is United States, land of freedom and liberty. I got a call last night from the Census folks, wanting to know our birthdays. It is so obvious that the same person keeps responding over and over here. Nobody has ever been fined for refusing to cooperate with any Census request, even the 10 year short form. Yes we find the government annoying, but we could turn things around to our advantage and make things fun. I also, as many of you, returned my census form (as I should and as the Constitution requires) but this has gone so far over the line that it's ridiculous. I'll pay the fine if I have to, but I'm not going to let them bully me into submitting to their scare tactics. The biggest, the American Community Survey (ACS), is sent annually to more than 3.5 million randomly selected homes to gather population, economic, housing and other data that helps determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in state and federal money is distributed. Want to stay in the loop on class actions that matter to you? Think anyone is going to get approval to send out US Marshals to issue tickets? I filed my taxes, all the information they feel they need to know is there. Never give any phone numbers (tell them you don't have a phone and your employer forbids giving out the company cellular phone number). I'm glad they didn't refuse to answer such personal questions as name and age. PLEASE let's get them back once and for all! Washington and California residents have filed a proposed class action in which they object to being asked to participate in theAmerican Community Survey, which enquires about certain demographic details more specific than those central to the decennial Census. The judge summarized that general statements made by the Census Bureau with regard to, say, the support of federal law or that taking the ACS was required by U.S. law fall short of the benchmark necessary to constitute a specific threat of prosecution. I'm a 59 year old retired female and as a rule, I never 'buck' the system -- until now. I live in the ghetto already. These people can often stop this kind of activity. I went through this myself and I read a Web forum that spanned several years with posters who had received the form, and what they had experienced. I heard I had to answer the questions or face a possible fine of $5000.00 so I answered the questions. [33] Gardner Selby, Americans Must Answer U.S. Census Bureau Survey by Law, Though Agency Hasn't Prosecuted since 1970, Politifact, http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2014/jan/09/us-census-bureau/americans-must-answer-us-census-bureau-survey-law-/. Should the phone ring and someone on the other end of the line say they're from the ACS, you don't necessarily have to take their word for it. I hung up. 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. I have a nice little digital camera that makes high-definition video. Now they harass us all of the time. I am a tax paying, hard working citizen, who would die fighting for my country and my rights, but didn't our forefathers already settle this fight? After reading through the 28 pages of questions the second time (not 28 questions but 28 *pages* of them), I decided to do my research. Finally, the last enumerator knocked one more time, then took away the last notice, which I decided to leave there. this census is complete crap and an invasion of my rights a a citizen. The states need to reassert their rights back from the federal government. Or are they? Happy Holidays. While some of the ACS questions may seem fairly routine, the real danger is in not knowing why the information is needed, how it will be used by the government or with whom it will be shared. Well, I will just have to wait for the "or else" because I will not be a robot for this government, asking when I go to work or who are all the females in my house with ages and names. As us Cajuns say: Hell froze over when the Saints won the Super Bowl last season. She returned the following day. its no joke. I see on the accompanying letter that the destination of the form was intended to be the address only and not a particular person. In 2000 I refused to fill mine out. According to Title 13, Section 221 (Census, Refusal or neglect to answer questions; false answers) of the United States Code, persons who fail or refuse to respond to the mail-back census form, or refuse to respond to a follow-up census taker, could be fined up to $100. The 22-page lawsuit against U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Bureau of the Census Director Robert Santos says that unlike the normal ten-year Census, the yearly American Community Survey asks detailed and personal questions regarding a persons sexual orientation, gender identity, fertility history, marital status and divorce history. 2d 570, 572 (N.D. Would you believe they just called again? The 2019 American Community Survey counted 139.69M housing units, up 1.15M from 2018, and up 7.90M from 131.79M in 2010. don't let them take our rights away even more than they already have. Life lived in paranoia and bitterness is not worth living. I refused to tell them financial info or how much I pay on a power bill. However, we will make it quite clear we will accept the risk and continue to take this stand. I feel kind of sick too. in the '90s the Commerce Dept decided that I was a resort or apartment complex owner and harassed me to fill out a survey detailing my expenditures on repairs, income reports etc. They insisted that the ACS did not receive it and wanted the information again. 1121-0292: Approval Expires 09/30/2021. If threatened with a fine or even prison, I will say, "Bring it on!" He was very surprised. [22] For 12 of those categories, the information is used to assist private corporations. LOL. The other info that the ACS wants can be obtained from other Departments. I will not yield. I filled out my census. Call your local U.S. congress member. This browser does not support PDFs. My paper shredder has been complaining of hunger, so I'm going to feed the "survey" to it when I receive it in the mail next week. Great. I refused entry into my home. If they want more personal financial information, then I suggest they get it from the IRS. Start Here . anon88369: Census enumerators have every right to walk onto your property if they are assigned to do a questionnaire for your address. Now, I want to know how we go about suing these senseless census idiots! You can find the ACS forms on the Census web site under ACS. For everyone saying what's the big deal- go play in traffic. The ACS replaced the old census long form and the questions have absolutely nothing to with apportioning direct taxes or determining the number of representatives in the House of Representatives. The survey is 28 pages long and requires answers to between 95 and 263 questions depending on the number of persons living in the residence. She was a little surprised how I knew things about her. Jun 2022 - Present10 months. She left me with a notice of visit with her name and I suppose her personal phone number. Next step will be implanting us with chips, or tattooing our arms. 0607-810 expired on 