I got a letter from the US Dept of Commerce Census Bureau

[valerief]

Says I have to answer a census under order of law. They ask questions like "When do you leave for work?" and "When do you come home?"

I find the questions creepy. Any else get buttonholed by the Census Bureau?

[bigscott]

1. so lie!

[Skink]

2. They'll know.

[NMDemDist2]

3. i'd go to their website and make sure it's legit first,....... that sounds

pretty odd to me!

[valerief]

10. I did and I emailed the local Census Bureau with the case number

Some guy came pounding on my door last week after dark. I didn't open the door. I told him I was calling the police.

How very Gestapo in the way they get their information. I mean, with all the Patriot Act allowances, don't they have access to all this info anyway?

[papau]

4. Lucky you - to be part of an in depth survey! I got one 25 years ago and

had to reveal my appliance ownership and usuage.

There were no "arrival/departure" questions on the one I recieved

by the way - these surveys are like 60,000 households or less

You should feel special!

:-)

[valerief]

6. The American Community Survey website

says in 2004 there were less than 1500 households in my county selected.

What does one pack for Gitmo?

[FearofFutility]

5. I haven't yet

They are bizarre questions! What would be the purpose of asking those questions?!

[napi21]

12. The only thing I can think of is traffic control of some kind.

I know in Atlanta they constantly do research to see if they can get business to stagger starting times to spread out the rush hour traffic.

[valerief]

15. Uh, they need me to help them with that info?

They can't get employee addresses from area businesses (Patriot Act!!!) to figure it out?

That's my take on it.

[FearofFutility]

24. But if they only send out 60,000 in the entire US

How in the world would it help them with traffic control in one town? (The 60,000 is according to a prior post.)

[valerief]

26. Hey, you're thinking!

[Extend a Hand]

7. when I was in college,

I threw away the thing I got in the mail so they sent someone to my apartment. I told the person that came to my apartment to 'get lost.' So they sent two people. I told those people I would answer their questions but to make them go away but I was going to lie. And they said they didn't care-- they got paid the same anyway.

So I just made stuff up.

[valerief]

11. Hmmm. I wonder if everyone lies.

I could get very creative and it would be fun!

[MADem]

8. What other questions are they asking?

Do you have a dog? Guard dog? Any jewelry? High-end computers or sound equipment? Flat screen TV??? What's the safe combination?

Double check it to make sure it's legit! Sounds like something Tony Soprano would do!!!!

ON EDIT--link to their site: http://www.census.gov/epct/mso/household_surveys/004004.html

[valerief]

13. My first thought!

Here's the email address with the questionnaire.
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/SBasics/SQuest/SQuest1.htm

I haven't responded directly to the letter I just got in the mail yet (I never got a questionnaire like they say they send out). I'm waiting to hear from the Census Bureau's response to my email to them.

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/

[MADem]

18. Ewwwwwwwww!

I'm surprised they don't quiz us about bowel movements!!!! Ya gotta wonder what they do with some of that info...!

[MadHound]

9. I would say do a bit of embellishment, just for your own amusement.

Back in the '80 census, I listed my cats as dependents, with feline as their race. Three months later I had a census bureau person at my door asking me :wtf: was I thinking.

I'm finding it increasingly difficult to answer the census questionairre, for some of the questions they ask are none of their business(and no, I don't believe in that old canard that the CB doesn't share the info they collect)

I don't mind answering the basic census questions, but some of the questions, where I work, how much I make, etc. etc. are a little to in depth for my tastes.

[Pharaoh]

14. I'm a letter carrier

and I thought it odd to deliver one of those big census envelopes a couple months ago....

They do the census once every ten years, next one due in 2010,

It is always a blanket coverage of every mailing address in the US............

these individual letters seem very odd, I would contact my congressman and senator Feingold to see what's up with that, Sounds more like big brother than an official census....

[valerief]

16. According to the American Community Survey website

this census started when the Bush regime did. Yes, Big Brother is watching. And I'm just a nobody!

