harmlessinc

So I'm looking at the American Community Survey, a 24 page survey from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Well most people are aware that every 10 years there is a census to decide the Representatives in Congress. Well it seems that wasn't good enough, now they are asking every year (different people in theory) a huge list of invasive questions. Here are a few sample questions:

What is the main reason members of this household are staying at this address?
In the past 12 months, what was the cost of water and sewer for this house, apartment, or mobile home?
When did this person last work, even for a few days?
What time did this person usually leave home to go to work last week?
What kind of work was this person doing?

Last I checked none of this information was needed to figure out census data and they sure as hell don't need my name, birth date, and Social Security number for random statistical data collection.

If you want real amusement consider that if you don't send the form back they resend it with threats:

Do I have to answer the questions on the American Community Survey?
Yes, your response to this survey is required by law (Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 193). Title 13, as changed by Title 18, imposes a penalty for not responding. The survey is approved by the Office of Management and Budget. We estimate this survey will take about 38 minutes to complete.

After they send it to you twice you will get phone calls, after the phone calls, you'll get a Census staffer knocking on your door. How do I know all this? I could say I read online stories of it happening to lots of other people, but it's faster to say they did it to me a few years ago when I was out the in the burbs.

Why am I so annoyed at all of this? Simple:
Amendment XIV - Citizenship rights. Ratified 7/9/1868.
"2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State,..."

I see nothing about asking how big my kitchen is (question number 10) or how well my bathroom plumbing works (question number 9).

Comments on the topic are more than welcome, they are strongly encouraged.