Census complaints

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> -> SNETNEWS Mailing List > > Subj: Census Bureau complaint line 1-800-471-9424 > Date: 3/15/00 8:48:10 PM CST > From: spiker@amnix.com (spiker) > > Give the Census Bureau a piece of your mind at 1-800-471-9424 > How dare they ask such personal questions? > Only answer the first question and write "I plead the 5th Amendment" on all > the rest of the questions. > > -> Send "subscribe snetnews " to majordomo@world.std.com

-- ... (...@...com), March 16, 2000

Answers

the bottom line, the Official OMB number is for households in Puerto Rico not the 50 States. Read....

> > -> SNETNEWS Mailing List > > Subj: Regarding the Census > Date: 3/16/00 6:03:03 AM CST > From: Circulation@Vigo-Examiner.com (Circulation@Vigo-Examiner.com)

> > LETTER > > Regarding the Census > > You never give up! And that encourages those among us who > often have had enough. > > The Census has been bothering me a lot also. I read the > part of the "Long Form" -- as much as I could stomach. It > was clear even before seeing your postings that something > was very wrong. > > The long form is NOT required to be filled out AT ALL, at > least not by people residing outside PUERTO RICO. > > Proof: > > 1. The form number for the long form (at least the one I > have which was sent to an address in ALABAMA) is "Form D- > 2(UL)". The title of the form is "United States Census > 2000". > > 2. The form states at the top: "This is the official form > for all the people at this address. It is quick and easy > and your answers are protected by law...." Note that this > means that if THIS FORM is not valid and the above language > is correct, there is NO FORM for conducting the census for > the people living at the address contained on the form. > Also note that the form is supposedly "quick and easy" even > though it is 38 PAGES LONG. > > 3. At the bottom right of the front page of the long form > is written "OMB No. 0607-0856: Approval expires > 12/31/2000". > > 4. On the bottom of page 2 of Form D-2(UL) it states that > "The Census Bureau estimates that, for the average > household, this form will take about 38 minutes to > complete...." That doesn't sound very quick, but then > exactly what form or part of the form are they talking > about? > > 5. The next paragraph on Page 2 (a single sentence) is > the key: "Respondents are not required to respond to any > information collection unless it displays a valid approval > number from the Office of Management and Budget." > > Now, as you know, we have already been down the OMB number > road with the 1040. But guess what? They did it again! > > I went to the official OMB site and looked up the OMB > number, 0607-0856. > > The site is: > > http://www.whitehouse.gov/library/omb/OMBINVC.HTM#Department > of Commerce > > Here is the exact information found on the site for this > number: > > ================================================== > > OMB NO: 0607-0856 EXPIRATION DATE: 12/31/2000 > RESPS:106,200,000 HOURS:26,761,200 COSTS(000):$0 > United States Census 2000 > FORMS: D-1 D-1(E) D-1(E)SUPP D-1(HF) D-1(UL) D-1A(UL) D-2 D- > 2(E) > D-2(E)SUPP D-2(HF)\ > > ================================================== > > Note that the Form Name, "United States Census 2000" and the > expiration date are the same as on the form D-2(UL). > > However, as you will note, form D-2(UL) is NOT LISTED. > Therefore, OMB No. 0607-0856 is NOT a valid OMB number and > no one receiving it with THAT NUMBER on it is required to > fill it out. Since, according to page 1, "This is the > official form for all the people at this address", there > must be NO VALID FORM for anyone who receives the long form, > D-2(UL). > > The next finding is even more amazing. As I was cutting and > pasting the above from the OMB site, my eyes glanced down. > BELOW the listing for 0607-0856 I found Form D-2(UL) listed > under OMB NO: 0607-0858, titled "Census 2000 -- Puerto > Rico". However, take a GOOD LOOK at the information for > this OMB number: > > ======================================================= > > OMB NO: 0607-0858 EXPIRATION DATE: 12/31/2000 > RESPS:1,400,000 HOURS:453,504 COSTS(000):$0 > Census 2000 -- Puerto Rico > FORMS: D-1(UL)(PR) D-1(UL)(PR)(S) D-1(E)(PR) D-1(E)(PR)(S) > D-1(E)SUPP(PR) D-1(HF)(PR) D-1(HF)(PR)(S) D-2(UL)(PR) > D-2(UL)(PR)(S)\ > > ======================================================= > > This means that the D-2(UL) is AT BEST required for > residents of Puerto Rico. I guess that Congress can do > what it wants to with respect to Puerto Rico since Puerto > Rico is a Federal State "included" as part of the "United > States", which Alabama is NOT. > > At MOST, I would only complete the "Number of People" > section of the long form which is contained on the first > page of the form. This complies with the SOLE PURPOSE of > the Census as contained in law. > > Answering any other questions appears to be totally > voluntary. > > Let me know what you think about this and of course, get the > word out as appropriate to your readers. > > Terry W. Stough > > P.S.: It should take about two minutes to read this e-mail > AND complete the only required sections ("Number of people") > of the long form. According to OMB estimates, getting this > information out to EVERYONE could save people living in the > 50 supposedly sovereign states some estimated 25 MILLION > HOURS. Of course that might allow them time to find out > about the massive fraud about to be perpetrated on us AGAIN > on April 15th. > > -> Send "subscribe snetnews " to majordomo@world.std.com