[EFerrari]

20. I took the census once. If people didn't want to answer,

I was supposed to thank them and leave them alone.

[valerief]

23. Did you take it during the Bush Administration?

Or back before the bombing of NY and the Patriot Act?

Just asking, because 10 years ago I wasn't as creeped out about the government as I am today.

Thanks.

[EFerrari]

30. No. I took it about ten years ago.

valerie -- could you post the sentence, the exact sentence that says you must comply? It sounds illegal as hell to me.

[valerief]

36. The letter reads as follows (punctuation errors replicated)

Dear (me)

The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting the American Community Survey and your address has been randomly selected to participate. This is an innovative survey designed to determine the size and make-up of America's communities. Decisions about childcare, jobs, health care and more will be based on your answers. Your reply is very important to us.

This survey will provide information on various economic and social characteristics of your community, which will provide local, state and federal policy makers with good data, to make sound, rational decisions, which ultimately affect us all. The American Community Survey will replace the long form in the 2010 Census and greatly simplify operations so that the focus of the 2010 Census is solely on counting the population.

Our Field Representative, (his name), is attempting to reach you. Due to the importance of this survey, we would appreciate it very much if you would call (him) at (phone number) to arrange for a convenient appointment. If you wish, you may call collect.

If you prefer, you may use the tear-off portion of this letter to inform us of how to contact you. However, our deadlines for conducting the survey are very short and for that reason the telephone method is preferable. Either way, we will appreciate any help you can provide.

This survey is authorized under Title 13 of the United States Code and requires that all selected households participate. Furthermore, this same law protects the confidentialit of all your answers. If you have any questions about the survey, please call the program supervisor, (his name), at (his phone number).

Thank you for your cooperation. Your answers will help your government serve you better.

Sincerely,

(her name)
Regional Director.
===================
A gloss pamphlet was included. It also states the following:

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, 193, and 221).

[EFerrari]

52. 141, 193 do not compell response. Look at 221:

221. Refusal or neglect to answer questions; false answers
Release date: 2005-07-21

(a) Whoever, being over eighteen years of age, refuses or willfully neglects, when requested by the Secretary, or by any other authorized officer or employee of the Department of Commerce or bureau or agency thereof acting under the instructions of the Secretary or authorized officer, to answer, to the best of his knowledge, any of the questions on any schedule submitted to him in connection with any census or survey provided for by subchapters I, II, IV, and V of chapter 5 of this title, applying to himself or to the family to which he belongs or is related, or to the farm or farms of which he or his family is the occupant, shall be fined not more than $100.
(b) Whoever, when answering questions described in subsection (a) of this section, and under the conditions or circumstances described in such subsection, willfully gives any answer that is false, shall be fined not more than $500.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, no person shall be compelled to disclose information relative to his religious beliefs or to membership in a religious body.



* * *

Now, I'm not a lawyer so Pillar of Salt rule applies. But, this kind of compulsion violates your right to privacy. And in the past, the only people who could be compelled were recieving Federal Aid of some kind.

121 looks to me to be problematic if not illegal -- like so many other things these days

(Hi, Sp Agent Mike -- WHERE'S BIN LADIN? :hi:

* * *

[valerief]

53. Oh, I know I don't a snowball's chance in hell to avoid responding

I just want the Census Bureau to verify they've targeted, ahem, contacted me before I phone the guy in the letter.

[me b zola]

59. The same thing happened to me

It was either just before 911 or right after, I can't recall, but it was after the idiot king was sElected by the Supreme Court. At first I thought it was a scam, then I checked it out and they were for real. They told me, as they did you, that I was bound by law to cooperate. When I wouldn't cooperate they sent me the same letter that they sent to you, and sent people to my door to hound me. They told me that I could be arrested if I didn't cooperate, to which I told them they better go ahead and arrest me because I didn't have to tell them shit, and reminded them about the little document called the Constitution.

