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2011-10-04 15:09:36 UTC
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What does it say that most of the 10 poorest states are Republican?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
As the Republican race for the White House heats up, here's something
the GOP can't be too comfortable with:
Most of the 10 poorest states in the country are Republican.
Mississippi is the poorest... followed by Arkansas, Tennessee, West
Virginia, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama and
North Carolina.
And the list doesn't even include Texas, where Rick Perry is governor
and one in five people lives in poverty.
In a piece on CNN.com, Roland Martin writes Republicans expect to win
all 10 of these states in 2012, although President Obama won North
Carolina by a slim margin in 2008 and West Virginia is usually
considered a Democratic state.
Martin points out that despite the red-leanings in these states, you
don't hear so much from Republicans about poverty.
In fact the word "poor" has barely come up at the GOP debates thus
far. The only exceptions were:
Rick Santorum discussing welfare reform
Ron Paul suggesting the U.S. get rid of the minimum wage
and Mitt Romney using the phrase "energy-poor."
Overall, Republicans believe their economic agenda is the best way to
get people back to work - and many in the GOP are quick to blame
President Obama for the rise in the poverty rate.
But how about addressing the root causes of poverty more directly -
especially when millions of people in these so-called red states are
suffering.
The Census Bureau reports a record $46.2 million Americans are living
below the poverty line - which translates to about $22,000 a year for
a family of four.
Minorities are especially hard hit - with 27% of blacks living in
poverty and 26% of Hispanics compared to about 10% of whites.
Heres my question to you: What does it say that most of the 10
poorest states are Republican?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
John in Florida Keys:
Jack, I think it means those 10 states have more under-educated,
down-and-out and desperate folks who are easily influenced by the
republican BS. You know, like I'll make gas $2 a gallon when I'm
president or there's no such thing as global warming or let's all pray
for rain and the best one, it's ok to default on our debt. Yes, we are
fast becoming a third world country. Sanity is slipping away.
Joshua on Facebook:
I hope Democrats hammer this point home over and over again until
people finally get it. Even the stupid ones.
Mark:
Obviously, it means that even POOR people have enough sense to vote
for traditional values and are opposed to the tax and spend policies
of liberals... which by the way, do NOT in any way help them leave
their poverty status.
James in San Diego:
Its a preview of what the entire country will look like if the
Republicans get back in control of Congress and the White House.
Sandra:
Jack, 1) Possibly the Republicans don't have the best ideas about how
to fix the economy and create jobs and 2) Maybe the poor should start
looking around for a candidate who actually supports their needs.
Apparently, that trickle down thing isn't even working in the
Republican states.
Bill in Pennsylvania:
Jack, Simple. You have to be able to think to see through all the 24/7
hate mongers propaganda. There is a good reason Rush Limbaugh has a
$400 million contract (yes over $400 million). Its for the radio
propaganda he delivers. He delivers followers, the unthinking "ditto
heads". Some of them can actually find the polls.
Ron:
It tells me that the 10 poorest states are also the 10 dumbest states.
Posted by CNN's Jack Cafferty
Filed under: Republican Party Republicans
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[what's this]
soundoff (282 Responses)
Samantha
The lack of funds allocated to their education institutions is
accurately reflected in their voting preferences.
September 22, 2011 at 1:24 pm |
Ann from Charleston SC
I am so glad you asked this question! I live in South Carolina, a
state that couldn't be more Republican, yet we always show up at the
top of lists of undesirable qualities and at the bottom of lists of
desirable qualities. The latest shows SC ranks 7 in a list of husbands
who murder their wives. I don't recall where we are on the poverty
list, but I imagine we are one of the top ten. What does it say? To me
it says Republicans don't know much about governing.
September 22, 2011 at 1:27 pm |
Noel Sivertson Roswell New Mexico.
It says the Republican plan of moving toward a lord-serf society
is working. It also says Republicans are masters at getting people to
vote against their own self interests.
September 22, 2011 at 1:32 pm |
Pete in Georgia
How do you define "poorest' ??
Let's look at some of the forever Democratic stronghold areas of
America like Detroit, Buffalo, or 75% of all medium sized towns and
cities in the northeast, most if not all Democratic, union
strongholds, entitlements thru the roof......................all a
wasteland of decay and dismal failure while govenment pours billions
of taxpayer dollars into a hopeless, sinking, losing cause.
