Something to Think About

[sharon]

Received this today from a friend of mine....something to think about in this age of personal info getting into the wrong hands, and our rights as an American citizen. Or am I paranoid about how much the government is invading our personal business???

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=iUMurKinTVE

[Nasoosie]

I'm afraid to go there as political things usually make me get rabid-acting lately! I need to pass on this link in order to keep my blood pressure at its normal high rather than send it into orbit!

[Sparkle]

I wonder how many fulltimers will be counted?

[bluepinecones]

I just got a notice telling me I will get forms to fill out in the mail in about a week. Guess that is the Census Depts. contribution to the Post Office fund.

[avalen]

got mine, I haven't opened it yet, but I will and I'll be counted.

[VickieP]

I went to the link (nosy rosey that I am ) to be well informed.

Since I had never heard of all these personal questions being asked, of course I had to dig for more information.

I went to the US Census Bureau website http://www.census.gov/ and clicked on the link to American Community Survey, then the Learn More link.

"The American Community Survey is a separate part of the 2010 Census program. Some households and group quarters (such as college residence halls, skilled nursing facilities, group homes, barracks, and correctional facilities) will receive both the American Community Survey and the 2010 Census this year. Response to both is required by law."

On the left side, I clicked on Survey Questionnaire and they have PDF files you can look at that show what the questionnaires have asked since 1996.

I'm guessing if I ever received one of these in the past, I didn't fill it out.....or don't remember filling it out. But then again, I've never lived in a college residence hall, skilled nursing facility, group home, barrack or correctional facility (no matter what Mitch says, I'll deny it).

[Cedar518]

I've filled out my census form and it goes into the mail today. Very simple. only name, address, birthdate, ... yada, yada, yada. No personal info requested past that. I do remember in the past having a questionaire about how many tv sets we had in the family, how many phones, etc. But this was "just the facts" for counting the population. Didn't make me nervous at all.

[Ladyhawk]

I heard on the news that if you don't send it back, they send out a census worker to your door. If you don't answer, they start asking your neighbors. Don't know how accurate that is, but it wouldn't work in my neighborhood. Neighbors come and go so fast, no one knows each other.

[sharon]

I maybe should have looked into this further. I certainly don't mind being counted and will willingly fill out any paper that does just that. But as far as the personal info, that may be another story. Taking a wait and see for now and do some more research, as I should have done before I posted. Sorry to get you riled up Soos!!

[OutandAbout]

One of the local news stations had a interview with a woman who received the "long form" and brought it to the attention of the tv channel. The woman felt it was a scam because the form was getting too nosey with the information they required. She felt they didn't need that kind of info for a census. The news channel checked it out and said that the form was legal and the people were legitimate. However, the REAL census was only 10 questions and filling out this form was not necessary or mandatory. I'll just stick to the 10 question survey and not give any information I don't think they need. Thanks for posting the Utube. Linda

[retiredhappy]

I'll happily fill out the 10 questionaire with no particulars. As for any personal info, NO WAY. Wonder if they will even find me at the RV park where I'm currently located. If they send the form to my home, they'll get my rentors. Actually if they asked how many TV's I'd have no problem or even an income range IF, IF, it was generic and not traceable directly to me. Wouldn't hurt for them to know how little MOST people make compared to senators and congressmen.

[bluepinecones]

[color=#0000BF]That long form is now referred to as the American Community Survey and and even the Census people estimates that it takes about an hour or more to properly answer all the questions. 1 in 6 households are expected to get the longer version this year. Here is a sample of the type questions. Remember within each type there are multiple detailed questions - many of which get very personal. The additional level of detail plus the fact that more people are getting the longer version has many people upset. You do have to provide full name and other identifying info for each person in the household - many of the questions also require separate responses per person living there.

Well, the sample I tried did not work. Heres the url to it
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/Questions_Planned_for_the_2010_Census_and_American_Community_Survey.pdf