A Dichotomy in Two Colors

http://www.mises.org/fullstory.aspx?Id=1677 ^

[Borges]

A Dichotomy in Two Colors by Christopher Westley

[Posted November 19, 2004]

Call it the mystery of the red and the blue.

After the presidential election, many have noticed the irony of how some of the more conservative, culturally red states seem to receive more in federal spending than they pay in federal taxes. Meanwhile, some of the more liberal, culturally blue states seem to receive less in federal spending than they pay in federal taxes.

You’d think the supposedly anti-Washington reds should be blues and the supposedly pro-Washington blues should be reds. After all, the red states seem to benefit from federal spending, while the blue states seem to be harmed by it.

[Borges]

An outsider's view of the American political landscape.

[Borges]

Actually an American. My bad.

[KingNo155]

Because the red states are Idiots they allow their members of congress to continually rip them off instead of voting them out. The whole time they pretend its someone Else's fault, they are taken as fools. The red states allow this just look who the vote into office.

[MississippiMan]

Put the pipe down and back slowly away.

MM

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Dude, I swear: If I have to read one more of these trite "Red State/Blue State" opinion pieces, I'm going to call it quits entirely and turn into a full-blown lesbo.

Consider yourself warned.

[KingNo155]

LOL

[NYTexan]

Deep cover troll?

[oldbrowser]

The answer is the consuming states have a larger proportion
of national parks, military and research facilities, federal land, indian reservations, etc.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

The Indian reservation is the perfect exemplar for the enduring failure of government programs to resolve any substantial economic/cultural problems or assist people in living a better, more comprehensively fulfilling life.

[thegreatbeast]

I've not been wasting my time on such musings but doesn't it boil down to which state's congressional caucas is most successful in raping the public treasury?

[alessandrofiaschi]

This analysis if factious, because Red states have a larger proportion of national parks, military bases and so on. If we curtail the federal spending from these sums, the calculation will reveal that Blue areas, whose life quality (in a broader sense) is often very law because of wasteful policies, use more money than red ones. I wonder why, from decades bynow, "Neo-Austrians" are so elitist in their lowly writings, still resorting to these fallacies, which prove only their intellectual immurement.

[SirLurkedalot]

Just make sure you post some good pictures of that.

[blanknoone]

Deep cover troll?

I don't think that is a fair assessment at all. And be careful throwing that accusation around here. I took his post as an objection to RINOs aiding and abetting the socialism of the left...hardly a troll position.

[eagle11]

These lamenting lefties should consider how many productive, wealthy people move out of their states to avoid high income and property taxes, only to take up residence in the red states, where lower taxes and cheaper land helps generate the bulk of the nation's job growth.

[docbnj]

It's true: the northeastern states, and California, pay more in Federal taxes than they get back. It has been that way for years. The voters there seem to like it, which makes it amazing that they are considered as the intelligent ones by the MSM!!

Actually, it is partly because many of the programs are aimed toward the poorer segment of the polulation, and the Kerry states are (in general) the richer ones.

This highlights another interesting elemnt of the election, not trumpeted by the MSM: rich people tend very heavily to be liberal. I have looked over the reports on donations to the two parties, and the bulik of the biggest contributions goes to the 'Rats. There are some big Rep donors.

Here is the difference: most of the big 'Rat donors are lawyers, actors, and people in various get-rich-quick situations. 'Rats also get the benefit of unions and the educational establishment, including higher education, which has become virtually a cult. Thos areas are socialistic in their organization.

The Rep big donors are from the more practical, productive occupations: doctors, builders, people in industry and commerce. I was recently in a Kerry county here in NJ, in one of the richest towns in the state, where half the residents are 'Rats. The streets are filled with parked vehicles belonging to tradesmen working on the local mansions. I saw many such vans with Bush stickers on them, and not one with a Kerry sticker. Those are independent entrepreneurs in practical, useful occupations.

[docbnj]

The really BIG MYSTERY of the red and the blue, is why are the Reds (leftists) in the "blue" states, and the Blues (conservatives) in the Red states? Is this just a conspiracy by the MSM to try to keep people confused?

[Constantine XIII]

This is how dems like Daschle survive for so long in red states. People reach for the freebies.

[KingNo155]

Red states used to be Repub states and Blue Dems, the media changed the colors and I forgot we are now blue. For anyone who misunderstood what I was trying to say I apologize I got my colors screwed up. If you would change the "word " red to blue and reread what I posted.

[alessandrofiaschi]

Stop talking Neo-Austrians!!! We are all Neoclassicals...

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Will do!