Let's have some dialog on this, OK ??
September 22, 2011 at 1:34 pm |
B. J., Quincy, Il
It says that the republican party talks a good game but when it
comes right down to it they are vampires who suck the blood right out
of their states.
September 22, 2011 at 1:37 pm |
John from Alabama
Jack: It says, a great deal about the Republicans, and how they
hold on to people. Republicans appeal to the poor and uneducated
people who claim to be born again Christians. The Republicans use the
threat of big government in every aspect of their lives, and more
taxes will be needed if the Democrats are in charge. Those in the ten
most poorest states vote a party line rather than individual
candidates in the different offices up for election. Republicans pray
on the fears of people: rather than, being progressive and looking
forward to solutions. The poor do not want change and are afraid of
those who promise better days ahead. It is acceptance over clear
thinking, better to do nothing than to rock the boat, and it is the
will of God to vote for the Republicans. In Reality, God is most
likely not happy with the Republicans or Demcrats.
September 22, 2011 at 1:38 pm |
Ed from Harrisburg
Jack, this is a no-brainer... Republicans have been growing and
spending more of people's money to enrich their big donor base than
any country history. Hoover, a Republican spent the country into a
depression. Bush, a Republcan, backrupted several businesses before
nearly bankrupting the country as Presdent. Rupublicans are the party
of spend, spend, spend and raiding the tax base, despite their
deceptions to the contrary.
September 22, 2011 at 1:40 pm |
Lou, Fayetteville, NC
The poorer you are, the more you follow promises and Republicans
have been promising everything and giving nothing to the poor for
years but they keep hoping. The two parties have lost their focus and
true North. However, Republicans do a better job of selling their
ideas. If you are poor, the rich Mormon's and the slick Texan's
promises sound better. But then a lot of us voted for promises from a
Democrat knowing full well he couldn't produce, but we had hope.
September 22, 2011 at 1:42 pm |
s in fl
It tells me that the Colonel would be jealous of the way these
republicans get their chickens to jump into fryer. Waving the flag all
the way in. On second thought, it brings to mind Gen. Buck riding the
nuke in Dr. Strangelove.
September 22, 2011 at 1:46 pm |
Bob C
When you have an uneducated public, the party who can appeal most
to that neglected intellect will be the most successful. The
Republican Party is masterful at spewing messages of hate and
discontent and blaming the Democratics for their unfortunate
situation. These type of messages resonate extremely well in a poor
and uneducated community.
September 22, 2011 at 1:48 pm |
Tom in Desoto, TX
What it says is that the Republican idea for education is working.
They will watch the F-word agenda network, swallow everything they say
and they will go off to any war republicans want them to. They only
things required of republicans is to keep guns, not books, aside from
the Bible, in their hands, and show make believe hero movies, staring
John Wayne, once a day.
September 22, 2011 at 1:49 pm |
ImALibertarian
Houston -
Obviously - the Republican States steal less.
September 22, 2011 at 1:50 pm |
Steve Newman, Washington, DC
It means that Republican policies don't work!
September 22, 2011 at 1:52 pm |
Bizz, Quarryville Pennsylvania
It proves to me that the republicans trickle down theory only
helps to create a two class nation of rich and poor. The statistics
prove that the rich are getting richer and and more middle class are
joining the poor.
September 22, 2011 at 1:58 pm |
Mel - Houston
It says two things to me, Jack. First, Republican public officials
do not have a high regard for the common man. Second, that the
electorate in that state is not as informed as they should be. Just a
guess but most likely these states are also not rank very high in
educational achievement. I believe Thomas Jefferson had some things to
say about public education and the endureance of democracy. What did
he know?
September 22, 2011 at 1:59 pm |
Spencer
To me it says that there has been a complete turn around of
political identity for a lot of people. Democrats usually carry most
of the poor votes as well as the poorer states. This is an indication
of the lack of confidence in Obama and the democratic party in
general. Plus with someone like Ron Paul running for GOP, I'd switch
to republical to vote for him myslef as well, if I was registered
Democrat.
