Mandatory Census Surveys?

[Updates below.]

Via Claire Wolfe's blog, I catch wind of another government-imposed compulsory program: American Community Survey

The American Community Survey is a nationwide survey designed to provide communities a fresh look at how they are changing. It will replace the decennial long form in future censuses and is a critical element in the Census Bureau's reengineered 2010 census.

The decennial census has two parts: 1) the short form, which counts the population; and 2) the long form, which obtains demographic, housing, social, and economic information from a 1-in-6 sample of households. Information from the long form is used for the administration of federal programs and the distribution of billions of federal dollars.

Since this is done only once every 10 years, long-form information becomes out of date. Planners and other data users are reluctant to rely on it for decisions that are expensive and affect the quality of life of thousands of people. The American Community Survey is a way to provide the data communities need every year instead of once in ten years.

The American Community Survey is conducted under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 193, and response is mandatory. According to Section 221, persons who do not respond shall be fined not more than $100. Title 18 U.S.C. Section 3571 and Section 3559, in effect amends Title 13 U.S.C. Section 221 by changing the fine for anyone over 18 years old who refuses or willfully neglects to complete the questionnaire or answer questions posed by census takers from a fine of not more than $100 to not more than $5,000.

I know of one government information packet that's getting torched once I find it in my mailbox.

UPDATED 9/1/2005 7:00pm
Why is the Census Bureau Taking GPS Coordinates of Americans' Front Doors?

UPDATED 3/29/2006 12:05am
Fuck the Census Bureau and Their 2006 Census Test

UPDATED 9/22/2006 10:02am
The Law Protects Your Privacy!

Posted by Drizzten at October 25, 2004 03:33 PM