More info on Sparkman and Clay County

[Jeep789]

Slain Census Taker Was Warned of Job's Dangers
Residents 'Puzzled' About Death in Ky.

MANCHESTER, Ky. -- Bill Sparkman juggled three part-time jobs and chemotherapy, and he was conscientious about keeping his schedule straight. So when he didn't show up for work at a day-care program Sept. 10, two days after he went out canvassing residents for the Census Bureau, a co-worker reported him missing.

<snip>

Here, Sparkman's gruesome death has ignited a debate over whether it was a byproduct of harsh anti-government rhetoric on talk shows, blogs and protests. Residents of impoverished Clay County say most people harbor no resentment for agents of the federal government, and they're baffled by Sparkman's apparent killing.

Sheriff Kevin Johnson, a native, said most residents feel a measure of gratitude to the federal government. "We've been a poverty-stricken area pretty much all our lives," he said. "The government's taking care of 70 percent of people here, through Social Security, SSI, food stamps, Medicare and Medicaid."

Many residents groan at another black eye for a region too often known for its family feuds, moonshiners, marijuana farming, prescription drug trafficking and an economy that's been bad for so long that the recession doesn't feel like much of a change.

Clay County lies in the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains. About 30 percent of its 24,000 residents live below the poverty line, more than three times the national average. Its median household income is $20,000, compared with $50,000 nationwide.

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/25/AR2009092503046.html?wprss=rss_nation

[ck4829]

1. For all we know, it could be an accident, as this is what the authorities and media are alluding to

People strip naked, bind and gag themselves, write "fed" on their chests, and then hang themselves every day; that's just a fact of life.

[OregonBlue]

5. Good one.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Apparently there are those here at DU who do believe it or at least would like us to.

[zbdent]

6. well, you have to remember ...

the media accepted that a person who jogged regularly and was in excellent health just blacked out and fractured her skull on a desk at work ... Just ask Joe Scumborough ...

[bertman]

9. Accident. Absolutely right, ck4829. No doubt a check of Mr. Sparkman's genealogy would reveal

that he is a direct descendant of Harry Houdini, the world-renown escape artist.

My theory is he had gone into an isolated rural area where he could practice his new parlor trick, the Naked Duck-Tape Near-Hanging Last-Second Escape, that his great, great uncle Harry was unable to master because Duck Tape had not yet been invented.

Unfortunately, Mr. Sparkman did not read the very-fine print on the Naked Duck-Tape Near-Hanging Last-Second Escape instruction sheet where it said: never practice this trick without an assistant nearby.

Another senseless parlor trick accidental death.

[Taverner]

2. I would be willing to guess that most of Clay County isn't anti Fed

All it takes is a group of three, maybe four to pull this off

And all it takes is some crazy ass like Bachman or Beck to start this shit.

Instead of looking at Clay County, they should be looking at Fox for answers

[Jeep789]

12. You are correct according to the article. nt

[lunatica]

3. An entire county isn't guilty of this crime

Only the person or persons who committed the crime are guilty.

[Jeep789]

11. Nobody said it was. nt

[monmouth]

4. Delete...

[gatorboy]

7. "medical examiner....has not determined whether the death was a homicide."

This could be why income level is so low in the region... It's apparently populated by idiots.

[femrap]

8. Products of incest, unfortunately. nt

[FarCenter]

10. Almost none of the Clay county residents are anti-Fed while talking with a Washington Post reporter

Duh!