Cynicism, not trusting my government: Why I will ignore the census bureau’s request

I smell a rat.

Ordinarily, a note from the census bureau is not a major concern. I will happily provide them with all of my information, though they could discover it at Ancestry.com.

However, since I have moved recently and was not included  at this address, I figured that the notice from the U.S. Census Bureau had to do with me and my biographical information.

Wrong.

First, the threat. “Your response is required by U.S. law.”

Second, this was the message: “Your address has been randomly selected by the U.S. Census bureau to participate in the American Community Survey. The Census Bureau conducts this survey each year to give our country an up-to-date picture of how we live — including our housing, education, and jobs.”

My community?

Those are words of suspicion.

So, this is not my census information, which I am happy to provide. Instead, they are examining my “community.” That sounds ominous to me.

Remember, we have masked people on our streets, killing some of our fellow Americans. Forgive me if I think that they are spying on me and trying to provide information to ICE.

I do not trust this government.

Cynical? Yes.

Unrealistic? No.

The first concern is that in order to provide this information, you need access to a computer and to the internet. Not everyone in our communities have that access.

Then you look at the rationale for this “community” survey. “The Census Bureau is using the internet to collect this information to conserve natural resources, save taxpayers’ money, and process data more efficiently.”

Right. They are saving money?

Not this government.

Then they add that you can secure a paper questionnaire. So, they are not entirely clueless.

So, the question is, should I violate the alleged US Code, Sections 141 and 193?

My answer is this: “Yes.”

Should I worry about ICE coming to my door?

Yes.

Not paranoia, just reality in the 2020s.