Ebert commenting on "blue" vs. "red" states

Roger Ebert's Journal ^ | December 17 or 18, 2009 | Roger Ebert

[ctdonath2]

Ebert: Blue States have fewer murders; this is even more true in densely-populated areas. Red states have significantly more rapes. Blue states, led by Massachusetts, have a lower divorce rate than do red states. Blue states are much safer places to drive - the difference is stunning. Blue states have substantially less infant mortality - however, there are a few surprises, such as Utah. Blue state infant mortality rates are similar to those found in the rest of the developed world. Folks in blue states live longer than folks in red states. The states with the least poverty are blue, and the states with the most poverty are red.

Those statements are all cut-and-pasted from the web, here: http://j.mp/6Pk2n9

And check this out: http://j.mp/7dmY31

Out of curiosity, where did you pick up your notions about red and blue states? Happen to hear that somewhere?

[ctdonath2]

Found buried in a thread about Avatar. Wondering how FReepers will react to it.

[GeronL]

None of that is probably even true.

Does anyone think big cities have less crime than the country?

[MSF BU]

This is why you assess not state by state but county by county. There are some very Right areas in the Northeast and some very LEFT areas in the South and West.

[Nea Wood]

I find this very hard to believe.

[Haiku Guy]

I would not presume that he is not lying about most of this, but what does it matter if it is true in every case? Is he suggesting that we surrender our freedom for a little money, slightly safer roads and abortion on demand?

[jyoders19]

It's absolutely untrue: Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul , Minnesota , points out some interesting facts concerning last November's Presidential election: Number of States won by: Obama: 19 McCain: 29 Square miles of land won by: Obama: 580,000 McCain: 2,427,000 Population of counties won by: Obama: 127 million McCain: 143 million Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by:Obama: 13.2 McCain: 2.1 Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory McCain won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of the country. Obama territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in low income tenements and living off various forms of government welfare...." Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase.

[jyoders19]

I posted my source, lets see if Ebert will do the same for his...

[Craigon]

“Blue states have substantially less infant mortality “

No source references to any of his claims. But if there is a reference the the above claim, I’m sure it neglects to include children that are murdered in blue state wombs...

[GeronL]

big big bump

[avacado]

Good post. Bookmark.

[Landru]

*Roger Ebert*???
BWWWWWWWHAAAAAAA!!!
Only way his partner could escape the boor was to die.

Hell's bells why not ask Bruce Springbrain? LOL

[Snurple]

Of course he wont, Libs love to make up their own sources.

[stylin19a]

figures lie, liars figure.
Pct of incidents per 100,000 sounds great but what relevance does it have when comparing let’s say Illinois population approx. 13,000,000 vs. Nevada population approx 2,700,000.

Hell, let’s compare like populations. Nevada = 2,700,000 and the City of Chicago = 2,800,000 and see what happens.

[turfmann]

According to Gallup, Mr. Ebert, conservatives outnumber liberals in all fifty states, and that would include your example of Massachusetts.

So before you go disparaging my state, please realize that not everyone here voted for Teddy K., not everyone thinks Senator Horseface is a war hero, etc. etc.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

This is all especially true in Roger’s city and mine, the true-blue city of Chicago. They just make up all that stuff about crime and gangs and poverty so people from the outside won’t want to move here.

[loungeSerf]

FWIW, that information you posted has been run through snopes.com.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/ballot/athenian.asp

I do take issue with the snopes.com reading of the tax redistribution as the comparative unit of measure under discussion(county land) was changed away from county/people back to just state.

Now this snopes.com page may be BS?

[liberalcide1]

I’d say Ebert gets 2 thumbs-up for being a gullible, dumb-ass.

[Brilliant]

He’s got the causation reversed. The reason Red States are red is that they have had it with crime and have adopted measures to combat it. States with low crime rates can get away with being tolerant of criminals.

[Solidstatechemist]

In anything political, if Snopes told me the sky was blue, I’d go out and check it for myself.

[the long march]

You mean like that peaceful haven known as Detroit???? or Washington D.C.