Census Bureau...Say What???

[BigFrank]

Well, apparently if you do not fill out your Census Form ( me ) they send someone to your house. Which by the way, I'm kinda sorta paying for. Odd.

The conversation was pretty one sided ( me saying no to everything ). My question is, do I really have to do this? I tossed the form out, and I really do not want to answer any questions. The polite girl said she will be returning tomorrow. She told me it's mandated by the constitution that I answer these questions. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

[md4958]

not sure what the big deal is... the form i got had basic questions like how many people in my household, ages, race, etc.

Id rather fill out the form than have to deal with somebody coming to my home.

[lightning9191]

Originally Posted by md4958

not sure what the big deal is... the form i got had basic questions like how many people in my household, ages, race, etc.

Id rather fill out the form than have to deal with somebody coming to my home.

They would probably stop bothering you....unless you don't want her to...then I guess you can play hard to get.

[DPD6030]

See here -------> http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...ighlight=cenus

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by DPD6030

See here -------> http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...ighlight=cenus

I was going to post that thread of mine but you beat me to it.

I ultimately just conceded, filled it out and moved on.
I hope they don't verify it.

[replicant_argent]

A census "employee" stopped in front of our house Saturday. I say "employee" because she is probably being paid good money by me to move her considerable bulk at a VERY slow snails pace, but I digress.
She then oozed out of her car and waddled up to the neighbors (whom I call the Terrorists) house across the street. They didn't, of course answer their door after the Census Superfluous Worker waited for 5 minutes or so, knocking every minute or two. I told my wife as I watched this that it was probably a process server or a census worker. When she finally gave up, she sludged across the street and started asking my wife questions about them. My wife wasn't able to answer much, since they are so insular and arrogant, they do not interact with their neighbors (we are but low caste infidels, you see ) She was tempted to tell the gal that the reason they didn't fill out the census was that they were probably afraid of the information being shared with ICE.

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by BigFrank

Well, apparently if you do not fill out your Census Form ( me ) they send someone to your house. Which by the way, I'm kinda sorta paying for. Odd.

The conversation was pretty one sided ( me saying no to everything ). My question is, do I really have to do this? I tossed the form out, and I really do not want to answer any questions. The polite girl said she will be returning tomorrow. She told me it's mandated by the constitution that I answer these questions. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

Yes. You are required by the US Constitution to provide certain basic information to the Census Bureau.

Originally Posted by md4958

not sure what the big deal is... the form i got had basic questions like how many people in my household, ages, race, etc.

Id rather fill out the form than have to deal with somebody coming to my home.

I agree with Moe. What's the big deal?

[mosesbotbol]

I was suprised how little detail the census collects. My girlfried is Miss Privacy, but in the end, they already have this information and more on us. No big deal for me to answer their questions.

It seems we are more guarded about giving the government personal info than we were 10 and 20 years ago.

[Starscream]

If you don't answer the questions, eventually they will have a sheriff's deputy escort the census taker to your house and stand there while you answer the questions. I mailed my form off weeks ago.

[DPD6030]

ICE isn't going to care! On a side note I had an illegal and called them. He was in custody on a misd. charge and they didn't want him. So why are we paying ICE to protect our borders? Apparently if they make it in and all the way to MI they an stay. I say hell no, send them back!

[The Poet]

Or just send them from MI to AZ, and let THEM take care of it!

As for the census, so what? I'd rather have the government know that I exist than treat me like I don't.

[Tripp]

My mother is a census taker.

[Ashcan Bill]

I've actually looked up quite a bit of census info from a hundred and fifty years ago while doing genealogy research.

You never know but someday your great great grandkids may want to know something about you. The census records might be their starting point.

[loki]

i lost my form, i think my cats used it as a plaything...dunno where it went. worker came twice, I wasn't home. Once I was herfin, second time I was getting my mac worked on, third time we were home. Wife took care of it.

[replicant_argent]

Originally Posted by Ashcan Bill

You never know but someday your great great grandkids may want to know something about you. The census records might be their starting point.

I was thinking that the world might be a better place if my gene pool dried up.

[0002S]

YES IT'S IN THE CONSTITUTION TO HAVE A CENSUS:

The U.S. Constitution empowers the Congress to carry out the census in "such manner as they shall by Law direct" (Article I, Section 2)

LAW YOU WILL BE VIOLATING (not a constitutional law) IF YOU DO NOT ANSWER:

13 U.S.C. § 221 : US Code - Section 221: Refusal or neglect to answer questions; false answers
Search 13 U.S.C. § 221 : US Code - Section 221: Refusal or neglect to answer questions; false answers

(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.

[Barcode]

It is a count and nothing more. I had a Census worker stop by my house on Saturday and he ask me why I did not turn in my form and I told him that I actually did turn in the first of 3 forms that I received. He then said that they did not receive it and wanted to ask me a few questions. I told him that was fine and that there were 3 people living in my house. He then asked me if he could get my name and I told him NO. He seemed shocked that someone would actually tell him no, he then asked me again if he could have my name and again I told him NO. He thanked me for my time and left. I did have a copy of the Constitution sitting next to the door just in case but I did not need it.

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by Barcode

It is a count and nothing more. I had a Census worker stop by my house on Saturday and he ask me why I did not turn in my form and I told him that I actually did turn in the first of 3 forms that I received. He then said that they did not receive it and wanted to ask me a few questions. I told him that was fine and that there were 3 people living in my house. He then asked me if he could get my name and I told him NO. He seemed shocked that someone would actually tell him no, he then asked me again if he could have my name and again I told him NO. He thanked me for my time and left. I did have a copy of the Constitution sitting next to the door just in case but I did not need it.

You can expect another visit. Why would you post your name in a public forum but not give it when required by law?

[markem]

If people really believe that the census is so onerous or is somehow against either the US constitution or federal law, they always have the right to renounce their citizenship and move some place more to their liking.

I'll help them pack.

[timo]

Originally Posted by Barcode

It is a count and nothing more. I had a Census worker stop by my house on Saturday and he ask me why I did not turn in my form and I told him that I actually did turn in the first of 3 forms that I received. He then said that they did not receive it and wanted to ask me a few questions. I told him that was fine and that there were 3 people living in my house. He then asked me if he could get my name and I told him NO. He seemed shocked that someone would actually tell him no, he then asked me again if he could have my name and again I told him NO. He thanked me for my time and left. I did have a copy of the Constitution sitting next to the door just in case but I did not need it.

I'm with you. The census is a count.