Serious Q: Are the poorest states in the country, the reddest states in the country?

Question

I'm NOT trying to bash anyones state. I really would like to know if my new found (ten seconds ago) hypothesis has any merit?

Answer 1

Yes they are.
In South Carolina:

50% of our students drop out before graduation.

Nearly 90% of the students that start college require remedial courses in Math and English before the can begin college level work.

Our schools are severely overcrowded and underfunded. Teachers have been overwhelmed and many seem to have just given up.

My daughter's High School Math teacher told us during an open house " I don't remember what I teach them. They won't remember it either." He stands in facing the whiteboard for eight hours a day, not imparting one bit of knowledge to anyone.

As a resident of South Carolina, it amazes me that all of these poor people vote for any republican candidate.

I have tried many times, in vain, to inject some reason into their political discussions, but it is impossible to counter a statement like: "My daddy voted republican and I will vote republican".

Another side seems to play to homophobia. Nothing gets people here more riled up than talking about gay marriage. Any one that hates gays almost gets an automatic vote.

The last part is the religion card. There are more churches here than almost any kind of public building. The possible exception being bars. The voters respond very positively to candidates that are overt about their personal religious views.
This leads to the use of the school prayer, and abortion as election issues.

For some reason, most seem completely oblivious to all other issues when presented with the above. And presented they are, every election, and it continues to work. Education level and income seem to have little bearing.

The republicans have learned which buttons to push, and to their benefit the button issues are non issues that they can openly support, knowing there will be no change.

Please pick one or more of the following to ensure election:

Abortion
Prayer in school
Gay Marriage
Flag burning
Intelligent design
Social Morality

No actual action necessary, simply grandstand your position until election day.

With campaign successful and election complete shelve issues for 24 months.

Rinse and repeat.

Answer 2

Top 10 Poorest States in the US

1) Mississippi
2) Arkansas
3) Utah
4) New Mexico
5) West Virginia
6) Lousiana
7) South Carolina
8) Oklahoma
9) Kentucky
10) Alabama

Answer 3

Your hypothesis is spot-on. States need funding in order to grow (or attract the better-paying businesses). Red states are notorious for hating to pay taxes so their infrastructure and education facilities reflect that lack of funding. The ripple effect spreads from there.

By the way, all you mooching Red-Staters out there, the Blue states also statistically pay to prop up Federal funding of higher education facilities (colleges) and even Federally-funded programs like Medicaid/Medicare/Welfare because Blue States statistically pay more Federal taxes than those poor, mooching Red States.

Answer 4

Look, tie in the most religious states, and the states that contribute the least per pupil in public education (ie: the "dumbest" states).

Those states practically overlap the political red/blue map...overlaying the red states.

Answer 5

There's a book written about two years ago called "The Trouble With Kansas" or something like that about how poor people often vote against their economic interests when they vote for conservative candidates based on "values".

Answer 6

How do you explain bush winning in 2000 and 2004? It was said a long time ago, to better control the people, keep them poor and uneducated.

Answer 7

According to the US census
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/income05/statemhi3.html

the bottom three are
Arkansas 35,591
West Virginia 35,234
Mississippi 34,508

Answer 8

Yes, they are also the dumbest and fattest people.

You have to take those things into consideration before judging or questioning their voting choices.

Malnourishment affects intelligence more than poverty in and of itself does.

Answer 9

republicans are RICH and GREEDY

democrats have to clean up the mess repeatedly, not that they do no wrong theyre both messed up but republicans are by far the most corrupt

Answer 10

for the majority... yes...

there are a few exceptions overall though...

also, education rates are lower, divorce rates are higher... last time I looked...