September 22, 2011 at 2:00 pm |
Spencer
It says to me that Obama is losing ground with the American public
in general. He hasn't proven anything over the past four years that he
has any clue let alone an answer to fixing the economy and the job
market. Noted that those issues aren't totaly in Obamas control. He
still has yet to show any productivity in those two major issues. Now
for Palin. I'm beside myself that she has even been considered in any
of the GOP or presidential polling. She hasn't came out and stated
that she's officially running for GOP nomination let alone have any
involvment in politics what so ever any more. It's sad when a
nonrunning self proclaimed politician can steal the spot light from
what needs to be the real focus politicaly for America.
September 22, 2011 at 2:03 pm |
EJ in Metro Houston
it shows to me Jack that a lot of areas where there is poverty are
also ones with very little advanced education. The minorities that
live in poverty either don't vote or don't vote Republican. The poorer
whites that do vote normally WILL vote Republican These are the ones
that listen to right wing talk radio, don't do research about facts
and actually just follow what they are told. It's also normally a
"bible belt area" as well and they depend a lot on God to pull them
through. When you have a lack of good education, good teachers and
good schools where the children can go to the cycle just continues.
September 22, 2011 at 2:04 pm |
Steve
...and they want to go for 40 more!
IL
September 22, 2011 at 2:06 pm |
Jenna Roseville CA
What does it say that most of the 10 poorest states are
Republican?
It says to me that here is proof that the Repubicans have no idea
what they are doing. So why would we want them to lead our nation?
Just look at today, the GOP tried to put a tax cut amendment, that
would result in the loss of 10K jobs, on the back of a bill that would
get money to FEMA to help Americans effected by natural disasters.
We don't need "their kind" in office. Who exactly are these
Republicans representing anyways??
Jenna
Roseville CA
September 22, 2011 at 2:07 pm |
FA
It says that selfishness doesn`t pay back. Solidarity and unity
does. But we already knew that.
September 22, 2011 at 2:08 pm |
Gary - Woodhaven, Michigan
It says that the people are insane for continually making the same
mistake over and over by electing Republicans expecting a different
result, to paraphrase Einstein. But then the majority like Palin, so
they've got to be nuts.
September 22, 2011 at 2:08 pm |
john/omaha
would that be 10 out of 50 or 10 out of 57?
September 22, 2011 at 2:08 pm |
Jim
Jack, I would add to the "poorest" the " Evangelical South". The
Tea Party", some 60 Representatives breaks out with 11 from Texas, 5
from Florida, 4 from Georga, 3 from South Carolina, 2 from Tennesse, 2
from North Carolina, 1 from Mississippi, and 1 from Louisana. some 29
in total. The Repupublican's have hung their hat on the religious
poor.
Jim LA
September 22, 2011 at 2:09 pm |
Dan K
If the 10 poorest states are Republican it tells me that people
vote for the party with the best propagana not actual facts! If you
listen to the Republicans though they have all the answers! The main
theme they have is to have no taxes for the rich and everything
deductable for big business!
Do you really think they care about the poor and middle class! Is
one of our elected Republican reps. not a millionaire (If so he soon
will be)
September 22, 2011 at 2:11 pm |
Donna, Wisconsin
I think the question should be why doesn't the GOP even
acknowledge this and address how they would handle the situation. They
don't even have questions at their debates that go anywhere near
"poor" or lack of food, housing or healthcare. Nor do they acknowledge
the 'working poor'. Folks need to see the GOP's real adgenda: Helping
the rich get richer. That's the "Class Warfare" they are fighting to
continue.
September 22, 2011 at 2:12 pm |
Ron WPAFB
Do you need to say anything else, Jack? No!
September 22, 2011 at 2:13 pm |
Jayne
It says the Republican Party has cornered the market on stupid
people. I'll never understand how or why people vote against their own
self interest. Republican politicians care about two things:
themselves and their wealthy donors. The rest of us are collateral
damage . . . including poor people who vote Republican.
September 22, 2011 at 2:16 pm |
David R Bebeau,Springfield Missouri
Jack,I can answer your question and it has nothing to do with
right or left.It means that we are independent and self reliant and we
probably live a better life than rich states.MORE GOVERNMENT IS N O
T!! THE ANSWER JACK.
