Census 2010 (tax, costs, authority)

[SunnaH]

I have been visited by a census volunteer five times already and two of the times she left a note that she would return. The third I spoke to her and told her nicely that I was not interested in filling it out. She left but not before threatening me that she would be back with her supervisor. I have read the government laws and nowhere I can find that it is a requirement for me as a citizen to fill it out. Instead part of it says that I can be only visited three times and I can be fined up to 100 dollars. Has anyone here had any experience in this area? Is there any government authority I can speak to to end this (almost) harassment?

[Yankeesfan]

Why do you want to evade this? What are you trying to hide? Rather ironic that you want "A GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY" to end your "harassment" when you refuse to cooperate and acknowledge to the government that you exist.

[SunnaH]

Thank you very much for your input.

BTW: My wife's a Yankees fan too. Goooo Yankees!!!

[cdmurphy]

Originally Posted by SunnaH

I have been visited by a census volunteer five times already and two of the times she left a note that she would return. The third I spoke to her and told her nicely that I was not interested in filling it out. She left but not before threatening me that she would be back with her supervisor. I have read the government laws and nowhere I can find that it is a requirement for me as a citizen to fill it out. Instead part of it says that I can be only visited three times and I can be fined up to 100 dollars. Has anyone here had any experience in this area? Is there any government authority I can speak to to end this (almost) harassment?

U.S. Code, Title 13 - Census

Sec. 221. Refusal or neglect to answer questions; false answers

(a) Whoever, being over eighteen years of age, refuses or willfully
neglects, when requested by the Secretary, or by any other authorized
officer or employee of the Department of Commerce or bureau or agency
thereof acting under the instructions of the Secretary or authorized
officer, to answer, to the best of his knowledge, any of the questions
on any schedule submitted to him in connection with any census or survey
provided for by subchapters I, II, IV, and V of chapter 5 of this title,
applying to himself or to the family to which he belongs or is related,
or to the farm or farms of which he or his family is the occupant, shall
be fined not more than $100.
(b) Whoever, when answering questions described in subsection (a) of
this section, and under the conditions or circumstances described in
such subsection, willfully gives any answer that is false, shall be
fined not more than $500.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, no person
shall be compelled to disclose information relative to his religious
beliefs or to membership in a religious body.

[GreenGene]

Just answer the questions - honestly - and the census worker won't be back. It's that simple. And no, it's not harassment, just someone trying to do their job.

[Cindiana]

The census has been taken every 10 years since 1790, it's not anything new. If you'd sent your form in, no one would have come to your door.

[car54]

Since there is absolutely nothing NOVA-specific about the 2010 Census....you should visit the Politics and Other Controversies forum.

Type "census" into the search box...and you can read all day and half the night about it.

[alleyrlt]

Originally Posted by Cabe09

The census has been taken every 10 years since 1790, it's not anything new. If you'd sent your form in, no one would have come to your door.

Maybe not come to your door, but our tax dollars are once again not being used appropriately ... case in point, I DID fill out my form and send it in and got a phone call from the Census Bureau. They stated they did in fact receive my form filled out in full, but wanted to "verify" my information. They were asking sooooooo much personal information. It was ridiculous. I finally ended the call. I know it was them. They had called about 5 times previously leaving messages. Insane!

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by SunnaH

I have been visited by a census volunteer five times already and two of the times she left a note that she would return. The third I spoke to her and told her nicely that I was not interested in filling it out. She left but not before threatening me that she would be back with her supervisor. I have read the government laws and nowhere I can find that it is a requirement for me as a citizen to fill it out. Instead part of it says that I can be only visited three times and I can be fined up to 100 dollars. Has anyone here had any experience in this area? Is there any government authority I can speak to to end this (almost) harassment?

Yes, it's the law, so why not complete the form? It won't take you more than 5 minutes. If you want equal representation, you need to complete it.

Please, just fill out the form and save the rest of us the money that it costs us to have census takers come to your house. Generations from now, your descendants will appreciate your efforts when they trace their family tree.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by alleyrlt

Maybe not come to your door, but our tax dollars are once again not being used appropriately ... case in point, I DID fill out my form and send it in and got a phone call from the Census Bureau. They stated they did in fact receive my form filled out in full, but wanted to "verify" my information. They were asking sooooooo much personal information. It was ridiculous. I finally ended the call. I know it was them. They had called about 5 times previously leaving messages. Insane!

That is NOT the government. That's a scam! Do NOT give them any information. The census takers do not call you, they come directly to your door so that they can show you official ID's. There are lots of these scammers now who are mining for information.