Why do blue states have higher education rates and less people below the poverty line?

[Zippyjuan]

On that graphic, I think the second line is backwards. It should read "The Ratio of Benefits Received to Taxes Paid, by State"

According to the bottom of the chart it shows "Benefits received from the Federal Government for Every Dollar Paid in Federal Taxes"

Another is the ridiculous aggregated "per capita" reckoning, with the bizarre implication that all voters in the state are somehow evenly distributed recipients and beneficiaries of state spending. They are not.

The "per capita" is important because it allows you to compare less populous states with more populous ones. You are right it does not describe every person- that is impossible to list all 300 million people so it looks at the average person which is a very valid way to compare.

[heavenlyboy34]

In Big Cities, Welfare , ( not, a handup , by private charity ) , is considered normal and acceptable , in smaller communities , it is not desired. In these cities , currently, there are huge populations of tax ticks that have been this way , and those before them in the family were as well. This was the example set for them. Only way you can possibly improve this ( break the cycle ) ? End all publicly funded Welfare. Simple as that . This is not possible , because the Socialist Politicians are in control ( enablers ) and there are enough recievers to out vote those that pay . The takers , out number , the producers.

That, and ending welfare really isn't popular. It's not quite as bad as the Third Rail (social security), but it's pretty nasty.

[QuickZ06]

I just wish it was not red and blue and had other colors on those charts i.e green for Libertarian. That would start ending some of this chaos and move us towards the right direction.

[Steven Douglas]

The "per capita" is important because it allows you to compare less populous states with more populous ones. You are right it does not describe every person- that is impossible to list all 300 million people so it looks at the average person which is a very valid way to compare.

"per capita" is a valid way of eliminating an improper comparison (relative population sizes). But that is only for a starting point for real comparisons that are never made, with data that are completely meaningless without a further breakdown. Take income, for example. INCOME FROM WHERE? Is it publicly or privately sourced? And out of the privately derived sources, are they publicly distorted, and are there any artificial economic advantages provided or enforced by the state? And if so, which kind of state? Would a vote for Blue be personally and potentially more advantageous than a vote for Red? If you're an "educated" but unionized auto worker in Detroit, do think the possibility of subsidies, bailouts, and any legislation that is pro-union might just affect your vote just a teensy bit?

Likewise, "education" is meaningless in the absolute without a further breakdown. Knowing that people are "more educated" is meaningless without knowing WHAT they are 'more educated' about, what careers and income sources are the result, and to which available POOLS these 'more educated' people are likely to drink from afterward. "Education", even "per capita", is treated as if it was some kind of homogenous "Education Level Soup" that everyone was ladling from a single Education Vat. That's utter BS. Is a PhD in art history, with an emphasis on ancient Central African tribal art, comparable in any way to a B.S. in business administration? How about a Masters degree in Social Services versus an Associate Degree in mechanical engineering? All of these conflated, and yet can they even be compared?

[oyarde]

I just wish it was not red and blue and had other colors on those charts i.e green for Libertarian. That would start ending some of this chaos and move us towards the right direction.

You could do that by counties, but only if you polled beliefs , not votes. You would end , in the same result , only rural areas, independent people , self worth , no cities ,socialists . The experiment , has failed. I accept it.