The national ID question reminded me of this question, as they are somewhat related. When I filled out our census form, I answered one question only, the number of people who lived at this address. This was the only question that I felt that they had any right to ask of us, the rest was none of anyone's business, and I have told them this over 20 times on the phone so far. Do you know that they are still calling me to bug me about this? Such a pitiful waste of our hard earned tax dollars!!!

My question is, has anyone else been contacted and "bugged" so much about the census questionnair, or did you answer all the questions willingly? Does anybody else think that this ( the other questions on the census form)was a violation of our right to privacy???

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), September 26, 2001

Answers

We answered the number, sex and age and that was all. Never got contacted by anyone for our incomplete long form.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), September 26, 2001.

As a person who has done geneology research and seen how valuable the census information is, I willing answered every question. I have nothing to hide.

-- Patricia Ramsey (WOOLSPIN@AOL.COM), September 26, 2001.

Hi Annie i got the short form and did my duty filled it out and mailed it the same day. then a month or two later here they come with the long form. i refused and they said they would have me in jail till i filled it out. so far so good still free and a pain in the you know what to them. btw the right to work passed in ok. they will be sorry the rtw means lower wages and loss of benifits. Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), September 26, 2001.

Thank you for not giving in Annie.

The question you answered was the only question asked on the original American census.

-- Rick#7 (rick7@postmark.net), September 26, 2001.

They sent me the long form, I threw it away. Sent another, I threw it away. Finally called me, I answered the number of people living in the house, told them I would say no more, hung up. No one called again. No repercussions. I can't believe they would tell me that I would go to jail - for the CENSUS!?? My heavens, what would they do if I really did something horrible, like murder or robbery, etc.?

-- Bonnie (chilton@stateline-isp.com), September 26, 2001.

We got the long form, and answered the first 12 questions or so. When they started getting into salary, number of rooms in the house, running water in the house, etc, I said forget it. I did get a call because I had five kids, and their wasn't enough space for all the "basic" info on the fifth child. It was hilarious when the guy was questioning me. He asked the age of the child (about 1 year old) and then asked the remaining questions, like how many languages the child speaks. I was cracking up. I mean, he still barely speaks English!

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), September 26, 2001.

I also did the questions up until the salary, rooms in our house, etc. The law states that an accounting of the people shall take place. When you read the wording, it means to "count" the number of people. I have no problem with that, nor do I object to an accounting for our age, sex, etc.; however, everything else is an invasion of privacy. Besides, if they want to know what we make, why don't they just check with IRS!

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), September 26, 2001.

We had that nonsense again in Canada this year. I got the simple form, answered all their questions....but they're going to have fun trying to make out the writing on it....hehehe....was just a tad sloppy with the penmanship that day.

-- Chelsea (rmbehr@istar.ca), September 26, 2001.

I also remember, that along with possible jail time, there was supposed to be a minimum $100 fine for not filling out the form completely. I am still waiting for my bill.

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), September 26, 2001.

We got the LONG form. My husband filled it in, and after I saw it, I cracked up. He had put some of the most outragous answers! I was going to send it in, but decided not to. I threw it away, and filled in a short form I obtained from the post office. Guess What? A Census worker came to our house, unexpected of course and said she was sent to obtain our information. I told her we sent one in. She said she knew that and we sent in the wrong form. I could not believe that the taxpayers money was paying her to make sure we sent in the LONG form. Yes! You guessed it. She got the same answers that my husband put on the long form. Lets put it this way, we are a French Canadian, African American, Hispanic couple who have 3 children, Two females, (Julie the dog, and Kitty the cat), one male (Jake the dog). We are still laughing at how much money we make!

-- Bear (Barelyknow@aol.com), September 26, 2001.

The mystery over the intrusiveness of the census questions, as on the long form, becomes painfully clear when you find out that this "confidential" and "private" questionnaire information was sold to marketing companies soon after the censuses were returned. No joke.