David
September 22, 2011 at 2:16 pm |
Ken from Pinon Hills, California
Elect a Republican President and we will all be the poorest 50
States. The Republican controlled house is trying to make that so
today.
September 22, 2011 at 2:19 pm |
Ed from California
Can you spell corruption? No education, repression, racism, or
simply they just don't vote. If you look up as to who gets all of
their federal tax dollar back, plus, they receive extra in federal
handouts, it's the red states, Mississippi being #1 on the handout
parade. W.Virginia #2, Alaska #6(I thought they had oil??), Bama #7,
S. Carolina #8. And the list goes on and on..CA is near the bottom(I
guess we have to pay to keep the lights on for the red states). Mitch
McConnell's state is #11, McCain's and Kyle's state is #16(I guess
those illegals eat a lot). It really says that the Kochplican's are
hypocrites and liar's. Okay, lets cut back....lets really cut back on
the states handouts...altogether
If these red states receive more in, than they pay out, for
schools, teachers, police, fire, state services, where is the money
going? That's how you spell corruption.
September 22, 2011 at 2:23 pm |
Michael Bindner, Alexandria, VA
It means that their opposition to unionization and some decent
level of government is not so smart after all. It also means that
electing the governor of a state leading in the race to the bottom is
probably not such a good idea either.
September 22, 2011 at 2:26 pm |
Mark M. IN Newmarket, NH
It says that the labor movement in this country needs to
rediscover its pecker; that Democrats gave up on referring to
Republican economic policies as feudalism way too early; and that
someone besides me needs to notice that the economy was a lot stronger
when labor was as well.
September 22, 2011 at 2:26 pm |
Peg from NY
It says that Republicans readily drink the koolaid supplied by any
member of the Republican Party. The worse off they are, the more
koolaid they drink.
September 22, 2011 at 2:28 pm |
Larry in Houston
Jack It says that they have us under their thumbs. It also says
that if you live in a republican state you will most likely work for
minimum wage and very little health insurance if any. And you have
the "option" of purchasing your own Health Insurance, with your
minimum wage, or if your lucky enough to make a little above it.
September 22, 2011 at 2:28 pm |
Jesse from DFW
Good observation!
If we apply the critical factors that we face economically, how
would a survey of the people in each state respond to what is
important to them. Compare it with the Republican Agenda to determine
what matches up!
September 22, 2011 at 2:29 pm |
Cheryl in Bluffton, SC
It says that the Republicans' two big ideas, tax cuts for the rich
and deregulation of industry, don't create prosperity. In fact, they
have led us to exactly the mess we are in now and ironically, those
poor, red states receive more money from the federal government than
they pay in.
September 22, 2011 at 2:29 pm |
Ed from Texas
It says they suffer from bi-polar disorder. Not only do they vote
against their own economic interest, but their states' leaders oppose
federal spending at the same time their states receive more fback from
Washington than they in taxes.
September 22, 2011 at 2:30 pm |
James in Springfield, VA
It means that their Elected officials are not doing there job and
need to get voted out of office. But then again most people in America
have a short attention span so it is not like elections matter.
September 22, 2011 at 2:31 pm |
Mark Bussell
Plain and simple Jack, it say they loath the poor
September 22, 2011 at 2:34 pm |
Alex in Bremerton, WA
It says that it is hard to pull yourself up by your bootstraps if
you don't have any boots. But the Republicans don't care about that as
they cut welfare programs during hard times. It says that it is hard
to expect your neighbor to help you after a natural disaster if his
home is leveled too. But the Republicans want to defund FEMA anyway.
It says that we should seek charity from the churches when we are old
and sick so the Republicans can eliminate Social Security and
Medicare. The Republicans' vision of a shining city on the hill does
not bode well for the huddled masses outside of the gates!
Alex the unemployed Veteran
September 22, 2011 at 2:35 pm |
Brad, Portland, OR
It says that when Republicans are in control and can implement
whatever policies they want, they damage the economy and reduce the
standard of living for the majority of the people.
But on the bright side, when Republicans are in control, the rich
get richer and corporations become more profitable so they can give
their CEOs bigger bonuses.
