Today I got a follow up letter in the mail from the census folks, aka the United States Department of Commerce. Perhaps if someone is feeling a little stressed out from the holidays or life in general, or if you are just really, really bored, you might like to call some of the numbers listed in the letter. Just a thought. After all, one of them is toll free. Please do not mention my name, as I "didn't" get this letter--in other words, I ain't scheduling no appointment!!! I will, however, call Ms. Clark from a pay phone at my earliest convenience to ask her why she is harrassing people. If you chose not to be involved in this, I understand. At least you will be forewarned.

Here is the body of the letter:

Recently, one of our Field Representatives visited your household. I understand that you do not wish to participate in The Supplemental Census 2000 Survey (The American Community Survey). The purpose of this letter is to remind you that your household's participation in the survey is required by law.

The primary goal of this survey is to provide current information on subjects like income, education, commuting, and housing. Your efforts help to provide the information needed by your community, county, and state, as well as the Nation, to plan programs at all levels. When you hear about the average income for states or cities, the data were collected by the ten-year census. The Supplemental Census 2000 Survey will provide these data on a continual basis making the data more timely and useful.

We are conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Section 8. Section 9 of this law requires us to keep all information only for statistical purposes. Please call our Field Representative, Mr. Daniels at 903-843-2480 to schedule an appointment or call the Program Supervisor, Ms. Lisa Clark at 1-800-835-9752, ext. 4462.

We hope you will decide to participate in this survey that can help us improve the information that you and others provide about your community.

Sincerely,

ALFONSO E. MIRABAL Regional Director

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), December 08, 2000

Answers

If it was me, I would just make up a bunch of crap and fill in the blanks. Like 12 people live in this house and we get by on $4 a month and stuff like that.

-- Joe (jcole@apha.com), December 08, 2000.

Well, Green, I reckon I'd like to call that 800 number just to rattle someone's cage. I'll be doing it from a location other than home, also. Just thought you'd like a little support. Of course you know when you call that the person you speak to will end up sounding like a robot, will keep quoting the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over.......do they take classes to learn that?

By the way, is there any way to actually get your hands on Title 13 United States Code, sections 8 and 9 to see what it actually says? I certainly wouldn't want to respond to it either-- the questions are absolutely none of their business.

We have to pay income taxes practically at gunpoint to provide for the types of government programs hinted at in the letter, and now we have to submit to this kind of examination, supposedly at gunpoint too? It's an outrage.

Does anyone know if anyone has actually been fined after not responding to the census?

Keep us posted.

-- Hannah Maria Holly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), December 08, 2000.

I read in our local paper during the most recent census taking period that they were unable to find any record of anyone ever being fined for not filling out their census form. That was for the regular census. I don't know about this thing Green is dealing with. I would challenge them though. But, then, I'm like that...

-- Joe (jcole@apha.com), December 08, 2000.

I'll put it on redial from my home and annoy the lady to no end. Perhaps we can get an 800 fax number and send endless reams of the Constitution to them?

The US Code should show up from a search on Thomas search engine. I have it bookmarked at home and will put the addy here later.

A survey that is COMPULSORY????hmmm.To assign social program benefits? No, thank you.

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), December 08, 2000.

Best way to handle this sort of thing is with the "made up crap" suggestion.Keep it just barely believable and you can help screw up the statistics.

-- JT in Florida (gone2seed@hotmail.com), December 08, 2000.

anybody want to bet that Ms. Clark and ALFONSO are republicans. Bob in s.e.ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@hit.net), December 08, 2000.

No offense,but, in the time it took you towrite your post you could have filled out the questions asked. If you don't want to answer them then don't. It's your choice. It would cost them more to feed you if they sent you to jail. Others gave more(their lives) so you could have this choice. Jail hardly seams like death.

-- hillbilly (internethillbilly@hotmail.com), December 08, 2000.

Good response, Hillbilly, and good for keeping things in perspective.

-- Hannah Maria Holly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), December 08, 2000.

Hillbilly, I know I could have answered the questions in the time it took to write the letter. That is not the problem. The problem is-- why should I have to answer personal questions that the government will sell to companies and/or use to start or fund government programs that I do not participate in? And our heros died so we would be free, not free to be harassed.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), December 08, 2000.

I think it was Hillary Clinton who said, "Just say No".

Green, you just have to learn how to say NO, and MEAN IT!

-- hillbilly (internethillbilly@hotmail.com), December 08, 2000.

to find out the information that you need go to www4.law.

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), December 08, 2000.

To find out the information that you need, go to www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/13/9.html .This will take you to the code section you want. These sections have nothing to do with their being able to get the info, only with what they can do with it after they got it. 13/8.html needs to be put in the web address if you want section 8.

Green, Hubby found this info for me. Look into it and check it out for yourself, but it sounds like they are selling you a bill of goods. Hubby enjoys constitutional law, so he's handy for this sort of thing!

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), December 08, 2000.

Thanks Leann. I think it is a bill of goods also. The census man kept insisting that "companies need to know this". It doesn't feel right at all to me. And I can't think of one single little thing about any of us here that any company needs to know about. Thanks again.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), December 09, 2000.

Hey, I own a company and am an upstanding member of the Chamber of Commerce. They get the stats on how many people live in a community from the census and peddle them to businesses to see if they want to move into the community. As far as I know, no business cares if you drive to work from home at 8am or 9:30. This is all about Fed programs. Giving money to businesses to move into "deprived" areas and getting businesses even more in the pocket of the government.

It's all trying to find out what kind of hand out will make you a better slave. If you don't want to be a slave...JUST SAY NO!!! If you want to be a slave, fill everything out that anyone ever hands you and you will get your 30 pieces of silver...maybe.

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), December 09, 2000.