They eventually went away and left me alone after being hounded for a year. A YEAR!!!!! I'm not suggesting that you do the same. I don't know why they finally left me alone, and if they really would arrest someone (just because I wasn't is not a guarentee that they wouldn't do it to someone else).

The entire thing creeped me out and I was ready to fight. You have to do what YOU feel is right.

[sandnsea]

17. A friend did one back in 1980

I think she was part of some annual thing, IIRC. These things are very important, all sorts of federal funding and programs are based on the answers to the surveys. The work questions could be transportation related, or related to programs about moms having to travel long distances to work. Don't embellish, just answer it straight. Although I can imagine it does feel like a bit of an invasion.

[valerief]

22. Okay, but it actually is an invasion

I mean, the government never does anything to actually help its citizens. It only helps its corporate workforce. When you're targeted, you wonder what you've done wrong and what they're going to do to you.

[sandnsea]

31. That is really not true at all

I know plenty of people who are being helped by food stamps, energy assistance, low income housing. My own kids have student grants and loans. People get helped by government every single day. It really doesn't help to have people saying government does nothing, better to point out the successes so that people will know the programs work and will want to do more.

[bleedingheart]

38. thank you for your logical posts

[bleedingheart]

19. Remember this...If that form is valid and you LIE....it can have

serious repercussions.

This information is what is cited in scientific studies and it is also used to determine government funding for projects.

I guess the geeky engineer in me would like to think that people take these studies seriously.

I myself am part of a 20 year Census bureau study. Started the survey in college and every once in a blue moon they send me a form or they call me to ask me questions.

[sendero]

45. I have to agree...

.. either don't answer or answer correctly. This data is used to justify programs, etc., and should not be corrupted with bs.

[TahitiNut]

21. The Bureau of the Census conducts surveys year-around.

All kinds of federal spending is dependent on population surveys, from housing to highways. You can bet the more money-hungry ('red') areas make damned sure they get theirs ... and answering such surveys appropriately is the only way allocation of federal resources can be fairly done.

It's a bit disturbing to read DU and flash back to what the John Birchers once said. :shrug:

[AllegroRondo]

25. My suggestion

dont answer anything, just return the census and write "I cannot answer these questions as it is against my religion" on it.

[valerief]

27. Good idea!

But they never sent me a questionnaire. A guy was banging on my door last Monday saying he was a census taker. I phoned the police. And I got a letter in the mail saying I was ordered by law to answer this guy's questions.

I feel like fugitive and I've done nothing wrong. Except, of course, post to Democratic Underground, and that probably will soon be illegal.

[AllegroRondo]

35. Guy at the door? OK....

Do you have a screen door or window, so you can see him without letting him in?
First - ask to see his ID. Tell him you will not answer anything unless you see a federal ID that identifies him as a Census worker.
Next - do not let him in. If he asks to enter, say "not without a warrant." If hes not comfortable asking you questions through the screen door, too bad.
Finally - any questions you do not like, give him the religion excuse, or "none of the above" or "not applicable". Pretend you are on a game show and say "PASS!"

[valerief]

37. I have 2 doors.

He pounded on the storm door (partially obscured by a translucent covering). I partially opened my inside door and spoke to him that way. It was dark and a holiday and I had no reason to believe he was a census taker, so I told him I was calling the police. I also contacted my local newspaper's crime reporter to ask if he knew anything about census takers. He didn't and also suspected the guy was a burglar.

[rpgamerd00d]

28. The magic answer: "I don't know"

Works wonders.

If all else fails, "N/A" works wonders also.

They said you had to answer. They didnt say HOW you had to answer.

[valerief]

29. Good idea. I think I'll use semaphore flags.

[rpgamerd00d]

32. Or answer everything with "Classified". Freak em out. :) -nt

[formercia]

33. Perhaps you're a candidate for the Truman Show II

cheap entertainment for the elites.

