2010 Census....Penalties for not participating?

[sanglant]

Samsonite is my favorite race question answer.

So since I am Dark European, Native American and Hebrew what do I choose for a race?

i like to go with "Amirimutt". it gets some strange looks.

[Strings]

>but there could be a horde of aliens from Vega living up there for all anyone knows<

Nah... I couldn't see you giving shelter to Vegans... 

[CNYCacher]

We had a woman from the census show up at our door last year asking for information about one of our (long-standing) tenants in a rental property we own across town.  They had dropped something at her door and never got it back, and never could catch her at home when they stopped by the apartment.  The woman at my door was asking me if my tenant still lived at our rental property.

I wasn't cooperative.  She left.

[Tallpine]

And the argument against that is that it would not be constitutional.

"enumeration ... in such manner as they shall by law direct."

Could you enlighten me?  I see no impediment to an "enumeration" compiled from existing data.   

[PTK]

I predict widespread (attempts) at fining all the uncooperative residents of MT. 

[Tallpine]

I predict widespread (attempts) at fining all the uncooperative residents of MT. 

They can't fine me because they don't know who I am 

[RocketMan]

Shall we start demanding bribes from Tallpine to not tell the census bureau who he is?  

[PTK]

They can't fine me because they don't know who I am 

I assumed they could fairly easily levy a fine against a whole household, to be paid "or else". Now that you mention it.... 

[BridgeRunner]

"enumeration ... in such manner as they shall by law direct."

Could you enlighten me?  I see no impediment to an "enumeration" compiled from existing data.   

Nope.  I have no dog in this fight, and only know that I have read and heard in various media outlets--probably the NYT and NPR, that there is a widely recognized constitutional problem with not doing an actual count. 

[Tallpine]

Nope.  I have no dog in this fight, and only know that I have read and heard in various media outlets--probably the NYT and NPR, that there is a widely recognized constitutional problem with not doing an actual count. 

With sources like that, who can argue ?   

[BridgeRunner]

With sources like that, who can argue ?   

Note that that prefaced by the statement that I can't back it up.  The NYT is because my parents, for reasons beyond my understanding, for they are dyed-in-the-wool dittoheads, have subscribed to it for decades, and I read it from time to time for nostalgia's sake.  The NPR is because they are a better car companion than music station DJs and ads. 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Talked to a Lady in town today who said the Census workers are scared to come out to our neck of the woods.  Too bad I guess.  I have seen their bags hanging all over the place here and where our cabin is, at residences where either no one lives, or they are only occasional and seasonal residences.

We took a drive down the dirt road we have our place off of and ended up on a paved road 20 miles away.  There are so many dirt track driveways off of that, there is no way they can find all the folks bunkered down out here.  And yes, I do mean bunkered down.

[Tallpine]

And I'm confused ... do I count all of my personalities ?   

[TechMan]

And I'm confused ... do I count all of my personalities ?   

Only the ones that are currently talking to you or the ones that want .gov assistance.   

[HankB]

We took a drive down the dirt road we have our place off of and ended up on a paved road 20 miles away.  There are so many dirt track driveways off of that, there is no way they can find all the folks bunkered down out here.  And yes, I do mean bunkered down.

Well, there are worse neighbors than Burt Gummer . . .

[CriticalHit]

"enumeration ... in such manner as they shall by law direct."

Could you enlighten me?  I see no impediment to an "enumeration" compiled from existing data.   

Utah v. Evans, 536 U.S. 452 (2002), was the most recent U.S. Supreme Court case (that I know of) regarding the use of some statistical techniques rather than a straight head-count in the census. In a nutshell, the census used some sampling tomfoolery and Utah got hosed out of a congressional seat... but SCotUS said that the particular method(s) used were kosher.

But that's where I'd start a hunt for what methods are okay or not.

[PTK]

Well, it arrived. Answers: "02", Person 1 "American", Person 2 "American", the rest was left blank. I have to draw a line somewhere with the Feds, and I (along with many others) have found questions regarding race, name, age, etc., to simply be over that line.

Here's hoping I don't get a fine, but, as Tallpine pointed out - prove it was me. 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

to each his own

[41magsnub]

I just had my tinfoil hat thought of the day..  if I were to lick the envelope to seal it, did I just give the feds a DNA sample?        

[PTK]

I just had my tinfoil hat thought of the day..  if I were to lick the envelope to seal it, did I just give the feds a DNA sample?        

Hah, I ended up using gloves to handle it, filled it out with a new pen that was then thrown away, and used a gloved finger to get water from the tap... 

[darius]

We were away from our camp for most of a day and came home to find someone from the Census Bureau had come past our KEEP OUT sign way down at the road, walked up onto our porch, and stuck a plastic bag saying 2010 Census under the door handle.  Huh?  Since when are they allowed to trespass on private property?

Since we don't live here, using it only occasionally as the mood strikes, I have no intention of seeing what is in the bag.  I think it might have fallen into the burn barrel, but I don't know that for sure.

What questions are you legally required to answer?  I don't recall ever getting any census stuff before this so I really don't know.

You are required by law to respond to the census questionnaire and the implication is that a census worker has the right to come on your property to deliver the questionnaire.  At least that is my understanding of the law.

If you don't send it back in then someone will come looking for it.

[darius]

They dropped off a census form at our occasionally used lakehouse last time around. Ignoring it brought no penalties. I'm certain that you would be safe treating your occasionally used property as same?

And we will be giving our standard answer of "4 adults and 1 child live here. Now go away." this year.

The tax assessor can slither all over your property, too. Came home one day to find a Jeep Cherokee one day with a County Tax Office sign on it. Caught him 'round back with a tape measure. I never knew they did that until that day.

Part of the criteria for leaving a questionnaire is whether or not the structure is fit to be used as a living quarters. Even cars can be considered to be a living quarter. The Obama people are especially interested in minorities and the homeless and I learned this from being in classes.  Once anyone opens their questionnaire it should be patently obvious where the emphasis lies.
 
I think it is to ones advantage to be counted because federal money is apportioned based on head count in a region.  It is not that I am big on handouts but if I help pay it in then I want some back.

[darius]

i like to go with "Amirimutt". it gets some strange looks.

It is quite obvious that is you are white then you are last choice for the gubmint.   

[darius]

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/ACS-1(info)(2010)%20Stateside%20English_web.pdf

I'm betting this is what people have a problem with. That's information I don't think the government should have and, if I get this form, will not provide.

That is not part of the main census effort coming up and it replaced in part the long form we used 10 years ago.  Don't kid yourself, much of the info on the form is public knowledge, particularly if you are a public employee.  Your property records are open to census workers.

[darius]

Hey, that's the way we roll...

Yeh, it's called stimulus spending.