Pages: 1

 

2008-07-01 14:12:48
CaptainSpaulding71
Member
+119|6779|CA, USA
i believe the constitution empowers the govt to conduct a census every 10 years which serves to find out how many people are living in the country.

i'm completely fine with saying how many people live in my house.  what i do not want to give out is data like when i leave for work, how much money i make, etc.  that's very personal details in my book.  further, with the rise in identify theft, whos to say that this data might fall into the wrong hands and someone shows up on my doorstep after i 'leave for work' because they know i make xyz $$$ and might be a juicy target.  who knows what happens to this data.

the good news for me is that i found that i can simply say that i understand that they are trying to provide data that will improve the infrastructure of the town perhaps but i respectfully request not to divulge any personal information - just that there is x# of people living in the house.  usually they leave me alone after that since i'd just be marked as a 'did-not-comply' and there's no way they can fine me.  some are more persistent than others and keep coming back - i just stick to my guns and they eventually give up.

anyone else feel the same way - that it is invasion of privacy for some of these questions?
2008-07-01 14:17:54
Benzin
Member
+576|6420
Do the census forms really ask for information beyond how many people live there? Hm. That's a bit much.

I think the information for just saying the number of folks living there is fine, maybe the income is okay, too (provided they put it in a range selection?), but asking when you leave for work ... hmm ... I can see the logic behind it. They want to know when most people leave for work and whatnot to plan ahead for traffic and such.

I see the logic behind it all. It's a tough call, to be sure.

That's one of the great things about the States, though. If you don't want to tell them everything, you don't have to. TBH, though, if they want to know how much you make they can contact the IRS. If they want to know when you leave for work, it's a pretty easy guess. Most people leave for work between 6am and 8am. Simple, right?

The problem is bureaucracy. Without it, governments don't run very well. With it, they give EVERYONE a headache. Lesser of two evils, I suppose.
2008-07-01 14:18:44
Mekstizzle
WALKER
+3,611|7043|London, England
But if you don't do it, the demographics section for the USA on wikipedia will be outdated!

But seriously, I don't think you have to fill out all parts of the form. Well, I think that's how it was here. I can't remember, last Census here was in 2001 I think. So I dunno, maybe some parts were optional...

Next one's in 2011.
2008-07-01 14:19:43
Bell
Frosties > Cornflakes
+362|6971|UK

Have you posted this before?  I could swear I recognise it :\

Martyn
2008-07-01 14:24:59
Braddock
Agitator
+916|6712|Éire

CaptainSpaulding71 wrote:

i believe the constitution empowers the govt to conduct a census every 10 years which serves to find out how many people are living in the country.

i'm completely fine with saying how many people live in my house.  what i do not want to give out is data like when i leave for work, how much money i make, etc.  that's very personal details in my book.  further, with the rise in identify theft, whos to say that this data might fall into the wrong hands and someone shows up on my doorstep after i 'leave for work' because they know i make xyz $$$ and might be a juicy target.  who knows what happens to this data.

the good news for me is that i found that i can simply say that i understand that they are trying to provide data that will improve the infrastructure of the town perhaps but i respectfully request not to divulge any personal information - just that there is x# of people living in the house.  usually they leave me alone after that since i'd just be marked as a 'did-not-comply' and there's no way they can fine me.  some are more persistent than others and keep coming back - i just stick to my guns and they eventually give up.

anyone else feel the same way - that it is invasion of privacy for some of these questions?
I am against overly-invasive forms of Government and this would fall under that category. I understand the importance of census information when assessing societal changes and so on but like you say too much information in the hands of other people isn't always safe and can be easily abused...especially when you hear about so many laptops and confidential files going missing these days.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7449255.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7455084.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7344043.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/engl … 198043.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/engl … 197048.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/engl … 160490.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7103566.stm
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-Ne … 3618?f=rss
2008-07-01 21:47:13
Turquoise
O Canada
+1,596|6827|North Carolina
I ceased caring about my right to privacy when I found out I had none.  As a side note, corporations took it away before the government decided to.
2008-07-01 21:55:51
Cheez
Herman is a warmaphrodite
+1,027|6860|King Of The Islands

Jedi.
My state was founded by Batman. Your opinion is invalid.
2008-07-01 21:59:27
Fenris_GreyClaw
Real Хорошо
+826|6941|Adelaide, South Australia

Cheez wrote:

Jedi.
Do.
It.

