I wonder how it compares with, say, 1980 - the last time a census was held during a severe recession? It really isn’t surprising to see an increase in hostility toward government during tough economic times, just as people tend to view the government as a whole more favorably when times are good - as they were in 2000, economically speaking.

I do know that there have been a number of unpleasant incidents within Detroit involving census workers. There always are. Anyone representing authority is viewed with animosity here, even during the best of times, and things are far from their best around here these days. Unemployment within the city proper is well over 25%, and there are vast numbers of people who have long since simply dropped off the radar and are permanently unemployed.