XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX WED MARCH 15 2000 21:52:09 ET XXXXX

CENSUS BREAKDOWN: CITIZENS TELL SAM TO SHOVE IT OVER PROBING QUESTIONS; WILL PAY FINE

Americans from coast to coast are expressing shock and outrage over the level of detailed questioning from the federal government and the 2000 Census, with thousands of citizens vowing to pay fines rather than submit to the private nature of the inquisition, according to congressional sources.

"The census count is already breaking down," said one Hill source. "People are in revolt! Calls are flooding into our office... They are very upset about the intrusive nature of the questions, such as how a person gets to work, whether they have any disabilities, how many cars they own, what their income was and who they work for!"

The Constitution of the United States grants the government authority to count population, but a "long form" being sent to 1 out of 6 American households strays far from that goal; requiring answers to more than 53 personal questions or risk penalty.

U.S. Code, Title 13, Section 221 states citizens must fully comply with the census or face a $100 fine. There is a $500 penalty for giving false information.

Census officials received more than 600,000 phone calls on Tuesday, according to officials. The majority of the callers lodged complaints about the probing nature of the census questions.

And thousands of calls to Capitol Hill took staffers by surprise.

"It's a firestorm," said one congressional aide.

"Is this Al Gore's idea of 'reinventing government?'" one angry caller complained to a receptionist for a besieged senator. "I have to tell Washington how I got to work last week? In what type of car? And the location of my office? Screw it. I'll pay the 100 bucks!"

Congressmen on Wednesday were referring complaints to the Census Hotline [1-800-471-9424].

A cover letter accompanying the long form states that no one will have access to the information other than the Census Bureau. Yet many questions appear to violate a citizens right to privacy:

10. What is this person't ancestry or ethnic origin?

11. a. Does this person speak a language other than English at home? b. What is this language? c. How well does this person speak English?

12. Where was this person born?

13. Is this person a citizen of the United States?

14. When did this person come to live in the United States?

15. a. Did this person live in this house or apartment 5 years ago? b. Where did this person live 5 years ago?

16. Does this person have any of the following long-lasting conditions: blindness deafness or a severe vision or hearing impairment? A condition that substantially limits one or more basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting or carrying?

18. Was this person under 15 years of age on April 1, 2000?

19. Does this person have any of his/her own grandchildren under the age of 18 living in this house or apartment? Is this grandparent currently responsible for most of the basic needs of any grandchildren under the age of 18 who lives in this house or apartment? How long has this grandparent been responsible fort these grandchildren?

22. At what location did this person work LAST WEEK?

23. How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK?

24. What time did this person usually leave home to go to work LAST WEEK?

25. LAST WEEK, was this person on layoff from a job? LAST WEEK, was this person TEMPORARILY absent from a job or business? Has this person been informed that he or she will be recalled to work within the next 6 months or been given a date to return to work?

27. Industry or Employer -- Describe clearly this person's chief job activity or business last week. If this person had more than one job, describe the one at which this person worked the most hours. If this person had no job or business last week, give the information for his/her last job or business since 1995. For whom did this person work? What kind of business or industry was this? Is this mainly manufacturing? wholesale trade? retail trade? Other (agriculture, construction, service, government, etc.)

31. Income in 1999: Wages salary, commissions, bonuses or tips from all jobs; Self-employment from own non-farm businesses, including proprietorships and partnerships; Interest dividends, net income, royalty income, or income from estates and trusts.

32. What was this person's total income in 1999?

Questions 33 through 42 deal with type of housing, whether someone rents or owns, and how many bedrooms, whether there are plumbing facilities, etc.

43. How many automobiles, vans, and trucks of one-ton capacity or less are kept at home for use by members of your household?

46. What is monthly rent? Does the monthly rent include any meals?

47. Do you have a mortgage, deed of trust, contract to purchase or similar debt on this property? How mush is your regular monthly mortgage payment on this property? Does your regular monthly mortgage payment include payments for real estate taxes on this property? Does your regular monthly mortgage payment include payments for fire, hazard, or flood insurance on this property?

48. Do you have a second mortgage or a home equity loan on this property? How much is your regular monthly payment on all second or junior mortgages and all home equity loans on this property?

49. What were the real estate taxes on this property last year?

50. What was the annual payment for fire, hazard and flood insurance on this property?

51. What is the value of this property; that is how much do you think this house and lot, apartment or mobile home and lot would sell for if it were for sale?

***

One out of 100 households are to receive and even more detailed questionnaire, The American Community Survey. That form requires answers on "physical, mental, or emotional conditions lasting 6 months or more."

Developing...

-- Uncle Bob (unclb0b@aol.com), March 15, 2000

Answers

Is THIS how the riots begin? A good ole coup d'etat?

Things that make ya go hmmmmmmmmmm

-- cin (cinlooo@aol.com), March 15, 2000.

Stories like this one spark a hint of warmth in my cold empty heart.

Thanks UB.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), March 15, 2000.

This is a joke, right? They want to know what time I leave for work in the morning? Fuck 'em -- I'm not mailing it in. How would they know? It is addressed to "resident."

-- semper paratus (here_with@my.pals), March 15, 2000.

We received Census form D-2. We are infuriated at the nosiness of several questions. The worst being question no. 24 which asks what time we leave for work. I guess "Big Brother" needs to know when we are not usually at home. OUTRAGEOUS!!

-- jeanne (jcd51@webtv.net), March 15, 2000.

Has the census ever been tested in the Supreme Court? Come on ACLU, let's see what good you are.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), March 15, 2000.

Semper.

Yes my friend they do!

There is a bar code on the form and envelope that tells them.

I agree with ya,I'll answer the one constitutionaly stated question and NOT pay the fine.

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), March 15, 2000.

Sounds to me like someone at the IRS doesn't trust the citizenry to have told the truth on their taxes. I hope the folks who fill the form out think to ensure that the figures they put down match the ones on the 1999 tax return they sent in!

Okay, let's assume that this is all really an innocent attempt at updating the demographic data used to allocate funding & electoral votes, etc., etc... I've studied demographics (a bit), and my sis-in-law is a demographer for the state. NOT ONCE was an individual's name necessary for any research or evaluation of a region. Even the idea of trying to determine an area's ethnicity based on last names was quickly deemed invalid, due to marriage, etc. I don't get it.

Maybe, just maybe, someone out there thinks this is the best way to gather information about the population of different areas. Why, I don't know. What would make anyone up there in the lofty zone think they should depend on the responses of 'the great un-washed' is beyond me. Contradictory attitudes, don'cha think?

Just another mystery.... I wonder why they didn't ask about how many weapons are in the house, and how much ammunition? Someone really dropped the ball when they left those questions out. ;)

-- Arewyn (artemis31@email.msn.com), March 16, 2000.

Actually, Arewyn, it's my understanding that those questions are indeed on some forms. Including, 'How many guns are in the house', and 'where do you keep them'.

-- cin (cinlooo@aol.com), March 16, 2000.

How many guns are in the house?

A good answer would be why don't you stop by and find out?

-- liu (lookitup@dictionary.com), March 16, 2000.

LOLOL

-- cin (cinlooo@aol.com), March 16, 2000.

Since one's privacy is of such concern, perhaps the way the census should be handled is as follows:

a. answer the questions (avoids all fines and the need to lie)

b. securely seal each page by glueing the whole mess together a page at a time (prevents unwanted eyes from seeing your personal info)

c. securely glue the form into the envelope (ditto b)

d. mail it with a 33 cent stamp (sure to be insufficient) and leave no return address

Just an errant thought.........

-- Craig (sofpj@netscape.net), March 16, 2000.