Just the Basics on the Census?

Congressman Michele Bachmann of Minnesota plans to do what is Constitutionally required when the census forms arrive next year.

She will fill out the number of people who reside at her residence.

Period.

Outspoken Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann says she's so worried that information from next year's national census will be abused that she will refuse to fill out anything more than the number of people in her household.

In an interview Wednesday morning with The Washington Times "America's Morning News," Mrs. Bachmann, Minnesota Republican, said the questions have become "very intricate, very personal" and she also fears ACORN, the community organizing group that came under fire for its voter registration efforts last year, will be part of the Census Bureau's door-to-door information collection efforts.

"I know for my family the only question we will be answering is how many people are in our home," she said. "We won't be answering any information beyond that, because the Constitution doesn't require any information beyond that."

Many of you probably remember being told that there are hefty fines threatened for anyone who doesn't comply with the census. So who is right?

Shelly Lowe, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Census Bureau, said Mrs. Bachmann is "misreading" the law.

She sent a portion of the U.S. legal code that says anyone over 18 years of age who refuses to answer "any of the questions" on the census can be fined up to $5,000.

Sorry, Ms. Lowe, but Rep. Bachmann is not "misreading" anything. She believes the law is unconstitutional as it oversteps its bounds. The census has become an invasive waste of time, and I don't really think the federal government has any business knowing what time I go to work in the morning, etc.

Furthermore, I think any sane American would have second thoughts about ACORN people doing the counting. Accuracy is not their strong suit. Neither is honesty.

So maybe Constitution upholding Americans should consider following Rep. Bachmann's lead next year. If millions of Americans say "hell no!" to providing the intimate details of our lives to total strangers who may well be convicted felons on parole, maybe Washington willl get the message.