A very nice little census worker came to my house and asked me the census questions.
I told her how many people lived there and my answer to the other questions was, “You don’t need to know that.” She went through all of the questions, wrote down my answer, thanked me and left.
A month later a “quality control” census worker came back to retake my census form. I answered exactly the same way. He thanked me and left.
There was no hostility (I was prepared for some) and it was fine except for the amount of my money they have spent on this process.
I was nonplussed this past week when a census worker came by and said that we did not send in our form. Yes we did. He also went to every other house on the block.
So none of our forms were received? Riiiiiiight. Gots to keep those jobs created.
Census worker came to my door. I was prepared to say “I’m not going to answer that” if she asked something the government didn’t have any business knowing. Didn’t happen. Everything she asked could easily be found on my tax return and it wasn’t much info... so why make a stink?
I truly think that different areas handle this differently - in south orange county (I’m hopefully on my last week of the census) they send one or two other low level employees out, then the crew leader assistant, and finally the crew leader if someone won’t answer. I apparently have the highest rate of “refused to answer” in my group. We are instructed to not take no for an answer and to keep trying. (Worst job ever!)
I responded the same way. I told him 4 people live in my house. When he moved to other questions, I said, I know we need to comply with a head count but that is it. I didn’t think race and such was mandatory and he agreed and left.
I doubt he would have gotten ugly with me anyway. Behind the glass front door were 4 large dogs...LOL!
The waste seemed gross...I am glad you had an experience like what i would have presented to you...I was prepared w/ a statement as instructed and that was that.