US Census Update

[KukriKhan]

Have any of my fellow Americans received one of these letters/packets? (Envelope reads: YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW

"US American Community Survey", with a 28-page questionnaire to return, requiring:

Full name, address, telephone number, age, date of birth, education, taxes, income, marital status, date of marriage, how many times married, military service dates, number of bathrooms, number of bedrooms, housing market value, annual gas, electric, water, sewage, trash, and transportation costs, weekly, monthly & annual number of hours worked, where worked, for whom (and address), whether pay or receive child support, physical, mental or emotional disabilities, languages spoken, type of mortgage, race, ethnicity, place of birth, national ancestry...

So, after being shocked and amazed that my government wants all this info - more than even the military ever wanted for a security clearance, I might add - I LOOKED UP what the penalty was for not answering this thing that came addressed "Resident" to an incorrect address, and found it's $100 for not answering at all; $500 for answering falsely.

So I ditched it, and will pay the fine. I figure that's a $100 investment in my right to privacy from a gov't that can't hang onto personal data any better than my neighborhood grocery store.

Why do I hate freedom?

What would you do?

Do any non-US countries have such survey requirements?

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

If it's run by the government, I'd probably fill it out. They can find out anyways if they want to, and I personally don't care what they know as long as they're responsible with the information. Having them know the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in your house seems to be overkill, but it's really insignificant to personal privacy.

On the other hand, if the documents fell into the hands of someone else, like they have in the past (in America and the UK, to my knowledge), I would be extremely angry with the officials who allowed it to happen.

[Ice]

Have any of my fellow Americans received one of these letters/packets? (Envelope reads: YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW

"US American Community Survey", with a 28-page questionnaire to return, requiring:

Full name, address, telephone number, age, date of birth, education, taxes, income, marital status, date of marriage, how many times married, military service dates, number of bathrooms, number of bedrooms, housing market value, annual gas, electric, water, sewage, trash, and transportation costs, weekly, monthly & annual number of hours worked, where worked, for whom (and address), whether pay or receive child support, physical, mental or emotional disabilities, languages spoken, type of mortgage, race, ethnicity, place of birth, national ancestry...

So, after being shocked and amazed that my government wants all this info - more than even the military ever wanted for a security clearance, I might add - I LOOKED UP what the penalty was for not answering this thing that came addressed "Resident" to an incorrect address, and found it's $100 for not answering at all; $500 for answering falsely.

So I ditched it, and will pay the fine. I figure that's a $100 investment in my right to privacy from a gov't that can't hang onto personal data any better than my neighborhood grocery store.

Why do I hate freedom?

What would you do?

Do any non-US countries have such survey requirements?

Remember, big brother is watching you and he knows best.

[Husar]

I see this similar to EMFM.
Most of that info is only of statistical use anyway.

[ICantSpellDawg]

Have any of my fellow Americans received one of these letters/packets? (Envelope reads: YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW

"US American Community Survey", with a 28-page questionnaire to return, requiring:

Full name, address, telephone number, age, date of birth, education, taxes, income, marital status, date of marriage, how many times married, military service dates, number of bathrooms, number of bedrooms, housing market value, annual gas, electric, water, sewage, trash, and transportation costs, weekly, monthly & annual number of hours worked, where worked, for whom (and address), whether pay or receive child support, physical, mental or emotional disabilities, languages spoken, type of mortgage, race, ethnicity, place of birth, national ancestry...

So, after being shocked and amazed that my government wants all this info - more than even the military ever wanted for a security clearance, I might add - I LOOKED UP what the penalty was for not answering this thing that came addressed "Resident" to an incorrect address, and found it's $100 for not answering at all; $500 for answering falsely.

So I ditched it, and will pay the fine. I figure that's a $100 investment in my right to privacy from a gov't that can't hang onto personal data any better than my neighborhood grocery store.

Why do I hate freedom?

What would you do?

Do any non-US countries have such survey requirements?

DO NOT fill it out. I tear up jury duty notices. How dare they force us to do anything. If they asked nicely, I'd be more likely to do it. Same thing with jury duty.

Whenever anyone makes demands or threatens me I go ballistic.

[CountArach]

“Marge, you can’t kick me out of the house! you’ll cause a miscount on the census! a miscount!" [/The Simpsons]

[KukriKhan]

Yeah. I've completed my military obligation, serve on juries when selected, haul my butt to the polls in every election, pay my taxes accurately and on-time, register my property purchases, weapons, births and deaths, with the appropriate level of government. I feel I've adequately paid my dues to live in this land of the free and home of the brave.

You guys are right, every bit of info requested is available from some level of government. Why should I give the info, in one neat wrapped-up package, to an entity that hasn't shown sufficient security precautions - only to have it compiled in a personally-identifiable database copied to a DVD that some bureaucrat accidentally leaves sitting at his neighborhood Starbucks on his way to work?

From my reading, I've learned they no longer ask for your religion or social security number. LoL. Like an identity thief cares that I worship the Flying Macaroni Monster.

[Ronin]

now Mr. KukriKhan...you know you will comply and give the required information to our benevolent government....It is inevitable.

[CrossLOPER]

now Mr. KukriKhan...you know you will comply and give the required information to our benevolent government....It is inevitable.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Kralizec]

Of course, most information beyond name, date of birth, and place of residence is not necessary for this purpose, so the contents of the current census go beyond the bounds of the Constitutional requirement. Just remember that a basic, minimum census of some kind is required in order for our governmental system to work.

Well, how else are you going to determine the most effective electoral boundaries?

About the Netherlands, it's been tried a couple of times here since WWII but they're not well received by the public. The last one was in the late 70'ties I believe, accompanied with massive protests and thousends of forms were returned with false information.

[lars573]

^People having fun with their cencus forms might explain why some many people in Britian are offically recorded by the crown as being Jedi's.