I welcome our omnipotent government

American Community Survey (ACS)

First thing's first. This is now part of the census. And unlike voting and going to church, this one is mandatory.

The American Community Survey is conducted under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 193, and response is mandatory. 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 amends 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. The U.S. Census Bureau may use this information only for statistical purposes. We can assure you that your confidentiality is protected. Title 13 requires the Census Bureau to keep all information about you and all other respondents strictly confidential. Any Census Bureau employee who violates these provisions is subject to a fine of up to $250,000 or a prison sentence of up to five years, or both.

You may view Title 13 at the U. S. House of Representatives website at the following address: http://uscode.house.gov/download/title_13.shtml

--http://www.census.gov/acs/www/SBasics/What/What1.htm

So let's recap: Census. New. Mandatory. There is at least one of those 3 that you will not believe. I assure you, they are all three mostly true. The new thing isn't exact, it's been going on for a few years, but it only hits a certain percentage of the population, and this year I'm the unlucky target.

Unlucky he says, how come?

Let's look at their faq for the answer (faq location is here.)

I've never seen anything this intrusive. Why do you ask such detailed questions?

The ACS questionnaire asks very detailed questions because we are required to collect specific information for federal and state government programs. For example, long-term care providers and community planners use information about disability to help them decide where to locate services and facilities. Federal and state government transportation planning agencies use journey-to-work information for roads and public transit development. You can find Fact Sheets on the ACS Web site that explain why we ask these questions.

No shit. This bastard is an evil form. They start with my address. Then they get my name. Now every name of everyone else that lives at the address. Dates of birth, physical problems, mental capacities, mortgage amount, phone number...

OH and then there's this gem of racial profiling (page 2, 3, and 4):

NOTE: Please answer BOTH Question 5 about Hispanic origin and Question 6 about race. For this survey, Hispanic origins are not races.

Then they go on to make the person say where their heritage stems. Funny, I'm just "caucasian." Maybe I should fill that question out with "From caucasia."

Anyway, you can look at the forms online or just wait until your turn. Don't be surprised when you read the questions and find that you do not wish to provide any answers.

I checked the fines and was considering just letting them get me for felony refusal or something. I simply do NOT want to provide anyone with this level of detailed information. As it turns out if I don't get on to filling the form out they will start calling me. Odd how they'd know my phone number from an "anonymous" survey. And I guess if that doesn't work they send out a "field rep." I shit you not -- read the faq above.

So like the all the king's horses and all the king's men will be coming to the forest of peasants to find out how they are living. I wish I was on the brute squad.