-- ... (...@...com), March 16, 2000.


> > -> SNETNEWS Mailing List > > LETTER > > Census 2000 > > I recently wrote to my rep in Rhode Island about the census. > I had heard that it included personal information that I did > not feel should be given. This is his reply: > ---------------------------------------------------------- > Dear Ms. Grinnell: > > Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts about the > U.S. Census. I appreciate hearing from you on this topic > and commend your involvement in the legislative process. > > Article I, section 2, of the U.S. Constitution provides for > a national population count, which " shall be made within > three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the > United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten > Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct." The > main intent of this clause was to establish an accurate > enumeration of citizens for purposes of deciding > representation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Since > then, Congress has expanded the importance of the census (as > established in Title 13 of the U.S. Code), and population > estimates are now used in the apportionment of Federal > funds. > > Citizens' participation in the census benefits the entire > community. Because Federal funding to state and local > programs is often based on population, people who answer the > census completely and accurately help to provide valuable > information and secure funding for planning schools, > hospitals, roads, and more. For example, census information > helps decision makers understand which neighborhoods need > new schools and which ones need greater services for the > elderly. > > Your participation in Census 2000 is not mandatory, however, > the information you provide will be of great assistance to > Federal and state agencies who provide essential services to > you and your community. Please be assured that the > information you disclose will be used only for Census >

-- ... (...@...com), March 16, 2000.

