Census Bureau’s American Community Survey: Census Bureau’s Dirty Little Secret
Census Bureau Uses Unlisted Numbers When Contacting Citizens
Census Bureau Survey Sent Out Each Year
Census Bureau Asks For Highly Personal Info in Survey
According the Census Bureau, the 2010 Census form will be be replaced by the old “long form”.
From the New York Times:
The Census Bureau said it had begun printing the 120 million questionnaires that will be delivered beginning in mid-March 2010. Officials say the 10-question form, among the shortest ever, should take about 10 minutes to complete. For the first time, 13 million bilingual questionnaires (in English and Spanish) will be distributed in areas populated by Spanish speakers. The results will determine the distribution of Congressional seats and about $400 billion in federal funds. Everyone will receive the same form (which asks about age, race, gender and whether the respondent sometimes lives elsewhere). The old long form, sent to sample households, has been replaced by the annual American Community Survey.
What the Times didn’t mention was the “long form” is still being sent out by the Census Bureau each year. It’s called the American Community Survey, which this writer was subjected to this week.
According to the Census Bureau, the American Community Survey will be sent out each year and that by law, Americans are required to answer all the questions on the survey. Questions such as race, income, education, health care coverage, and ethnicity.
I was contacted by the Census Bureau by phone. The number was listed as “unknown caller”. I don’t know about you but having someone call my residence with an unlisted number then tell me that I had to answer all their questions or be prosecuted, was unnerving. I wondered about how easy it would be for people to scam the elderly by phone, claiming to be the government, then solicit their social security number or other personal info?
I was also asked about my profession, how much I earned, and what the name of my business was.
When I asked why they needed to know the name of my company, the Census Bureau official demurred and went to the next question. Why does the Census Bureau need the name of my company?
The original purpose of the Census Bureau was to ascertain the official census, or the number of Americans. It’s evolved into a highly intrusive “fact-finding” government agency, backed by threats of prosecution if a citizen refuses to answer the survey.
From the Census Bureau:
Respondents are required to answer all questions on the American Community Survey (ACS) to the best of their ability. Response to this and other Census surveys is required by law (Section 221 of Title 13, Chapter 7, United States Code). This chapter also contains information regarding offenses and possible penalties. According to Section 221, persons who do not respond shall be fined not more than $100. Title 18 U.S.C. Section 3571 and Section 3559, in effect amends Title 13 U.S.C. Section 221 by changing the fine for anyone over 18 years old who refuses or willfully neglects to complete the questionnaire or answer questions posed by census takers from a fine of not more than $100 to not more than $5,000. More information.
The survey is being sent out each year:
The ACS is part of the Decennial Census Program. It is a survey that is sent to a small percentage of our population on a rotating basis. These data previously were collected only in census years in conjunction with the decennial census. Since the ACS is conducted every year, rather than once every ten years, it will provide more current data throughout the decade. The Census Bureau may use the information it collects only for statistical purposes. Title 13 requires the Census Bureau to keep all information about you, and all other respondents, strictly confidential. Any Census Bureau employee who violates these provisions is subject to a fine up to $250,000, a prison sentence up to five years, or both.
Don’t be fooled by the new, improved 2010 Census which citizens are asked to fill out every ten years. While it may contain only 10 questions, behind the scenes, the Census Bureau is requiring citizens to give out detailed highly personal info each year in the American Community Survey.
For more info on how intrusive the Census Bureau has become, the site, CheckpointUSA.org is a great site to visit.
By LBG
Image - Phone call
