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Census and American Community Survey

post #1 of 8
5/3/10 at 7:19am
Thread Starter 
I know the Census is only once every 10 years, but the American Community Survey is every year. Has anyone read the questions on the latter? WOW! A bit creepy, if you ask me. (You can read them by downloading the questionnaire here: http://www.census.gov/acs/www/SBasic...st/SQuest1.htm.) One example is: What time did this person usually leave home
to go to work LAST WEEK?

I dunno about you, but I grew up in Gary, IN and if someone comes by asking THAT type of question, I think they're fixing to rob the place, just sayin'.

What are your thoughts?

Oh, and a bit of a rant...I asked DH to fill out the Census form for us and he mailed it the day after April 21. :/

Anyway, Friday, while we were at work, a Census worker stopped by and left a note. Sunday afternoon, while we were at church, he stopped by again. Then Sunday, THREE hours later, he stopped by a third time (I didn't answer the door because I was trying to sleep off a migraine and was annoyed to be woken up by the doorbell).

What the crap? I'm letting DH deal with it. lol
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post #2 of 8
5/3/10 at 12:01pm
I think that Survey is going out with the Census Form but not to ALL households, just SOME households. It's a good thing it didn't come to mine, I wouldn't have filled it out.

As it was I only answered a few questions on the Census Form. Under the Nationality question, I wrote in "American". I thought this country wanted to get beyond race? If that is so, then they need to ditch the race/nationality questions.
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post #3 of 8
5/3/10 at 2:50pm
I wouldn't answer those kinds of questions if they mail me that survey.
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post #4 of 8
5/3/10 at 5:23pm
There is a good reason for that question.

They want to know about traffic flows, where they're coming from, and where they're going. This is important in appropriating funds for road and highway projects.
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post #5 of 8
5/3/10 at 6:46pm
They will have to get that info from someone beside me because I read those questions, my personal life is none of the government's business.
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post #6 of 8
5/3/10 at 8:00pm
If I understand it correctly, 10% of all households and businesses get the Community survey each year. But I also think you're not required to answer the questions, unlike the actual Census.
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post #7 of 8
5/4/10 at 6:22am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrblanche View Post
If I understand it correctly, 10% of all households and businesses get the Community survey each year. But I also think you're not required to answer the questions, unlike the actual Census.
Nope, you are required and there is even a fine or prosecution for not answering. If you purposely don't answer, it's $100 per question, up to a maximum of $5000. If you purposely LIE on a question, it's $500 per question up to a maximum of $5000. I believe it's risk of 2-years imprisonment and a $5000 fine if your purposely ignore it.

And as to WHY they're asking, it still seems shady. And unlike the Census, this one is mailed to an address, not a person, and it requires you to fill out your full name, address, etc.

The survey also asks how much you spent on electricity, gas, mortgage, etc. the previous month.

In this day and age of people wanting to ensure privacy and security, the questions, IMO, get TOO personal.

And if they want to know about traffic flow...the city can ask, not the federal government. Sorry, I just wouldn't trust THAT much information in one spot.
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post #8 of 8
5/4/10 at 6:33am
Here, if the government wants to know about traffic flow, they send someone to count the cars - there is no way I would mail back a form with that kind of information on it
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