: > > -> SNETNEWS Mailing List > > XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX WED MARCH 15 2000 21:52:09 ET XXXXX > > CENSUS BREAKDOWN: CITIZENS TELL SAM > TO SHOVE IT OVER PROBING QUESTIONS; > WILL PAY FINE > > Americans from coast to coast are expressing shock and outrage over the > level of detailed questioning from the federal government and the 2000 > Census, with thousands of citizens vowing to pay fines rather than > submit to the private nature of the inquisition, according to > congressional sources. > "The census count is already breaking down," said one Hill source. > "People are in revolt! Calls are flooding into our office... They are > very upset about the intrusive nature of the questions, such as how a > person gets to work, whether they have any disabilities, how many cars > they own, what their income was and who they work for!" > The Constitution of the United States grants the government authority to > count population, but a "long form" being sent to 1 out of 6 American > households strays far from that goal; requiring answers to more than 53 > personal questions or risk penalty. > U.S. Code, Title 13, Section 221 states citizens must fully comply with > the census or face a $100 fine. There is a $500 penalty for giving false > information. > Census officials received more than 600,000 phone calls on Tuesday, > according to officials. The majority of the callers lodged complaints > about the probing nature of the census questions. > And thousands of calls to Capitol Hill took staffers by surprise. > "It's a firestorm," said one congressional aide. > "Is this Al Gore's idea of 'reinventing government?'" one angry caller > complained to a receptionist for a besieged senator. "I have to tell > Washington how I got to work last week? In what type of car? And the > location of my office? Screw it. I'll pay the 100 bucks!" > Congressmen on Wednesday were referring complaints to the Census Hotline > [1-800-471-9424]. > A cover letter accompanying the long form states that no one will have > access to the information other than the Census Bureau. Yet many > questions appear to violate a citizen's right to privacy: > 10. What is this person's ancestry or ethnic origin? > 11. a. Does this person speak a language other than English at home? b. > What is this language? c. How well does this person speak English? > 12. Where was this person born? > 13. Is this person a citizen of the United States? > 14. When did this person come to live in the United States? > 15. a. Did this person live in this house or apartment 5 years ago? b. > Where did this person live 5 years ago? > 16. Does this person have any of the following long-lasting conditions: > blindness deafness or a severe vision or hearing impairment? A condition > that substantially limits one or more basic physical activities such as > walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting or carrying? > 18. Was this person under 15 years of age on April 1, 2000? > 19. Does this person have any of his/her own grandchildren under the age > of 18 living in this house or apartment? Is this grandparent currently > responsible for most of the basic needs of any grandchildren under the > age of 18 who lives in this house or apartment? How long has this > grandparent been responsible fort these grandchildren? > 22. At what location did this person work LAST WEEK? > 23. How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK? > 24. What time did this person usually leave home to go to work LAST > WEEK? > 25. LAST WEEK, was this person on layoff from a job? LAST WEEK, was this > person TEMPORARILY absent from a job or business? Has this person been > informed that he or she will be recalled to work within the next 6 > months or been given a date to return to work? > 27. Industry or Employer -- Describe clearly this person's chief job > activity or business last week. If this person had more than one job, > describe the one at which this person worked the most hours. If this > person had no job or business last week, give the information for > his/her last job or business since 1995. For whom did this person work? > What kind of business or industry was this? Is this mainly > manufacturing? wholesale trade? retail trade? Other (agriculture, > construction, service, government, etc.) > 31. Income in 1999: Wages salary, commissions, bonuses or tips from all > jobs; Self-employment from own non-farm businesses, including > proprietorships and partnerships; Interest dividends, net income, > royalty income, or income from estates and trusts. > 32. What was this person's total income in 1999? > Questions 33 through 42 deal with type of housing, whether someone rents > or owns, and how many bedrooms, whether there are plumbing facilities, > etc. > 43. How many automobiles, vans, and trucks of one-ton capacity or less > are kept at home for use by members of your household? > 46. What is monthly rent? Does the monthly rent include any meals? > 47. Do you have a mortgage, deed of trust, contract to purchase or > similar debt on this property? How mush is your regular monthly mortgage > payment on this property? Does your regular monthly mortgage payment > include payments for real estate taxes on this property? Does your > regular monthly mortgage payment include payments for fire, hazard, or > flood insurance on this property? > 48. Do you have a second mortgage or a home equity loan on this > property? How much is your regular monthly payment on all second or > junior mortgages and all home equity loans on this property? > 49. What were the real estate taxes on this property last year? > 50. What was the annual payment for fire, hazard and flood insurance on > this property? > 51. What is the value of this property; that is how much do you think > this house and lot, apartment or mobile home and lot would sell for if > it were for sale? > *** > One out of 100 households are to receive an even more detailed > questionnaire, The American Community Survey. That form requires answers > on "physical, mental, or emotional conditions lasting 6 months or more." > Developing... > > -> Send "subscribe snetnews " to majordomo@world.std.com



-- ... (...@...com), March 16, 2000.


Man, this is making my eyeballs hurt.

I keep hearing about census questions relating to guns. I haven't seen these questions in any of the posted listings. Is there someone who's actually seen these questions and can provide a form number?

-- Jim Cooke (JJCooke@yahoo.com), March 16, 2000.


