I was born in the United States of America, I am a U.S. Citizen, and I am protected by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It is my right to decline answering any questions related to this survey; and it is my right to decline answering ANY question.
I reluctantly participated in a US Census last year (2016) for the "Current Population Survey." This year I was chosen again because they interview the "same address" again, not the individual; for 4 years in a row. The process involves contacting me once a month, for 4 months, either in person or by phone, and my months are November, December, January and February. So far, I have received 5 phone calls and 3 voice mails in the past week from the Field Representative and I did not answer or reply, until today.
Please note the letter I received has covertly inserted near the bottom: "Your continued participation in this voluntary survey is extremely important to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the final results." I wonder how many people read the word... "VOLUNTARY". There is a different representative this year, because the previous rep on is out on medical leave. Until... I refused to answer the phone, and last year's interrogator must have felt compelled to revive herself and come to the rescue since I am being belligerent and obstinate.
These people look so carefree and lighthearted to be on the cover of the brochure (yes, there is a brochure), except for the fireman and the security guard. I wonder if they were all questioned in the survey, or just posed for the picture?
(Source: United States Census Bureau - Brochure)
The brochure states the reason for the survey: "People in government and private organizations need the statistics that we obtain from this survey to develop and evaluate economic policies that are consistent with the current needs of the nation." It also states "Congress authorized the collection of the information requested in this survey under the Title 13, U.S. Code, Sections 8(b), 141 and 182; ant Title 2, U.S. Code, Section 2. In some months, the survey may contain questions authorized and under laws other than those cited."
It is misleading; at first I thought that we were required by law to participate in the survey.
What does this Title and Code mean? It means that the US Department of Labor is authorized to collect data and they must keep it confidential, by law. The Bureau of Labor Statistics NEEDS... "to know about your household and to interview you several times over a period of months." The letter reinforces that our answers will be held in the strictest confidentiality .
I called the representative this morning and left a message stating that I received her calls and that I would not be answering any of her questions, and if she called me back I would explain why. The Bill of Rights. Although I prefer to talk to her on the phone, yesterday she threatened to come to my house this morning... "you could give me call back, or I'll just end up going over there." I did called her, but I'll bet she shows up anyway.
When I decided not to participate or answer their questions about my household this year, I felt like I was doing something wrong: "Your continued cooperation will be a distinct service to our country." What happened to my privacy? What happened to the privacy of the inhabitants of my home? Why am I being harassed and bullied to provide my personal information?
"Although there are no penalties for failure to answer any question, each unanswered question lessens the accuracy of the final data." So, are they are saying that if I don't participate then the whole survey is botched and it's my fault that the data is not accurate? And the guilt trip: "Your answers represent your household and approximately 2,000 other households similar to yours." It makes me seem so powerful.
This is in the brochure and shows the unemployment rate for persons 25 years and older, by education. And these results were derived from census surveys consisting of selecting about 59,000 households per month. So, if my data supports 2,000 households, and there are 59,000 households interviewed each month, the data represents 118,000,000 (one hundred eighteen million) per month. In reality, my answers, constituting one house hold, is 0.000000008474576 of the population. The graph seems legitimate, and I understand the accountability and the averages over time, but I just don't want that responsibility.
Is anyone familiar with "Agenda 21"? It is a 357 page document that was generated from the United Nations Conference on Environment & Development. It was held in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, in June 1992, and it is claimed to be a tool for the New World Order. It was brought to my attention on a Facebook post. I was compelled to print the 357 page document and I have been slowly absorbing the material it contains.
It is a very controversial document that has raised awareness and conflict among the nations, and it's worth taking a look at if you can handle the monotony. I noticed that there are several "unclear"and "wishy-washy" statements, as exists in most legal or government documents.
I haven't come to a conclusion regarding the Agenda 21 information, but I do know that I am becoming extremely cautious about what information I intentionally share with any government or media sources, and I have most certainly familiarized myself with my rights as a U.S Citizen. I hope that we all have something to believe in and are able protect our families, values, beliefs and integrity.
Thank you for reading my post... if you like it... you know what to do...
Rhonda
(just a minnow)
