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Couple says questions too personal,threatened with fine if don't comply

The first few requests were tolerable. A Census Bureau worker

would knock on John and Beverly Scott's door and ask them to fill

out an American Community Survey. The McKinley Park couple

would politely decline.

But as the days passed, the visits became more frequent and the

requests more urgent.

Some evenings, the doorbell would ring at dinnertime, then again

at 10 p.m.

"I'm generally a nice guy. I didn't want to shut the door in her face,"

John Scott said. "I said, 'I'm not going to answer your questions.'She kept saying, 'You've got to, you've got to.' I shut the door, and

she kept ringing the doorbell and tapping on the window."

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It isn't that the Scotts are anti-government or are philosophically

opposed to the census. The couple filled out their decennial form

Home > Business > What's your problem?

John and Beverly Scott have had a Census Bureau employee stop by their house at least 15 times in the past

month, asking them to fill out a survey they find to be intrusive. They've even been threatened with a $2,000

fine. (Antonio Perez, Chicago Tribune / April 1, 2011)

Jon Yates

What's Your Problem?

April 1, 2011

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last year, answering every question.

But they're not too keen on the American Community Survey, a

more in-depth, ongoing questionnaire the Census Bureau

conducts to compile information on area demographics,

consumer patterns and economic issues.

In particular, the Scotts did not want to answer questions they

found too personal, such as inquiries about their income, when they left for work and their health.

"The new questionnaire has gone way over the line," Scott said. "We have told the representative that we are not

going to answer private questions, but they continue to come to our door at all hours of the day and night."

Scott said the requests had become so repetitive and annoying, the couple began pulling the old "out-of-candy-

on-Halloween trick."

"I work afternoons, and I'm not home," Scott said. "My wife has to sit with the lights off because she doesn't want

to be bothered."

Often, even that doesn't work.

"They knock and knock and knock and ring and ring and ring," Beverly Scott said. "Knocking longer is not going

to make me answer the door, and it's not going to help if we're not here."

The final straw, John Scott said, was when a Census Bureau employee told him he would be fined $2,000 if he

did not fill out the 48-question survey.

Upset, he e-mailed What's Your Problem? 

"If they come up with a fine, let's go to court. I don't care," he said. "I just want them to stop coming. That's my

main focus. Leave me alone."

The Problem Solver called Jack Walsh, survey supervisor with the American Community Survey's Chicago

regional office. Walsh said the survey is required by law and helps determine such things as the Consumer

Price Index and how federal funding is allocated.

Although residents can be fined for not participating in the survey, he said that is not the government's goal.

"Those fines exist, but we instruct the field staff that their job is to try to obtain the information through pleasant

means, by stressing the importance of the survey," Walsh said. "They're not law enforcement officers."

Walsh said the Scotts will not be fined if they choose not to participate in the survey.

"Realistically, we're not interested in prosecution," he said. "We're interested in obtaining information."

Walsh said households are selected randomly, and the information provided is kept confidential. Information is

gathered in three-month cycles, meaning the Scotts would have received their survey in the mail in January,

gotten telephone follow-ups in February, then been visited at home by regional field staff in March.

The cycle was scheduled to end within days, but Walsh said Tuesday that he would instruct the field staff to quit

visiting the Scotts' home immediately.

"We won't bug him anymore in the next several days," Walsh said.

Beverly Scott said the requests ended immediately.

"They stopped calling and they stopped putting notes on the door and knocking," she said. "It was too much."

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Comments (91) Add / View comments | Discussion FAQ

MissionMan at 9:29 PM April 01, 2011

The same thing happened to me in San Diego when I told them, NO, I was NOT going to beforced into revealing this kind of info-- to anyone. It's none of their damn business! The

census workers left threatening notes (warning me of fines of $5,000 for non-compliance),harassed several of my neighbors and even knocked on my kitchen window!!!!!!! After about 4

weeks of no responses, they finally gave up.This kind of behavior may be acceptable in fascist societies, but IS NOT acceptable in theUnited States.

Shame on you, Census Bureau, and federal officials for treating your citizens like this!!!!

whippers at 9:28 PM April 01, 2011

The US Constitution authorizes a head count for the purpose of determining congresionalrepresentation. That is all. You know what the US Constitution is, don't you? That's one of the

two Founding Documents that Uncle Scam wipes his bxtt with every day. The other such

document is the Declaration of Independence, which kicked-off the First AmericanRevolution. That revolution was illegal. I advocate the Second American Revolution and that,

too, is il legal -- but don't blame me --- I didn't write the law. And I advocate this War For 

Independence to restore the principles of the first such war --- against, tyrants, oppressors,

despots, and dictators.

disenchanted at 9:20 PM April 01, 2011

O.K. The people that are hired for census taking are basically those with no jobs, those who

were living under a bridge or in a park - and when the census taking is done, they lose the job.

Yep you are darn right I want one of these people to know when I am home and when I am not.

It is not the government's business what my health is like, when I go to work, how many times Igo to the bathroom, etc. etc. The census is supposed to be taken to determine how many

representatives there will be for each area/district. It was not supposed to be a way of corraling

people into areas.If someone was harrassing me I would call the police and tell them I fear for my safety. Chicago

thuggery really goes to great lengths, doesn't it?

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