-- gita (gschmitz@directcon.net), September 26, 2001.

What Karen said. Ditto.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), September 27, 2001.

Annie, I filled out the form and kept it for awhile, then threw it in the trash. I had notes on my door for months(I work evenings). Then, someone caught me at home and asked me about who lived in the house across the street. I told them they lived in Arizona and it was a "summer house". Apparently they were looking for me! The city changed all the street numbers and I guess they never told Uncle Sam. It is very confusing to anyone who doesn't know that 608 is now 809 hehehe.

-- Karen in Kansas (kansasgoats@iwon.com), September 27, 2001.

Yes, they have threatened me with jail time and a fine also, I patiently explained to them that former Texas governor George Bush had told his constituents that they were not required to answer anything other than the number of people living in the house at that address, and what was good enough according to our now President, was good enough for me!!! They didn't know quite what to say at that!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), September 27, 2001.

Aw, come on you guys! You're a family history researcher's worst nightmare! I'm with Patricia. I love the long form, and fill out in full (Canada). Ya, they sell the info here in Canada, too. But I don't care, the gov't has all of our info in various departments anyway. When they have the power to freeze/seize your bank account and other assets, who cares if they discover your income? It's not like they're gathering and selling your cheque book or credit card number. Motive is good: what area needs a larger school, hospital, bus service, English as a Second language courses, etc.

-- Rheba (rhebabeall@hotmail.com), September 27, 2001.

We never did fill any of it out. Just trashed it. No one ever came out or called or anything. None of their buisness anyway!

Gotta go stir the pear butter! Leann

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), September 27, 2001.

The census people about drove us nuts! At the time, we were building a house and so was camped out in a mobile home next to the house site, they kept pestering us about two seperate haouseholds, I kept trying to explain ONE HOUSEHOLD!!! (just, temporarily, two houses)

-- Kelly in Ky (markelly@scrtc.com), September 27, 2001.

I didn't fill mine out either and never was contacted again. Some of the questions on there seemed out of line.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), September 27, 2001.

Yes thank you annie for not giving in sometimes i feel im the only one left. And patrica i also have nothing to hide I have run for state representive on the libertarian ticket my views and address where run every week in the indianapolis star newspaper. I have taught science to children and coached for the public schools and had various back ground checks. I have engaged in professional sports and undergone numerous drug tests never fearing i would pass. I had to go through checks to get my firearms license. My name is my e-mail address anyone can find me. I Don't engage in any illegal activity. In fact i have never even had a speeding ticket. i am rather boring BUT its none of their business its the principle. People said the same thing during the McCarthy witch hunts. If you don't have something to hide you don't need privacy BULL. The biggest lie in the world I'm from the government and I'm here to help you. jkg

-- jason godsey (jasonkgodsey@hotmail.com), September 27, 2001.

they didn't send me a form, didn't call me and I didn't volunteer to give them any info

-- Doug in KY (toadshutes@yahoo.com), September 27, 2001.

And here i was thinking i had gone a bit daft,when i decided to be picky about what questions i answered! They left a 4 colour plastic bag and new form on my door a couple of times, then caught me at home telling me i HAD to answer their questions right then, that i could not fill out the form myself! well that sure brought out the mule in me! these folks lived down the road from me in the 'have not section'i live in the 'looks like i have more than i really do'section & the 'brick palaces' are on up the road by the 'pond', so i certainly was not comfortable telling them all of my living condt. ,finances,ect. i offered them some tea,they declined,i said goodby & shut the door. the next time new ones showed up & told an outrageous story about everyone on our roads' filled out forms being mis- sent to kansas! i told them i am not responsible for late or mis- directed mail, & since they knew where it went they could get it back, & i did not want to give an incorrect count for MS! i have also used census forms to research family,[back to 1823 here in MS!] and occupation & # people was plenty of info.

-- bj pepper in C. MS. (pepper.pepper@excite.com), September 27, 2001.

