Where's the Government's Need to Know?

Since 1980 the Federal Government has been authorized to take a national census every 10 years. The next Census is scheduled for April 1, 2010. The US Constitution instructs that the government has the right to count citizens only. That information is required for distribution of Congressional seats to the various states. The government Census 2010 website describes the Census in part as "a count of everyone living in the United States every 10 years. The Census is mandated by the US Constitution. Your participation in the census is required by law." It further explains that "the US Constitution (Article 1, section 2) mandates a headcount of everyone residing in the United States. The population totals determine each state's Congressional representation. The numbers also affect funding in your community and help inform decision makers about how your community is changing." Filling out the census form is required by law. The information collected is used by various local, state and federal agencies. Upon investigation I learned about the American Community Survey which is a nationwide survey designed to provide specific data to local communities. The survey claims to be a critical element in the Census Bureau's reengineered decennial census program. This survey collects and produces population and housing data yearly - not every 10 years. There is a report online titled Questions Planned for the 2010 Census and American Community Survey. It is 76 pages long! Now, while the US Constitution provides for the requirement of a headcount, it does not authorize the government to require any additional information from the citizenry. But, in their infinite wisdom (which continually and consistently manages to astonish me - feel the sarcasm?) congress passed a law (Title 13 of the US Code) that requires you to answer any question contained within the census questionnaire. According to that code (Title 13, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Section 221, as reported for January 8, 2008) the penalty for failing to answer every question was a fine of not more than $100. Anyone who provided false answers would be fined not more than $500. But this year the government fine has increased to $5000.00. Why do you think the government has made it this difficult to exercise civil disobedience? What's in it for them? It has been reported that no one has ever been fined in the past. Think that will be true this year? Let's find out... The proposed 2010 Census "short form" has 10 questions relative to the person completing the form, and 7 questions related to every other person in the household. That's significantly more than what the US Constitution requires. Why does the government need to know if I own my home? Will they tax me more? Why do they need my telephone number? That one's easy - if you fail to complete the form the government WILL call you up to 6 times to try to get the info from you. Why do they need to know what "type" of Hispanic I might be, or what my race is? How is that relevant to the purpose of the Census, which is to provide congressional seats based on the number of citizens in a state - not their race, age, ethnicity, sex, etc. And why do they need to know if I sometimes live somewhere else? Is that so they can skew the data to create seats in areas advantageous to their political agenda? There are several high profile individuals - Senator Michele Bachmann of Minnesota is one - who have decided the government is not entitled to this information, and is refusing to provide it. I urge you to visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/pdf/2010_Questionaire_info_Copy.pdf to review the Census yourselves. I also urge you to visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Community_Survey to view exactly what that questionnaire is all about. It's yearly, and it's invasive. Why does the government need to know? What are they planning? How much more of our lives do they need to control? Wake up America!