Your Response Is Required By Law!

[amicus]

(US Census Form Enclosed)

That on the face of the envelope that came in the mail, and, “To Resident At:…”
Like they don't know my name?

Now I know the Constitution mandates a Census be taken every ten years, but…am I, are you, obligated under law to respond?

If so; why?

Call me paranoid if you wish, but I am not sure I want the US Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau, to know just where I am or anything else about my existence.

I have not opened the envelope as yet…perhaps….

Which should I go to jail for…failing to answer the Census or Inciting a Revolution?

Both?

Amicus

 

[TE999]

I don't know what's a bigger joke with this census...putting people 'on their honor' to answer a clutch of intrusive questions honestly or taking a sample of said questions and basing government program policy on them.

It says right on the form that you as a citizen have an obligation to fill it out accurately or your community won't get it's 'fair share' of tax bucks glommed from other communities...what's a 'fair share' of other peoples money anyway? The fact that the government believes other communities deserve your money more than yours does, or vice-versa?

If you're the one getting other peoples money, I'm sure it seems fair.

I can't wait to see the Census Cops putting people in Census Jail because they didn't answer a stupid government form.

 

[xssve]

Call me paranoid if you wish, but I am not sure I want the US Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau, to know just where I am or anything else about my existence.

Yer paranoid.

And, a fucking drama queen - go ahead and start a revolution, knock yourself out.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I just wrote across the form...

"There are two people living at this address."

And sent it back. That's all I'm required to tell them. All that other bullshit is just that bullshit. They don't need to know my age, my gender, my race, my income, my name, etc. Just how many people live here.

 

[MzDeviancy]

(US Census Form Enclosed)

That on the face of the envelope that came in the mail, and, “To Resident At:…”
Like they don't know my name?

Now I know the Constitution mandates a Census be taken every ten years, but…am I, are you, obligated under law to respond?

If so; why?

Call me paranoid if you wish, but I am not sure I want the US Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau, to know just where I am or anything else about my existence.

I have not opened the envelope as yet…perhaps….

Which should I go to jail for…failing to answer the Census or Inciting a Revolution?

Both?

Amicus

Yes, it's required by law because of the reasons listed here:

http://2010.census.gov/2010census/why/index.php

and because this is the information that allows them to draw electoral riding lines.

Amicus, reading your posts leaves me with the impression that you're just another libertarian who believes in absolute individual freedom with zero obligation to the state. Even with a minimal government like the ideal you espouse, there would still be some obligations.

As far as responsibilities to the state go, filling out a census form ain't that bad. Does everything have to be the next cause for revolution with you? Take the ten minutes to fill it out and quit complaining.

 

[JackLuis]

Don't fill in the form Ami.

It is a trick to get you to confirm that the 37 deductions you took on your tax forms was wrong. The Census will cross correlate with the IRS and you'll be charged with lying to the Census!

 

[amicus]

Thanks Zeb....I wonder does no one else see as a threat the Big Black Letters on the Envelope?

I may have a failing memory but I do not recall ever receiving correspondence from the Government with that imprinted on the envelope.

You Liberal, Progressive, Big Government folk out there, will there ever come a point where Government becomes intrusive in your Life?

Will you always just take the ten minutes, fill it out and forget it?

Eternal vigilance my friends, "One day the Man will come and take you away...", Imagine me quoting that?

heh

ami

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Don't fill in the form Ami.

It is a trick to get you to confirm that the 37 deductions you took on your tax forms was wrong. The Census will cross correlate with the IRS and you'll be charged with lying to the Census!

Deductions your take on your taxes don't have to live with you especially if they are away at college. Or in jail. Or juvi.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

It is a trick to get you to confirm that the 37 deductions you took on your tax forms was wrong. The Census will cross correlate with the IRS and you'll be charged with lying to the Census!

Two government agencies sharing information? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!!!

 

[SeaCat]

Funny, I didn't find anything at all intrusive in the form. (Unlike the warnings I have been hearing by many.)

Number of people in my household.
Ages and genders of those in my household.
Social Security Numbers of those in my household.
Race or ethnic origins of those in my household.

Oddly enough I didn't find anything about Employment, Immigration Status, Sexual Orientation, Voting Preference, etc. etc. ad nauseum.

Cat

 

[amicus]

Funny, I didn't find anything at all intrusive in the form. (Unlike the warnings I have been hearing by many.)

Number of people in my household.
Ages and genders of those in my household.
Social Security Numbers of those in my household.
Race or ethnic origins of those in my household.

Oddly enough I didn't find anything about Employment, Immigration Status, Sexual Orientation, Voting Preference, etc. etc. ad nauseum.

Cat

~~~

Sorry, Cat, I will keep trying to find something we can agree upon.



ami

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Here is the original pertinent Article of the Constitution.

Article I

Section. 2.

The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

I was amended by:

Amendment XIV

Section 2.

Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age,* and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

So from this I assume that they only need to know the count of everyone over 21 in a country. All that other stuff...even on the short form is crap. I would for sure not give my SSN on a form that will pass through I don't know how many hands before it's archived.

And all the other stuff is none of their business.

 

[amicus]

Thank you again, Zeb...see there, there can be something gained from a somewhat frivolous posting...we all get to read the law....

ami

 

[SeaCat]

~~~

Sorry, Cat, I will keep trying to find something we can agree upon.



ami

Oh we have occasionally agreed on things, just as we have occasionaly disagreed on things. Hell we have even on occasion agreed to disagree.