[valerief]

34. Oh, no. I'm going to become one of Cheney's human-hunting targets!

[izzybeans]

39. Those questions will help researchers determine thiings like

Time spent on the job and form the basis for such truths as "Americans spend more time at work than with friends or family." Suggesting our rate of return is diminishing. And of course rightwingers will use it for evil.

The Census is a big big buttonhole for the most part. It determines some fairly ethnocentric identities. It's history with the words hispanic and latino/a are fairly amusing. This is typical when you get a room full of Euro-americans designing a survey.

Sometimes the buttonhole's fit, sometimes they don't.

Besides that it's the basis for determining tax policy and social programs. That is both a good and a bad. IMHO.

Surveys are always creepy

[Hell Hath No Fury]

42. All they would have to ask is....

how many hours a week do you work to get such an answer. This "when do you leave and come home" shit is suspicious and I wouldn't answer such questions.

[valerief]

46. I looked again. Actually they only ask when you leave for work,

how long does it take to get to work, how long does it take to get home, and how many hours do you work a week. But I guess you can calculate when you get home from this info.

[izzybeans]

40. dupe

[Hell Hath No Fury]

41. I have participated in the census...

and I was not asked questions like that! They were strictly to do with the number of people living in the house, our ages, ethnic backgrounds, employment, etc. -- stuff you could see as being needed to create a statistical database. NOTHING about our movements in and out of our house.

I would contact the census bureau directly and ask them about this.

[valerief]

44. I got the questions from the American Community Survey website

Looks like these special surveys unofficially started when the neocons took over Congress and officially started when Bush took office.

[ThatsMyBarack]

43. Back in 2000

I could have sworn I turned in my Census 2000 form, but one day some guys comes banging on my door and insists that I didn't! I had to spend 10 whole minutes while he stood there asking me questions and filling out some form. No way would he let me do it myself, and I was already in a hurry to get out the door and on the road.

I'll bet it was the old lone Repuke fart who's an election judge at my local poll.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[npincus]

47. don't fill out... contact your regional census bureau : LINK here:

http://www.census.gov/field/www/

Check to see if it is legitimate. DO NOT send until you do.

I took the census last year, and don't recall ANYTHING like that on it! It sounds very fishy. I thought the census was issued last year. Also, they always send a letter first, informing you that you will participate in a census.

[valerief]

48. Thanks. I sent them an email this weekend.

I notified the police and the local newspaper crime reporter.

I never got a questionnaire packet, just a guy pounding on my storm door and a letter with a pamphlet. Hey, I can go to Kinko's, too.

Thanks.

[npincus]

51. Oh Jee-zus, that's scarey.

good luck!

[valerief]

54. Thanks.

[brooklynite]

49. I use this data...

Census has collected this for years (previously as part of the "long form" of the every ten years census). From the standpoint of a transportation planner, its useful in telling us how people travel (when, where, which mode) each day, the better to make applications for transportation project funding. Believe me, there's nothing about "you" that makes it through the survey; its all aggregated by sub-county zones and census tracts.

[valerief]

56. The activity of 60,000 throughout the whole country in one year

can help you? Doesn't sound right to me.

Heck, American Idol might as well ask a few census questions. It reaches more people.

[IdaBriggs]

50. On a positive note, 70 years from now your descendents will

appreciate you A LOT when they go to do their geneology research! :)

(Just thought I'd share a different non-Gitmo perspective!) :)

[valerief]

55. I doubt they'll have access to it.

Patriot Act and all, you know.

[Blue_Roses]

57. I took a test a couple of weeks ago to be a Census Worker in our area

everyone passed the test in our "class" but we haven't heard any more from them about when to begin work...oh, well, I was kind of dreading the door slamming in my face.

Starting to wonder if they "disqualified" me because I'm politically active (one of the big no-nos)

[valerief]

58. Hey, I guess I'll be seeing you at Gitmo

BTW, I don't know anyone who would open the door to a stranger, especially a man. It seems kind of crazy to me.