I won’t refuse to answer, because we are required by law to complete the census.
However, I am very, very worried that I might overlook the question. My strong objection to inclusion of the question could trigger my subconscious to fulfill my desire not to see the question on the form.
Actually, the 1960 census was the first census without it, and they only removed it because they found that they got more accurate citizenship responses with their supplemental yearly survey called the ACS.
So unless Trump is planning to cancel the ACS, this strikes me as much ado about nothing… non-citizens will get counted either way.
I guarantee 2020 Census is not properly funded to include Citizenship Question. I for one will require them to come knock on my door to ask that one question.
Ignoring a question is subject up to a $100 fine (lying is a $500 fine). The Census bureau has apparently not pursued fining anyone since 1970…if we flood them with blank answers to that one question (while answering everything else) then odds are they will just let it pass (instead of clogging the courts). And, there is actually a religious exemption…so I think my religion requires me not to discriminate against people here, so I cannot participate in gathering statistics that would allow the government to do so.
I’m sure glad the Census Bureau’s wasting precious time and resources on an illegal, unconstitutional question rather than spending them on improving the quality of the data collection, its primary focus. The GOP would be happy to destroy the government’s ability to collect data that invariably contradict their ideologically driven policy positions.
Odds are that the Trumpp admin would happily clog the courts.
But that would put Trumpp in a bind. His core supporters like nothing more than religious exemptions.
“Your honor, FSM teaches us that we are all one, no matter our size, shape, color, or origin.”
https://wonderopolis.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Wonder-95-Pasta-Static-Image2.jpg
Oh come on, they have now seen the error of their ways and are trying to set things right - don’t live in the pasta…
So it has gone for only a little more than half a century without the question, which hardly changes the point. It takes on much greater significance given the general attitude and behavior of the current administration. And they would not be fighting so hard for it if it was really much ado about nothing.
Actually the American Community Survey (ACS) replaced the old ‘long form’ Census questionnaire that roughly 1 out of every 6 households used to get at Census time. The ‘long form’ was part of the Census through the 2000 Census, and the ACS was initiated after that.