The American Community Survey? "No thanks"

[Quicksilver]

Did you get one of these in the mail?
I filled out the census but I'm balking
at this survey. Way to many questions
most of which I believe are none of their business.

American Community Survey & the 2010 Census

[statdoc]

Yet more intrusions into the personal lives by the left, who think they know better.

[motordavid]

I agree on the way too many questions...
We got our census form at the FLA shack in April; I tossed it as we aren't residents there, and called the "help line" twice: the geniuses told me
to go get a form when we got back to NC. The forms are not handy to obtain in this county.

Finally, a guy called me, who had been by the NC Mtn house while we weren't home, and I answered his questions on the phone. And, he was clueless,
as 75% of the ~30 homes up here are seasonal and owned by non-NC residents, and he couldn't understand why he couldn't find anyone home on his drive-by.

Back at the Count'em Ranch, the hundreds of thousands, (maybe millions), that will fall through the counting cracks is remarkable. And, other than gerrymandered
congressional seats, I don't get the "goal". ~A third of a billion here in the US, and growing, especially from the gang sneaking in over the border.

[Quicksilver]

Of course MD you recognize that the "The American Community Survey"
is not really the census. This second go round is the rope a dope
for the expressed purpose of pulverizing your well being for your
personal info. It has nothing to do with gerrymandered congressional seats.

[JCL]

It's just your regular 10 year census. We call it the 'long form' here, and apparently you used to do so as well. Over the past 50 years or so, a portion of households get the long form, while everyone gets the short form. Seems it has been mandatory, whichever government has been in power, for some time now. But you can still call it Obama's fault if you like.

I looked it up: the long form, under whatever name, has been around since 1940 in the US.

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Of course MD you recognize that the "The American Community Survey"
is not really the census. This second go round is the rope a dope
for the expressed purpose of pulverizing your well being for your
personal info. It has nothing to do with gerrymandered congressional seats.

QwkAg,
I understood the "long"/nosey version vs the phone version I finally did...
My point is the census may be a marvelous, historical and slightly important data source to someone in "gov't".

The process and "count" is like a cheap colander from Walmart, and the
count is simply slightly more than a SWAG, that gives the social scientists data to play with for a few years.

Whether we have 310 Million or 310,233,000 people in the US at any given minute, today, is of zip consequence to me, or the "nation", imo.

The redistricting for "congressional representation" was one of the major effects that the census was based on; that too, is of zero concern to me or, my life.

Stand up and be counted...

One of the Official versions from the US Politburo:
US & World Population Clock

[statdoc]

Originally Posted by JCL

It's just your regular 10 year census. We call it the 'long form' here, and apparently you used to do so as well. Over the past 50 years or so, a portion of households get the long form, while everyone gets the short form. Seems it has been mandatory, whichever government has been in power, for some time now. But you can still call it Obama's fault if you like.

I looked it up: the long form, under whatever name, has been around since 1940 in the US.

No, it isn't the "regular 10 year census". Recipients get the regular census questionairre, plus some get the ACS. According to their website, "The American Community Survey, which replaced the decennial census long form, provides communities with detailed population and housing characteristics every year instead of once every 10 years like the decennial census." The US Constitution calls for a census every 10 years; it does not call for intrusive questioning yearly.

[Quicksilver]

The Doctor is in da house.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by statdoc

No, it isn't the "regular 10 year census". Recipients get the regular census questionairre, plus some get the ACS. According to their website, "The American Community Survey, which replaced the decennial census long form, provides communities with detailed population and housing characteristics every year instead of once every 10 years like the decennial census." The US Constitution calls for a census every 10 years; it does not call for intrusive questioning yearly.

My mistake. I understood that the survey replaced the long form (which we have here as well). Yes, annual surveys would be a pain, if they called the same person every year, which I don't think they are likely to do. I do understand your constitutional position.

[ard]

Quick-

Two different documents FOR SURE. The ACS was WAY more than I felt was mandated by propriety... and the law.

I made the conscious decision to not particpate and to take it as far as necessary to object. After... scratch that... when they called they said I had not responded to two mailings... hmm. My wife got that call and said "talk to my husband". He asked what time. She said 6PM sunday (this was many months ago).

6PM he called. I explained I would be happy to participate in the census and would be pleased to provide the information proscribed by the constitution. We went back and forth a bit. FInally I said "you know, I've found no history of caselaw for failing to participate in the ACS, and would be happy to be a test case".

Call ended, never heard another word. Did fill out the short form.

A

PS Funny thing is that I am definitely NOT a "constutiton says" kind of guy, but this really ticked me off