The American Community Survey (I just got one in the mail!)

[Ex_Nihil0]

I checked my mail box and behold, I find a US Census Bureau "American Community Survey" and, even though I filled out a Census this year, I am still required by law to answer a series of personal questions the government has no right to know, yet if I refuse they could fine me up to $100 for each question left blank and up to $500 for each question answered incorrectly. 

Here is what they want to know about each member of my household:

• full name
  age and date of birth
  race
  Ethnic Origin (Technically, yes, they are asking you if you are a Jew or not).
  where I lived a year ago
  several questions pertaining to my mental health
  marital status
  year of marriage
  past military service, if any
  income distribution
  address of employer
  how I drive myself to work
  what time I go to work and if I've had any recent absences at work
  have I been looking for work
  what kind of work I do for a living
  education level
  when I last when to school
  how well I speak English
  do I receive health insurance and, if so, how I get it
  when my house was built along with how many bedrooms and baths
  what kind of house it is
  what kind of heating fuel I use
  what my utility bills are like
  how large are my mortgage payments
  How high the property taxes are

What gives the US Government the right to ask me these questions?  I filled out my census and did nothing wrong.  As far as I'm concerned, this entire survey is completely unconstitutional and I would like to fight this outrage, but I don't have the money to take on the Federal Government in court.  What can I do?  Will the ACLU help me? I don't want to fill this interrogation form out, but they say the'll fine me lots of money if I don't.  What am I to do?  What can I do other then bend over and take it?

[MrBogosity]

PM me and I'll forward your information to a guy who's been looking into this.

[Ex_Nihil0]

Who's the guy my information would be forwarded to?  Does he just want my name and email address?  What does he want to do about this?

[FSBlueApocalypse]

As a former Census employee, the ACS is just one of about a dozen surveys that are done every month of every year in addition to the decennial.

To say almost all of these surveys are half baked is kind.