I found this in todays paper, what do you think? -------------------------------------------------------------------- Stand up and be counted By ROBERT SAMUELSON 3/16/00

Americans live in a permanent state of siege. We are relentlessly bombarded by telemarketers, direct mail, TV commercials, faxes and e- mails. It is this constant assault on our time and sensibilities that may most threaten what should be a national treasure: the once-a- decade Census. The Census Bureau mailed 98 million forms this week to most American houses and apartments. Naturally, the forms arrive with the bills, junk mail and magazines. The Census Bureau predicts that only 61 percent of the forms will be returned. This would be lower than in 1990 (65 percent) or 1980 (75 percent).

Fill it out.

It's the least you can do. John Kennedy famously said: "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." The truth is that our country doesn't ask much. We have to pay our taxes and obey the laws. Otherwise, we're left alone. Completing the Census form once a decade is a rare duty (actually, it's also the law).

What we get is a good population count - required by the Constitution for congressional apportionment - and a useful snapshot of social and economic conditions. About five-sixths of homes receive the short form, which asks basic population questions (age, sex, race, ethnic background). The rest get a longer form that also has questions on education, disability, commuting, income, occupation, housing and utility costs. The answers inform political debate.

Everyone knows the Census isn't perfect. How could it be in a country so big and diverse? Still, the overall undercount in 1990 was less than 2 percent. This isn't bad, considering that some people - criminals, illegal immigrants - may avoid government and others don't speak English.

Practical problems multiply when people don't respond voluntarily. The Census Bureau hires an army of "enumerators," estimated at 500,000 this year. The idea is to count everyone by visiting all the homes and apartments that didn't respond. The obstacles are enormous, as political scientist Peter Skerry shows in his forthcoming book ("Counting on the Census?").

In poorer neighborhoods, homes and apartments "may not have doorbells that work, doorbells at all, identifiable address numbers or mailboxes with names on them," he writes. Some people won't open doors to strangers for fear of crime. Some houses don't have fixed families. People simply come and go.

To overcome the problems, the Census Bureau has started an ad campaign and has a Web site www.2000.census.gov where people can complete the short form. Just why public cooperation has eroded is unclear. Jay Waite, the director of operations for the Census, recounts various theories: People are more mobile; they're more squeezed for time; they're more distrustful of government; their privacy fears have risen; their civic commitment has declined.

The fears are exaggerated. The Census Bureau credibly promises not to reveal personal information to anyone, including other government agencies. But the fears are understandable. What's impressive is how well the bureau does despite the problems.

Ironically, you wouldn't know it. The bureau focuses obsessively on the undercount and claims it can be cut substantially through a statistical "adjustment." The Clinton administration pushed this plan for use in congressional reapportionment (the split of House seats among states) until the Supreme Court ruled it illegal. The administration still wants the adjusted numbers used for redistricting (the drawing of congressional boundaries within states). As Skerry shows, the consequences of the undercount are vastly exaggerated. A General Accounting Office report in 1999 estimated that less than 1 percent of federal grant money to states would have changed if "adjusted" population figures had been used. After the 1990 Census, perhaps one House seat would have shifted among states if "adjusted" figures had been followed, says Price.

The Census has always tried to count everyone. This is still the best way. But it won't survive in the face of public indifference or cynicism. So when the Census form arrives, don't think about filling it out. Just do it.

Washington Post Writers Group



-- Michael (michaelteever@buffalo.com), March 16, 2000.



...@ and Michael,

"basic population questions (age, sex, race, ethnic background). The rest get a longer form that also has questions on education, disability, commuting, income, occupation, housing and utility costs."

Do you know who gets the long form? Is it people in a certain income bracket?

(If it is, I'm ticked, 'cause that's not right.)

~*~

-- Laura (Ladylogic@...), March 16, 2000.


Laura, don't think it has anything to do with income, or we would have gotten the short form. There has to be some other factor that triggers the long form. Don't buy that it is random, but that could be possible.

-- suzy (suzy@nowhere.com), March 16, 2000.

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