05/31/2008. The census guy showed up here. When I answered the door she said who she was and had a survey for me. For every question not answered, there is a $100 fine. I did call the police on them. Ridiculous. In 2000 I placed a large sprinkler by my front door. I did respond to the regular census and regret answering all of those questions. My high school son came home and read the questions and his first response was "this is communist." according to the constitution it limits the government's ability to do anything but enumerate. Not to mention that this information in the wrong hands can cause identity theft. The employees of the Nazi Gestapo and Brownshirts said the same thing. But I can promise I'll promptly feed it to my hungry paper shredder. I thought the purpose of census was for representation purposes. lets hope this isn't all to simply mark people who do and do not comply. Then why am I being asked what my race is? The less you say to them the faster they stop bothering you. Fight the power. If you are thinking about filling this out, don't! The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses. I live in a high-rise condo building (where I rent), so let them come get me. If they aren't paying my bills they don't have a need to know how much they are. They have nothing but their own agenda in mind and any semblance of control we think we have is just that -- a semblance. I am a law abiding American citizen, tax payer (working 2 jobs) and a registered voter, not a criminal or bum or illegal immigrant living off the tax payers. God bless you for creating this site! I told that I had already fulfilled my Constitutional duties as a citizen with my mailed-in short form, and then told her the ACS and her harassment of me in my home is unconstitutional. Most U.S. representatives have local offices. If one of these goons shows up at your door you should immediately get out your camera phone or camcorder and put it right in their face and turn it on. What time do I leave for work, -26:00 in the afternoon. Have to love how the government pays people to harass you. When we allow them to manipulate us, we turn into "sheeple.". This survey is intrusive and i will not answer it! The U.S. Census has nothing to do with Obama nor most of the accusations you are flippantly throwing up online. They only want to know how many people live in the residents. im a normal 27 year old female, trying to live my life. It's a land of the free OK but I ask everyday "for who??" Now I find out he has been to my place of employment looking for me. If you don't care about america and freedom then you stand by and say nothing when you see tyranny, then congrats. Whats next from our GOVERNMENT; the police saying your papers please? "I'm afraid my trees are eating the elephants, now." That seems to be the end of it, but only time will tell. This means that there is no class that can be joined or signed up for by any consumers who feel they may have been covered by the litigation. This survey is one of only a few or is any mention of if just more scare tactics to make us submit to this invasion of our lives? Q: What kind of questions are contained in the ACS? I told her actually it's not. Ha! I made the decision right then and there that I would not respond to an ACS survey under any circumstances. Comparing the American Community Survey and the Population Estimates Program (February 17, 2021) Coordinator: Welcome and thank you for standing by. Name Number and street or P.O. And for every intentionally false response to a question, the fine is $500. 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. Don't get mad because many of us don't want to fill out the form. this is the letter I sent the census bureau. The Bureau lists 35 different categories of questions on its website and offers an explanation on how the information is to be used. 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. my wife and I pay our taxes and feel if that's not enough for our government, then "Too bad Charlie". What I want to know for sure is: Can they make, force, and punish you for not filling out this thing? we demand a trial by jury of our pears, but how many wiggle, squirm and lie every which way to get out of serving when it's their turn? I left all of the other personal and private questions in the survey unanswered. Others have reminded me that this information about me is posted out in the paper world, cyber world, etc., somewhere. Q: Does everyone in the United States receive the American Community Survey? Now I wish I hadn't answered her on the phone. The California State Data Center generates reports and tabulations from data files released by the U.S. Census Bureau. 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? [6] https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about.html. I said if this "government guy" wanted to talk to me, I would immediately reserve my right to remain silent until I was represented by counsel. He asked if I was refusing to answer the survey. We monitored our caller ID and just refused to answer the phone when they called (along with any other numbers listed as "unavailable"). This also happened the last time. My husband and I now know what we will do when a rep shows up at our door. Attempting to use scare tactics to get personal information - nice. Can anyone please tell me if I am obligated to answer these questions. The second visit, I handed him a sealed census envelope, and he came back and left a note that the computer kicked it out. Q: What are my options for objecting to the ACS survey as an intrusion on my Fourth Amendment rights? Whether I'm white, black, hispanic, etc., or whether I own or rent my home, makes as much difference to the count of legal U.S. citizens as not having to show your legal or illegal status as a U.S. citizen. Today I received a notice in the mail from the Census Bureau Director, Robert M. Groves, advising me that next week I'll receive a 2010 Census form in the mail and would I fill it out and mail it in promptly. The Institute provides its legal services at no charge to persons whos constitutional and human rights have been threatened or violated. About one month later I received a phone call from a supervisor. But seriously, It's not about conspiracy theories. I told her to "bring it on". That and the census has been used in the past to identify people of Japanese, German, and Italian descent. We will then see them online. Survey questions were proposed by health care workers within each dialysis unit. I first starting receiving these things by mail like 4 years ago. As a university student in my early 20s, I returned to school after the summer and mid-semester was called down to my dorm supervisor's office one night. As a note, we live in a small, rural town so that may make a difference in whether it's worth the effort for them to continue demanding the information. So glad I came across this website while researching whether or not I had to respond to this stupid ACS I just got in the mail. I never will. He was shocked and said it was required by law. I guess I now have a 20 percent chance of getting a Census visitor next.