So it must be worth it, or middle class and poor people wouldn't
keep voting Republican.
September 22, 2011 at 2:36 pm |
barbara in nc
It appears to me that all that pork taken home to their districts
went into wealthy pockets instead of creating good jobs or furthering
the education of people in their states.
But then, if people are ignorant, uneducated, they tend to vote
republican.
September 22, 2011 at 2:37 pm |
Bert in CA
Hi Jack, it says Reaganomics failed and our nations wealth will
not trickle down if placed in the grip of global corporations and
speculators playing the worlds stock markets which have no allegiance
to any nation. It says those voters better wise up and accept the GOP
has become the guys Ike warned us about; a government-corporate
complex like King George III and the East India tea Co.
September 22, 2011 at 2:37 pm |
Suren
It means they're poor, therefore: uneducated, therefore: easily
manipulated, therefore: republican.
September 22, 2011 at 2:41 pm |
John G
Jack, it's elementary my friend. I explained to my kids at an
early age the following: Republicans are for the rich and Democrats
support the poor. While that may be dumbing it down at bit, the
principal holds true still today.
John in Tampa, FL
September 22, 2011 at 2:45 pm |
Larry -Denver
There must be a direct correlation between the poorest states and
the states where Republicans take more lobby money and do nothing for
their states. I bet those poorest states are also the most illiterate?
Have the lowest % of high school and college graduates and yet keep
cheering at executions. Still does not solve the economic issues of
this country. The poor stay poor and the fat cat politicians really
dont care enough
September 22, 2011 at 2:45 pm |
JD
The people vote right wing because left wing is only safe in the
good times. Times of economic prosperity, and times they can afford a
drink or two, as to now when they can barely makes ends meet. I'm not
saying its right, but past historical evidence proves it right. If
Obama wants to win, he needs to follow in the steps of roseavelt and
bring about a new deal like function; the people vote for jobs and
money.
September 22, 2011 at 2:48 pm |
jimmy in nc
Jack, it says we are poor but proud. The Republicans offer the
best chance to restore pride in the USA and self-reliance. Sure we are
poor but that does not mean that we want quiche, cappucino or other
left-wing accoutrements.
September 22, 2011 at 2:51 pm |
Gary H. Boyd
Jack, all but one of the ten states you mention are in the
southeastern U.S. where lower wages and incomes have been the case for
decades. But, these same folks are strongly self-reliant and dedicated
to a remarkable work ethic and with ingrained religious beliefs - all
of which are part of the GOP fabric. The Democrats, by comparison,
have no such credentials.
Gary in Scottsdale, Arizona
September 22, 2011 at 2:54 pm |
Michael "C" Lorton, Virginia
Jack: What it says is that the poverty of our century is unlike
that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, but of a set of
priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. It is the
Republicans way of redistributing money from the bottom up.
September 22, 2011 at 2:54 pm |
Ray in Knoxville
What does it say, Jack? It says that this is what America faces
unless we undo the past 30 years of Republican economic policies.
September 22, 2011 at 2:55 pm |
dave in nashville
Simple, the less fortunate are not voting. This is not rocket
science.
September 22, 2011 at 2:55 pm |
Gerry
Probably because they live on the incomew that they earn not from
government subsidies.
Gerry
Ash Fork, Az.
September 22, 2011 at 2:56 pm |
Michelle M
Among other things, it says we should listen to all the Republican
fools who rail against 'federal government spending'- and stop
subsidizing their sorry butts with the money of blue states. If they
don't like gov't spending, they shouldn't benefit from it. Let's see
how long LA, GA, SC, etc keep voting Republican after they get no
welfare from BLUE states. I'm so sick of this hypocrisy. And I'm sick
of living in a fantasy-land constructed by Rs who obstruct everything,
while vacuuming up benefits they don't support. If Cantor doesn't want
disaster-relief w/o budget cuts- fine. No relief for Virginia. Simple.
Like his ideas? Keep voting for him. Want to live in AMERICA? Vote for
a human.
September 22, 2011 at 2:59 pm |
Terri From Blountville, TN
This also corresponds to the "most religious" states according to
a recent gallup poll. I think it says that the "religious" people in
these states believe the rhetoric about their faith spewed by
Republican politicians. They vote for someone who is perceived as
religious whether they truly are or not. Unfortunately, this is not in
the best interest of those living in poverty.
