A friend of mine said the following about the 2010 Census:  "We're seriously considering committing "civil disobedience" by not answering questions asked by Census takers other than what the constitution permits - the number of people living at that address. I'm told that it will cost us $100 dollar fine for each question we don't answer with a $5000 max. The "law" they passed stipulates that violators can only be fined - not imprisoned. Haven't made our final decision yet."

The above idea, not to fill in all of the 2010 Census, has been told to me several times by many people I have encountered; especially the long form which is to be distributed randomly.

The following is quoted from the following link:

http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_cens.html

"The number of questions in the decennial census has varied widely since the first in 1790, where census takers logged the name, gender, and race or each member of a household, to 2000, where a multi-page form with dozens of questions was sent to one out of every six households. In 2010, the Census Bureau trimmed the questionnaire to just the basics: name, gender, race, and ethnicity or each person, and whether the dwelling was owned, rented, or "occupied without payment of rent." A more detailed list of questions, called the American Community Survey (ACS), is sent to selected households in addition to the shorter headcount forms and in non-decennial years to allow the Bureau to do statistical sampling. According to the Census Bureau, about 3 million households are selected to receive the ACS each year."

"The law requires, in the case of both the decennial census and the ACS, that all households that get a form must fill it out in its entirety, under penalty. Generally speaking, the Census Bureau is not interested in levying the fine, and prefers to gather the data. If a survey is not returned, the Census can follow up by phone or with a personal visit. There is, however, the threat of a penalty for non-response. The current penalty is $100 for failure to fill out the census forms."

"The authority of the Congress to conduct the census in whatever way it wishes, and thus to require that the forms be filled out is found in the Constitution itself, which notes: ' [The Census] shall be made ... in such Manner as [Congress] shall by Law direct.'"

The argument for not filling out the long form, the (ACS) form, has caused quite a stir in the people's right for privacy - that many say is the reasoning behind not filling out the long form.  Even some have thought of not even filling out the short form.

The following came from this link:

http://www.usconstitution.net/constnot.html#privacy

"The Constitution does not specifically mention a right to privacy. However, Supreme Court decisions over the years have established that the right to privacy is a basic human right, and as such is protected by virtue of the 9th Amendment. The right to privacy has come to the public's attention via several controversial Supreme Court rulings, including several dealing with contraception (the Griswold and Eisenstadt cases), interracial marriage (the Loving case), and abortion (the well-known Roe v Wade case). In addition, it is said that a right to privacy is inherent in many of the amendments in the Bill of Rights, such as the 3rd, the 4th's search and seizure limits, and the 5th's self-incrimination limit."

I find that the government knows way too much already about it's people.  Almost everything you do, any place you have worked, and any place you have lived; or are currently living at, the government has always been able to electronically know in this day and age.  So why even have a Census?  The Social Security card is issued to anyone born into, or made a citizen of the US.  That number is asked for by any bank to open an account, when ever you buy a house, or pay taxes, and even when you apply for college.  Even the yearly collection of taxes you file they ask for the number of dependants in your home.  Maybe the taking of a Census could be, in this day and age, something we should consider as a needless and ought to be voted out of existence.  It would save a lot of taxpayer dollars just to give the government information it already has about all of us.

Now for a funny thought...

I just thought of something, where a question comes up that you do not want to answer put "Does not Apply." At least you are filling in the question - just not like they would wish you would. I think by putting in an answer, even if they do not agree with the way you answered, you did answer the question to the best of your ability. I figure if Nancy Pelosi can play stupid by saying, “We Have to Pass Our Bill So That You Can Find Out What Is In It." We can say, "We had to leave the question blank because we don't know how much we want you to know."

So why do they need more than just your name and the number of people in your family? Go figure... Well, if they fine me I have nothing for them to take from me...LOL   I'm BROKE!!!  So is most of Americans these days.

I will probably fill the darn thing out.  Even if I believe it may be outdated since so much info is available to them (The US Government).  I am by no means telling anyone not to fill out their 2010 Census, short form or long.