Last edited by Fenris_GreyClaw (2008-07-01 22:00:01)

2008-07-02 07:08:59
HollisHurlbut
Member
+51|6419

CapnNismo wrote:

Do the census forms really ask for information beyond how many people live there?
Yes.

They quote a pre-presidential GWBush in that article, from waaaay back when he was a small-government badass and deserved to be prez.
2008-07-02 07:16:12
God Save the Queen
Banned
+628|6765|tropical regions of london

CaptainSpaulding71 wrote:

further, with the rise in identify theft, whos to say that this data might fall into the wrong hands and someone shows up on my doorstep after i 'leave for work' because they know i make xyz $$$ and might be a juicy target.
I get what youre saying and agree, but this is not a good reason.  Someone out there already has your most personal information, it could just as easily fall into the wrong hands through the DMV or the IRS as it can through the census bureau.
2008-07-02 07:20:54
chittydog
less busy
+586|7257|Kubra, Damn it!

HollisHurlbut wrote:

CapnNismo wrote:

Do the census forms really ask for information beyond how many people live there?
Yes.

They quote a pre-presidential GWBush in that article, from waaaay back when he was a small-government badass and deserved to be prez.
Wow! I just read your link.

And the Flip-Flopper of the Year award goes to... Señor Bush!!! The same guy who thinks it's perfectly fine to listen to your phone calls and read your mail doesn't think it's right for the government to know if his toliet flushes or if he has a shower.
2008-07-02 07:23:51
Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|7022|132 and Bush

The census is how the government decides the number of representatives you have. It's is mandated in the Constitution.

221. Refusal or neglect to answer questions; false answers

# (a) Whoever, being over eighteen years of age, refuses or willfully neglects, when requested by the Secretary, or by any other authorized officer or employee of the Department of Commerce or bureau or agency thereof acting under the instructions of the Secretary or authorized officer, to answer, to the best of his knowledge, any of the questions on any schedule submitted to him in connection with any census or survey provided for by subchapters I, II, IV, and V of chapter 5 of this title, applying to himself or to the family to which he belongs or is related, or to the farm or farms of which he or his family is the occupant, shall be fined not more than $100.

# (b) Whoever, when answering questions described in subsection (a) of this section, and under the conditions or circumstances described in such subsection, willfully gives any answer that is false, shall be fined not more than $500.

# (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, no person shall be compelled to disclose information relative to his religious beliefs or to membership in a religious body.

Sec. 222. Giving suggestions or information with intent to cause inaccurate enumeration of population
That being said no one ever been penalized for refusing to answer.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/artic … E_ID=58679
(Sorry for WND link but I have heard it before )
Xbone Stormsurgezz
2008-07-02 07:36:00
HollisHurlbut
Member
+51|6419

Kmarion wrote:

The census is how the government decides the number of representatives you have. It's is mandated in the Constitution.
Since that is its purpose, the ONLY thing they need to know is the number of persons living at your residence, and possibly their age.
2008-07-02 07:51:50
Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|7022|132 and Bush

HollisHurlbut wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

The census is how the government decides the number of representatives you have. It's is mandated in the Constitution.
Since that is its purpose, the ONLY thing they need to know is the number of persons living at your residence, and possibly their age.
I agree.
Xbone Stormsurgezz
2008-07-02 08:10:31
Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|7022|132 and Bush

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html … -000-.html
The Bureau of the Census may provide business data to the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (“Designated Statistical Agencies”) if such information is required for an authorized statistical purpose and the provision is the subject of a written agreement with that Designated Statistical Agency, or their successors, as defined in the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002.
Kinda open ended.

For more information.

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/

The United States Code
The United States Code (U.S.C.) is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal law of the United States.
Xbone Stormsurgezz

 

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