Sure was fun reading this thread. Most of y'all are a bunch of radicals and now the gummint is a-watchin' y'all. Seriously, though, it is nice to know some folks have the backbone to stand up against the Feds and their some-times illegal activities. One thing bothers me, though. This thread is the 2nd one I've read today that had someone say 'if you got nothing to hide, it don't matter.' That is scary. Always, always remember Ben Franklin - those that give up liberty for security deserve neither.

-- Skip Barnes (pococj@aol.com), September 27, 2001.

People we knew had an different problem. They're married, and one child has the wife's last name (she never changed hers either). The census people didn't know what to make of it and kept bothering them.

Interesting fact: at the time their child was born, CA had no place on the birth certificate for the parents to check to indicate they were married, so since the names are different, they are probably being erroneously classified as illegitimate parents as well. They still laugh about it to this day.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), September 27, 2001.

Thank you Skip, for reminding us all of that most important quote from Ben!!!

If you do not stand up for your rights, they will be taken from you. Voting the Libertarian ticket helps put Big Government back in it's rightful place.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), September 27, 2001.

I did answer how many people in the household. Figured maybe the fire company needs to know this in case they heaven forbid need to come to my aid. The salary and rooms, running water and things like that I left blank. They did come by but didn't really give them much more about us. They were polite and all. Never threaten to take me to jail. Gosh...I could get a college degree...watch color TV all day....have my meals served to me...and also probably meet some very colorful charaters too. ( don't think I would like that part). It would be something if they did put us in jail..what a headline that would make !!! You know, we should have asked to see the penalty in writing about this part. Wonder if they could have really shown us that ??

-- Helena (windyacs@ptdprolog.net), September 28, 2001.

Sounds to me that some of the censes workers were taking their job way to seriously. Censes is a count of people and the address those people live at and their age, no more ,no less, how much I get paid is not their business if they want to know ask the IRS they know that's for sure. If I have running water good for me ,if not it isn't their problem. Gee Whiz what is our government coming to anyway. With all that has come to pass the last few weeks if I have running water or not is really unimportant, they better get over it. Sally

-- sally stanton (mallardhen67@hotmail.com), September 28, 2001.

We don't have a mailbox so she had to hand deliver the census to us. She drove right past the "Keep Out" "Private Property" signs and came up on the back porch. There she was greeted by our dog who was none too happy to be awakened by a stranger while naping. She quickly steped back out the door and I came to see what he was barking at.

She gave me the form and I only answered the number of people who live there question and gave it back to her. She did ask for our name, mailing address, phone number, etc. I told her we have no mail box because we want no mail and we have no phone because we got tired of "junk" calls. I told her our name made no difference. She did not like leaving without the info but she had no choice.

Oh yea, I did tell her I was sorry she couldn't read at her age.

-- Viv in TX (kudzu1@webtv.net), September 29, 2001.

we gave number of people in the house, and ignored (politely) the taker when they followed up--haven't heard a word since

-- Brendan K Callahan (Grinnell, IA) (sleeping@iowatelecom.net), September 30, 2001.

I worked for the census last spring. It was outragously good pay but I don't know if I'll do it again. We were told that as government employees we were to ignore all No Trespassing signs. None of us liked that. We were also initially told that if we were threatened we didn't have to go back to that house, but then our supervisors would tell us that we had to. I finally made up stuff on one family - even his neighbors were afraid of him! We were also told that people had the right to refuse to answer, but when we put down "refused" as a response we were often sent back to get a better answer. I told the reluctant that I didn't need the truth, just an answer. I enjoyed the creative answers. We were told that many of the more intrusive questions were put on the form by request of certain companies. Others were to help local government - roads, schools, etc. We also had a lot of trouble because hundreds - perhaps thousands - of filled out forms were lost in the census offices. We had to go out & tell people we needed the info again. No one was happy with that. We all wondered what happened to the first forms. Who ended up with all that info?

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), September 30, 2001.