Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Tin Hat alert. Im standing up!

Has anyone else gotten the American Community Survey? This is not the 10 question census, which I will gladly answer. This is in addition, and asks questions like name address and phone number for everyone in your residence, if you have plumbing, do you have a mental defect which limits you from working, can you walk upstairs, what time do you leave for work every day and how many people ride in the car, how much do you make and where have you lived each year over the last five years, along with 310 other intrusive questions. It says that you are required by law to fill this out. I am not going to. I have been doing research and 45% of people getting this have an issue with it.

I have had two surveys sent to me, and have had one person from the Census Bureau come to my door. The next time they come I will videotape it and politely ask them to leave my property.

I may be risking a 5000 fine and six months in jail, which is funny because the CB has no power to inforce this, only recommend to the justice department. Also, according to the constitution, all they are allowed to ask is the 10 question "How many people live here" enumeration. I will give them that answer. They can take the rest of the survey and pound sand.

10 comments:

OrbsCorbs said...

Right arm, Stu!

I haven't been contacted by them yet.

What constitutional need or right would they have to know when you leave for work?

However, I do know some guys from up the block who are greatly interested in that information.

Don't forget to include your social security number. And bank account numbers. And PINs. And when you go to bed at night. And how soundly you sleep.

SER said...

Info

Census 2010

hale-bopp said...

I have never gotten the long form (of course every ten years, this is only my second census since I graduated from college and not been living in a dorm).

310 questions...yikes! I know the Census people do all kinds of statistical analysis of, well, everything and need to collect data, but is this the best way to do it? For the actual count, those 10 questions should be fine.

One of my jobs in my younger days was working in a survey research program at a university. We were doing one project on hiring practices that required a 30 to 45 minute phone interview with a hiring manager. Needless to say, it wasn't going well when I got there. Looking at the survey, there were several distinct sections each containing different types of information. They should have interviewed a LOT of hiring managers for 5 minutes instead of trying to do fewer for 40 minutes. As long as the sample size was adequate, they could have gotten the same information with a fraction of the hassle. I bet the Census would also have better luck trying to get lots of people to answer a few questions than get a few people to answer 310!

Oh, and the lead author of this study is now a regular guest on all the business shows on a variety of cable news channels. I just snicker because I know what a lousy job he did designing his research!

On another note, Stu, I just googled "is there a long form for the 2010 census". The Census web site as well as numerous other sites says there is NO long form for the census. You may be dealing with a scammer. Tape the hell out of him.

RWWackoStu said...

Here is the scary thing Hale, IT is legit.

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/

RWWackoStu said...

Like I said before in the OP. I will be happy to tell them how many live in my house as required by Article 2 section 1 of the Constitution. But thats it.

Sassa said...

I don't know about this. I don't mind this survey..it's a US Census survey. I like taking surveys. This is where the US gets statistics for everything. It's almost patriotic. Yes some of the questions are weird but it's all put in catagories. They don't sell the info like the DMV does. It's like I (emphasized) am being counted for a change.

hale-bopp said...

Ah, okay. Got it, Stu. I should have read a little closer and looked for the American Community Survey. This survey is done every year, unlike the Census. Given to three million households per year, about 15 million household in the US...you should get randomly selected to receive this survey about once every 38 years (stats are fun!) I think you are about my age, so you should get it again in your late '70s.

They have a document online outlining their research methods...over 400 pages...I don't read that fast! Heck, the Table of Contents was six pages by itself! (I probably am one of like three people who downloaded that document ever).

Just curious, Stu, where did you find that 45% figure? What were the issues people had? This survey has been given annually for a while...are the trends in the data over time?

RWWackoStu said...

Sassa, yes, they do. Well, they dont sell it, but it is published and made available. Pell Research uses the data, alot. As an American I should not be forced to provide this information. I guess that is my biggest gripe. I will give them the answers to the regular census, but that is it.

kkdither said...

Just curious, do they offer it in Spanish, if your English - she is no so good?

Tim the Shrubber said...

Yep...you are definitely wearing a tinfoil hat today.

It is a good thing for there to be good, accurate, descriptive demographic data about the country. Without it public policy debates will be just blind arguments and legislation will just be a shots in the dark instead of deliberate, reasoned action.