Census Season Beginning with a Murder Doesn’t Bode Well for Turnout

On September 12, the body of William “Bill” Sparkman was found bound and hanged, with “FED” written across his chest and his Census Bureau identification card taped to his forehead. Was this just a random killing or a political statement? With the Census ID and “FED” covering Sparkman’s chest, it’s hard to believe this murder is anything but politically motivated.

This homicide brings to light a frightening possibility that Sparkman was targeted because of his part time job at the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau is under increasing fire from conservatives and some fear that the hundreds of other Census employees may be in danger. The bureau has many reasons to worry: the U.S. is facing unprecedented homeless rates, illegal immigrants are planning a boycott of the census, conservatives claim it's rigged in favor of the Obama administration and some extremists even claim it’s even unconstitutional; and, for the first time in recent memory, census season has begun not with a mailing, but with a murder.

Law enforcement officials are keeping most details surrounding the killing secret, causing conclusions that the anti-government atmosphere recently escalated in the Obama era is resulting in anti-government violence.
As more details emerge regarding Sparkman's death, Village Voice Media's True Crime Report blog cited the recent "rage against Washington . . . especially in the rural South," and said the death had "all the makings of some anti-government goober taking his half-wit beliefs way too far."

The death has spurred debates from all sides of the political spectrum—liberals stating the murder was politically motivated while conservatives are accusing the media of trying to politicize Sparkman’s death.

The death is a hint at the conservative attempt to undermine the government by not participating in the Census. According to the Census bureau, both a rise in identity theft and a mounting mistrust of the government discourage people from completing their Census forms.

While some citizens are skeptical of sending their personal information to the government, it is essential for their states and counties to receive funds. Monica Davis, the spokeswoman for the U.S. Census Bureau's Philadelphia Regional Census Center said, "The Census really boils down to power and money for the community.” Conservatives may be trying to make a statement, but ultimately, not completing a census form causes harm to the community rather than sending a political message.

Some conservatives are publicizing their refusal to complete the Census form. Most notably, Representatives Michele Bachmann, a republican from Minnesota, declared on Fox News that she would not fully fill out her Census form, accusing the government of abusing the obtained information.

Despite their desire to make a political statement, in not completing a census form, conservatives may be “cutting of their nose to spite their face.” Over $400 billion of federal funding will be affected by the data from the 2010 Census—everything from school districts to representatives in Congress, to housing for low-income families, to senior citizen centers. Congressional representation is also determined by Census results, so incomplete Census forms may alter the distribution of representatives. Monica Davis, the spokeswoman for the U.S. Census Bureau's Philadelphia Regional Census Center said, "The Census really boils down to power and money for the community.” Essentially, the Census has been a crucial source for determining demographic, education, and employment data in the U.S.

The Census bureau must emphasize the Census is a tool for obtaining demographic information about the country, not for the government’s ulterior motives.