Cat

 

[Huckleman2000]

The form doesn't ask for your SS# - it asks for your phone number in case they need to clarify anything.

I recently had a short-term job with the Census, delivering forms to mobile-home and RV parks, and small towns where all the residents had PO Boxes. The forms had to be hand-delivered for a few reasons. Mostly because the Census must account for any living quarters, and the Post Office can't be pulled away from their responsibilities to door-deliver forms to residences they would otherwise have only PO Box delivery service. Moreover, they take the not-sharing information with other government agencies very seriously. Any incidents where information might have been exposed, even inadvertantly (like working on certain forms in a restaurant, for example) have to be written up and investigated - there's a whole procedure and form to fill out, and it's one of the first things they train you on, and they make it pretty clear that filling one of those forms out will pretty much be your last job act. Most of my co-workers were retirees, including many vets, and everyone took their responsibilities seriously.

 

[Liar]

The race/ethnicity question fascinates me. Eleventy different variations on east asian and pacific (Guamanian?), but no box, let alone distinction, for mid-east ethnicities.

Demographics must look way different in the US than here.

 

[FreshlyDirty]

If we had a Republican President... If the majority in the House was Republican... If the majority in the Senate was Republican... This same Census form would have still arrived.

 

[amicus]

]If we had a Republican President... If the majority in the House was Republican... If the majority in the Senate was Republican... This same Census form would have still arrived[/I].

~~~

That may or may not be true, FreshlyDirty, but if you look at my original Post, no Political Parties were mentioned.

My continual tirade against big government is over a half century in the making and confirmed at my first rather sizeable paycheck from a talk radio station in Honolulu where over half was taken by the various agencies of government.

My thinking is that both major parties are corrupt beyond salvation and need to be scrapped for something new.

Amicus

 

[DeeZire]

What I find fascinating is the idea that a bunch of macho dudes like Ami and TE99 and Zeb would allow themselves to be scared shitless by a census form. It's like you guys are afraid of your own shadow. Do you hire armed guards to watch over you while you sleep (with the night light on?) News flash: You are no longer allowed to hide behind Mommy when the evil Monster Man comes knocking at your door. You're adults now. Try acting that way.

 

[amicus]

DeeZire is one of those that even as they paint the Star of David on your door and pin a cloth six pointed star to your sleeve you still won't get it.

Right?

Amicus

 

[Handley_Page]

(US Census Form Enclosed)

That on the face of the envelope that came in the mail, and, “To Resident At:…”
Like they don't know my name?

Now I know the Constitution mandates a Census be taken every ten years, but…am I, are you, obligated under law to respond?

If so; why?


Amicus

Census forms in the UK are legally required to be filled in and submitted.
Given the option, I don't fill in the "ethnic" bit. I'm human, and English.

 

[oggbashan]

I have used previous census information for England, going back to the first one in 1841, to find information about my family and my wife's family.

No census information that identifies individuals can be revealed until 100 years have elapsed. Many people,researching their family history, are waiting impatiently for the 1911 census to be available online.

The census information, summarised and made anonymous, is used by many organisations to plan for the future. It might get you a new doctors' surgery, a hospital, a Walmart, a MacD or a new road. It might also DENY you services you might want because there aren't enough customers in a census area.

Remember that Jesus was born in Bethlehem because Joseph had to return there for a Roman census. Today you don't have to travel to complete a census form.

Og

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I have used previous census information for England, going back to the first one in 1841, to find information about my family and my wife's family.

No census information that identifies individuals can be revealed until 100 years have elapsed. Many people,researching their family history, are waiting impatiently for the 1911 census to be available online.

The census information, summarised and made anonymous, is used by many organisations to plan for the future. It might get you a new doctors' surgery, a hospital, a Walmart, a MacD or a new road. It might also DENY you services you might want because there aren't enough customers in a census area.

Remember that Jesus was born in Bethlehem because Joseph had to return there for a Roman census. Today you don't have to travel to complete a census form.

Og

Jesus wasnt born in Bethlehem nor did Joseph leave Nazareth for census taking. There are some excellent books on the subject of historical Jesus.

http://www.amazon.com/Excavating-Je...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269518848&sr=1-1

 

[TxRad]

(US Census Form Enclosed)

That on the face of the envelope that came in the mail, and, “To Resident At:…”
Like they don't know my name?

Now I know the Constitution mandates a Census be taken every ten years, but…am I, are you, obligated under law to respond?

If so; why?

Call me paranoid if you wish, but I am not sure I want the US Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau, to know just where I am or anything else about my existence.

I have not opened the envelope as yet…perhaps….

Which should I go to jail for…failing to answer the Census or Inciting a Revolution?

Both?

Amicus

If you use a cell phone, a credit card, or a bank account, the federal government knows exactly where you are.

That should help your paranoia. Glad to be of service.

Fill out the fucking form, it's to your advantage.

 

[MzDeviancy]

If you use a cell phone, a credit card, or a bank account, the federal government knows exactly where you are.

That should help your paranoia.

Or convince him that the government is even more totalitarian than he believed and monitoring his every move-no, his every THOUGHT! I predict Amicus starts wearing a tinfoil hat to keep the CIA from picking up his brainwaves with their scanners.