September 22, 2011 at 2:59 pm |
Tom Bulger, Canandaigua
"According to recent US census figures, since President Bush
assumed power in 2000 poverty has risen by 7%, the proportion of those
without healthcare has risen by 9%, and median household income has
fallen by 3%. But where the poor are most numerous, it seems the
Democrats are weakest. The 10 states with the lowest household median
income, where people are least likely to have healthcare and most
likely to live in poverty, all voted Republican in 2004." (Gary
Younge, the Guardian, 9/18/06)
What it tells me is poor people can't afford legitimate news like
cable's CNN.
September 22, 2011 at 3:01 pm |
Lori - PA
It means that Republicans could care less about those who can't
afford to contribute their election campaigns. Duh.
September 22, 2011 at 3:07 pm |
TOM TYSKIEWICZ
Well Jack, since most of the very POOR states are in the
confederacy, I'd say that the southern politicans have successfully
created their aristocracy with a majority of people living in SERFDOM
just as GOD has commanded. With their corporate & wall street masters
this is their GAME PLAN for AMERICA.
September 22, 2011 at 3:08 pm |
Floyd - Crescent City, CA
It just shows that the poor are ignorant, uneducated and stupid.
September 22, 2011 at 3:09 pm |
Jan Puerto Rico
Poor people probably don't vote!
Hope this changes or they will be forever poor
September 22, 2011 at 3:09 pm |
Frank in Valparaiso
The GOP business model is a failure. Its economic model is as
George H W Bush said, voodoo economics. nobody teaches trickle down or
the Laffer Curve as real economics theory.
That they keep voting Republican shows how well GOP snake oil
sells.
September 22, 2011 at 3:10 pm |
Kevin in CA
It re-enforces the old adage that if you're a Republican you are
either rich or uninformed.
September 22, 2011 at 3:10 pm |
Dave, Orlando, FL
It says that people who vote republican are idiots to keep
electing the same sorry creeps who keep them the poorest Americans in
the country. But then most are Tea Party Republicans so you really
cant expect much in the way of smarts there. I doubt that if you put
all of the brain cells of all the Tea Party members in their entirety
into a tea cup you would only get half a cup.
September 22, 2011 at 3:11 pm |
Paul Lagle
What it means is that of those states, only the majority of THOSE
VOTING choose to vote Republican. I have no idea what the split in the
vote is for each state. However, the vast majority of people may or
may not reflect which candidate is or has been chosen. Other than
that, the statement has no meaning.
September 22, 2011 at 3:12 pm |
Larry from Georgetown, Tx
It says that most Americans say In God We Trust unless you're a
member of the GOP, their motto is "In Wall Street We Trust". The GOP's
new theme is "God Bless Wall Street and our wealthy friends and the
heck with the poor".
September 22, 2011 at 3:13 pm |
TomInRochNY
It says that if republicans gain congress and the white house more
prosperous states will no doubt become poor. When is the last time you
heard an outcry of anger from republicans to end poverty? How about
allowing hard working Americans to make a living wage? Okay, let's try
penalizing so called American corporations for outsourcing/insourcing
jobs? Uhm, eliminating loopholes that only the wealthy and
corporations can truly benefit from? Ending tax payer funded subsidies
to big business? Yeah , they're definitely the party of Joe six pack.
Tom, Rochester NY
September 22, 2011 at 3:15 pm |
Doug
The most dominant theme that comes to mind, looking at the States
listed here as being the poorest, is Bible Belt. So, Republicans are
Bible Belters, as well as rich white old folks. Democrats seem to
congregate in the Talking Monkey States, like Massachusetts and New
York. The harder to pin down Independents, or, Weather Vane Weather
Freaks, are mixed in randomly, amongst the Democrats and Republicans.
What was the question? Doug. Pepperell, MA.
September 22, 2011 at 3:17 pm |
Steve, Clifton, VA
It means that these States are also the least educated and least
likely to be informed or to complain. These are the States that love
to say "we have get America back."
