American Community Survey

R

Robusta

Member
Location
upstate New York
This is the second time one of these things landed in my mailbox. Last one several years ago I resisted to the point of receiving threatening phone call from the Commerce Department. I don't know what enforcement powers they have or exactly what the charge would be for refusing to answer this thing.

My wife finally reminded me that I live by way of a government pension check and it probably would be advisable for me to fill it out and get it over with. I am more scared of her so I did as orderered.

Govt. claims that all kinds of great benefits are distributed due to the answers to their queries. I see it as an unconstitutional intrusion into my personal affairs. Just another case of over reach by unelected bureaucrats.

We have had this new one for a while now. Long enough that we have received several postcards urging me to complete the survey and threatening me with dire consequences if I fail to do so. It will get sent back but in my own good time.
 

Sounds like a scam, just a way to gather your personal information. If you could trace them you might find they are in Russia or Lower Nigeria.

If they ask for your social security number, it definitely is a scam.
 
Give them false information. I would call them or research to see who they really are. I certainly would not give my SS#.
 

I researched it and it is legal but there are some people sending out fake ones. They say if you are unsure to call the census bureau to be sure you got the correct one. The info said it is used to decide where to build schools, police and fire departments and things like that. It said it will not ask for SS#. It can be completed online also. I still would not give them all the correct info. It says you can be fined but I wonder if they really would.
 
Butterfly said:
What kind of info does it want that you are worried about?
Click to expand...

Is quite comprehensive. Living arrangements, income, source of income, type of housing heritage,level of handicap, type and cost of fuel used for cooking, type and cost of heating, how long is your commute, what kind and how often do you use public transportation. if not working why.

I just question the authority of the government to collect this data,under threat of penalty,outside the constitutionally mandate decagonal census
. The ACS is conducted under the authority of Title 13, U.S. Code
(U.S.C.), Sections 141 and 193, and response is required by law.
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 amend 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
 
Yeah, that does seem intrusive. A number on years ago I got one from the gov't, but it was more general in nature, stuff like do you use public transportation, have kids in school, live in a single family dwelling or an apartment, etc., and I'm thinking it was anonymous. I wouldn't like having to answer questions about income, whether you live alone, etc. I've gotten a bit more paranoid about personal information as I've become a geezer.
 
in the olden days there was a book published with all the information for your family, how many in the household, ages, work etc etc. it was available to all.... I no longer see this book probably due to privacy issues. I would imagine if you called and was informed it was legit then I would fill it out so your local area can get the funding for schools, public infrastucture, i.e. roads, water,sewage etc etc.
 
Well, it is a way to determine if federal Programs are working or not. It's a way to get valuable information about the condition of the United States. And yes, almost everything you put down on that form will be made public in 2089 or so. Until then you will be grouped together for statistical purposes. "18% stated" type of thing.
 
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