Census Questions

[smithjd]

An interesting aside...

In my AO, they didn't even mail out census forms to anyone. We are a rural area and they claim poor response last time. So, its all door to door for the census takers for us. Lots of reimbursement miles for them. Probably stimulus for BIG OIL...

I answered a couple questions that on second thought I wouldn't answer again, but when they got to whether or not I own my home, pay a mortgage or rent, I politely declined to answer. I was told that was a very common response to that question. Not worried about it, either.

[falightfighter]

It has to do with basic assumptions about the power of gov't, specifically the fed.gov.

The basic assumption in the US Constitution is that the powers of the fed.gov are limited, and unless specifically granted to them in the Constitution, they don't have those powers. The 10th Amendment spells this out, as explicitly as possible. Unfortunately, too many people (and officials) don't seem to understand this.

From this, it follows that, unless specifically authorized (for example, required to conduct an enumeration), the fed.gov is not allowed to add things on (for example, cell phone #s are not part of an enumeration).

It's not that giving out your cell phone #, or race, or whatever, is that arduous- its based on the principle that the fed.gov is not allowed to step outside the restrictions placed by the US Constitution. The Constitution is a limit on the powers of the fed.gov, period. Anything not mentioned is assumed to be reserved to the states or to the people.

[parishioner]

It has to do with basic assumptions about the power of gov't, specifically the fed.gov.

The basic assumption in the US Constitution is that the powers of the fed.gov are limited, and unless specifically granted to them in the Constitution, they don't have those powers. The 10th Amendment spells this out, as explicitly as possible. Unfortunately, too many people (and officials) don't seem to understand this.

From this, it follows that, unless specifically authorized (for example, required to conduct an enumeration), the fed.gov is not allowed to add things on (for example, cell phone #s are not part of an enumeration).

It's not that giving out your cell phone #, or race, or whatever, is that arduous- its based on the principle that the fed.gov is not allowed to step outside the restrictions placed by the US Constitution. The Constitution is a limit on the powers of the fed.gov, period. Anything not mentioned is assumed to be reserved to the states or to the people.

I found this regarding the American Community Survey formerly known as the "long form. This one asks you things like how much is your yearly income, who are your insurance companies and other private information that you wouldn't tell a stranger. Apparently these codes give the government authority to do so. I think its bull.

http://www.gao.gov/decisions/other/289852.htm

As discussed in detail below, we find that the Bureau has the authority under 13 U.S.C. §§ 141 and 193 to conduct the ACS. Although there is little legislative action tracking this Bureau initiative, the Bureau clearly has authority to require responses from the public to this survey. See 13 U.S.C. § 221.

This authority seems to conflict with constitution.

[Detective_D]

Our census forms never came.

So, I guess I wont be answering any of them.
~D

[rdc0000]

Hmm I might be an expert on Census forms since I received the long form in 2009 and two forms in 2010. Since the long form was not in a Census year, I declined to fill it out.

If you do not want to answer a question, you need to put "no response" on the question. If you do not want to give your name, put "adult1" or "child2" or in my case "ass1".

I have had some nice chats with the Census employees. Do not threaten them or make ugly remarks. Just say nice things like "I gotta go call back tomorrow" and hang up.

The calling stage will begin in about 8 weeks. They would not quit calling about the long form until I was threatened with violating the law and I replied send the US Marshalls and quit calling.

[dbrowne1]

Although the Constitution requires an Enumeration every ten years, I don’t see how it limits what questions can be asked.

I don't see how it allows or authorizes anything beyond an enumeration.

They can send all the door knockers they want, I'll just ignore them.