September 22, 2011 at 3:20 pm |
Rich McKinney, Texas
Jack a poor person gets no more vote then a rich one. There are
however more poor people then rich people in America and always have
been so if the poor vote democratic historically then democrats are a
shoe in come 2012. It does not mater when your hungry who would make
the best president what maters is the president that will give you the
most regardless of where they get the money from. That is what Obama
is doing by making the republicans out to be for big business
attempting to take from the wealthy and give to the poor. It equals
more votes for him. He has turned it into an us against them fight
even though he is a multi millionaire himself. In reality he is them
but he does not want you to realize that.
September 22, 2011 at 3:22 pm |
Richard C.
I think your comment is irrelevant because all the states are
suffering to a certain degree. I should also add that maybe they are
poor because Obama has ignored them as part of his re-election
campaign just as he has ignored any job creation ideas. I do not think
Obama has the sense to care about anyone or anything except himself.
Malvern, PA
September 22, 2011 at 3:23 pm |
Greg in Arkansas
Seven of the ten poorest states (plus Texas) you mentioned are
"right to work states" where unions are all but banned and six of the
ten poorest states place 40th or lower in education achievement
levels. Under-educated people can be easily convinced how to vote
based on 30 second political commercials and solutions that are
printed on bumper stickers.
In Arkansas, I hear people that are making minimum wage, trash
talk unions while they complain about low pay, no benefits and
horrible working conditions yet they still support tax breaks for the
wealthy......go figure???
Education is the solution....the only solution....but as long as
the republicans control the legislatures and squeeze funding for
education......not much will ever change.
September 22, 2011 at 3:24 pm |
Mark
Obviously, it means that even POOR people have enough sense to
vote for traditional values and are opposed to the tax and spend
policies of Liberals....which by the way, do NOT in any way help them
leave their poverty status.
September 22, 2011 at 3:25 pm |
Gail, Plano TX.
It says Jack, that someone is cooking the books! It just does not
make sense, so I must assume that the votes are being stuffed in the
ballot boxes. I lived in MS in 1958, and it was unbelievable. The
poverty I saw then was so extreme, I was shocked. The black community
had no paved streets! Just dirt roads! As a New Yorker, I was never
aware that such inequality existed in the good ole USA. So answer this
question, Jack. If u were a poor person, would u not vote for a
Democratic candidate than the rich Republican fat cat?
September 22, 2011 at 3:26 pm |
Rick, Medina, OH
Jack,
The Republicans won in these states ... the solution is greater
voter turn-out by those most affected!
Rick,
Medina, OH
September 22, 2011 at 3:29 pm |
Terry in Virginia
I disagree that West Virginia is Republican. Both Senators are
Democrats. Manchin, although he acts like a Republican, is actually a
Democrat and the former governor. The current (acting) Governor
Tomblin is a Democrat, too. At worst, West Virginia is a purple state.
Poverty doesn't look good for either party and both sides are to blame
for this mess. All Democratic and Republican incumbents deserve to be
tossed out on their back sides election after election until the party
leaders finally figure out that We the People - all the people and not
just the Koch Brothers and Grover Norquist - count.
September 22, 2011 at 3:33 pm |
Tom (Atlanta)
Jack if you are emplying "cause and effect" that does make sense
in a Democracy unless the poor don't trust Democrat to govern in these
states. I guessthat must be it. The poor must think the Democrats are
not worthy. Sorry Roland, you must now be too wealthy to remember how
it was back in Texas. Or is it that your Texas Aggie economics
showing?
September 22, 2011 at 3:34 pm |
Harvey Gold-Brandon, MS
It says that the poor don't have time nor money to vote...all they
know is they're broke and hungry....which is exactly why Republicans
want to make even more people poor. The more broke people there are
the less they know what's going on in the world, or care.....and the
less they know, the more Republicans win...makes perfect sense to me.
September 22, 2011 at 3:35 pm |
Sylvia from San Diego
What this tells me is that even though these states are the
poorest and vote mostly Republican, the services provided by those
mean republican are always better than those provided by the
democrats......
September 22, 2011 at 3:39 pm |
Sandra
Jack,
Two points come to mind: 1) Possibly the Republicans don't have
the best ideas about how to fix the economy and create jobs and 2)
maybe the poor should start looking around for a candidate who
actually supports their needs. Apparently, that trickle down thing
isn't even working in the Republican states.
