H/T Balloon Juice
Michele Bachmann. She makes this stuff up as she goes. She should stop. Really.
Today she is on my favorite topic that government knows too much about you and collects too much information. But she just cannot stop with that. From little ACORNs big nut trees grow. I give you Michele Bachmann.
Rep. Bachmann is certifiable. Refusal to answer basic questions asked by census workers is a federal crime, regardless of one’s personal beliefs on whether the information should be given out or not.
It’s always refreshing to hear elected officials admit they’re going to break the law before they actually do it.
How is not answering questions a federal crime??
Well…I guess I am “certifiable” too…because I wouldn’t answer their questions either.
Anon, it’s the Census, not the Spanish Inquisition. Federal law provides for monetary penalties for any individuals who refuse to answer questions asked by Census workers.
Here’s a little backstory.
“Coats said the government isn’t trying to be nosy, but the survey provides important information that is used to distribute $300 billion in federal money properly. States and local communities also use the survey data for planning, he said.”
That’s from your link. That is a bunch of bull. Yeah…fine me or arrest me…I won’t be forced to tell anyone personal info about myself or my family.
Anon,what exactly is a “bunch of bull?”
They need our personal information…beyond what most people would find to be normal questions…to disperse $300 million in federal money?? Not. Maybe if they cared more about where the bail out money went and how it was being spent I’d buy that lame excuse for their intrusive questions.
Anon, these questions aren’t different than the questions asked ten years ago.
Did you have a problem with the census prior to this, Anon?
Of course if you don’t want to answer the questions, assuming that you get some, that just means your area will stand to loose representation and money. It’s that simple.
Calling folks “certifiable” for questioning thier government??? Isn’t that what they do in Iran, Korea, and China?
No, in Iran, Korea, and China, they “disappear” folks who question their government.
I don’t even remember anyone coming around asking questions for the census. How often do they do this? I don’t have any problems answering basic questions but some of the questions they plan on asking are none of their business. And…if ACORN will be involved I will have a problem answering just the basic questions. It’s not “ACORN Paranoia”…it’s about the principle. ACORN is a fraudulent organization.
Strange…it’s done every ten years and I’m 41 years old…and I don’t ever recall being asked questions for the census. Maybe they will miss me this time around too and I won’t have to worry about telling them to *get off my lawn*…
Go HERE.
This will take you an explanation of how the 2000 census worked.
I had experience with the long form interview at my home in 1980. I was obstinate and obdurate that the governmetn had no right to ask many of their questions. When I was told that I could cite the Fifth Amendment to every question but not the census itself, I asked if I was required to tell the truth. At that time I was told ‘no’. I relaxed a bit and invited the census taker in. I made some coffee and we went thru each question. I told the truth about names, ages, genders,handicap items, and race and then lied about all other questions. The census taker was in stitches over some answers but wrote them down anyway. She began to tell stories about recluses who would not open their doors and rifles being pushed through windows at her and her manager. We had a great conversation.
I don’t know if she was telling the truth in 1980 about my options in answering the census, but she liked the coffee and the conversation.
For every census question,she had a reason in her book on why it was being asked. I challenged many of those reasons.
I think we Americans work to hard at telling the government the truth. Enjoy youre census like I did.