September 22, 2011 at 3:47 pm |
Greg McCarthy
Jack, I would guess that these states vote red because the
homeless do not have a mailing address which makes it difficult to get
a voter ID now to even be able to vote. /sarcasm
The ones who DO have homes end up electing their officials. Too
bad it seems to be based more on extreme religious beliefs rather than
basic moral principles. Greg M. FL
September 22, 2011 at 3:48 pm |
Joe
Jack,
The fact that the ten poorest states are Republican represents a
demographic of citizens who have given-up on any possible chance of
change; therefore, they vote based upon their social agendas, and do
not realize how the wealthy have manipulated their perspective on
important economic issues.
Unfortunately these poor states are not able to open their eyes
enough to see how their locally elected Republican leaders have sold
their rights down the muddy waters of allowing the rich to get richer.
Joe, Binghamton, NY
September 22, 2011 at 3:51 pm |
Bill in PA
Jack
Simple. You have to be able to think to see through all the 24/7
hate mongers propaganda
There is a good reason R. Limbaugh has a 440 MILLION dollar
contract (yes over four-hundred millions) for the radio propaganda he
delivers. He delivers followers, the unthinking "ditto heads". Some of
them can actually find the polls.
September 22, 2011 at 3:52 pm |
James in San Diego
Its a preview of what the entire country will look like if the
Republicans get back in control of Congress and the White House.
September 22, 2011 at 3:53 pm |
Paul From Austin Texas
It shows that when they get down to brass tacks Jack the
Republicans only care about the big guys not us small fry. Is that
what we have to look forward to in the future is a wider split of the
haves and the have nots. The ones in the tea party better get ready
for most of them to be added to the have nots they are just being used
by the fat cats in the Repulican party to get what they want. Wake up
America.
September 22, 2011 at 3:58 pm |
Jane in CA
Republican policies only work for rich people, and they take money
from what other states would spend supporting low income people to do
it. There is no support for people who need help, which lowers their
chances of improving their position. Plus, you get a lot of folks who
believe that God uses wealth as a reward and only sinners are poor.
Right to work is part of it, you get the right to work for less than
it takes to keep you alive. Republicans stopped caring about anyone
but millionaires over 40 years ago. If you are poor you just don't
exist for them.
September 22, 2011 at 4:01 pm |
Paul P.
It tells me what I already know, that Republicans aren't that
interested in helping people through government programs or education,
they view that as a waste of taxpayer money. Better those people just
pull up their bootstraps on their own and stop being a drain on
society, and let us know when you get around to making that first
million so we can pander to you with alot of tax loopholes and cushy
tax rates in exchange for some political contributions.
September 22, 2011 at 4:01 pm |
gunny
Keep voting for the republicans. It amazes me how many poor people
or middle class people still vote for these republicans idiots.
Republicans have never protected the poor or the working people, they
have always protected the rich.
Republicans are quick to blame Obama or the liberals. Where were
they when Bush was spending money on 2 wars. No one spoke up then and
said hey we have to be responsible and not throw money at a war we
will never win. They will never tell the truth. Liars every one of
them. I dont have much faith in the democrats these day either.
September 22, 2011 at 4:02 pm |
Stella-Northern New York
Hello Jack. They may be the poorest states but they also collect
the highest returns of federal dollars. For every $1.00 they pay into
the federal government they are getting back $1.50 on average of those
federal funds. Not so bad. There are advantages to keeping your
Republican state poor with a low GDP. The sad part is those federal
dollars are going into pockets that don't need that money. Could it be
the super rich and big corporations (the job creators)in each state??
After all if your a Republican you wholeheartedly support everything
for the big boys and nothing for you. Something might trickle down to
you in the next century. Then your grandchildren can say for you "See
I told you so". Ask Ron Paul,ask the Teaparty,and ask the Republican
party how they would sum up the people who live in these states. If
they were Democratic states they would call them a bunch of lazy good
for nothing free loaders who will not take responsibility for
improving their own well being. Of course we're talking about
Republican states here. So they tell them its the fault of the
Democrats that their GDP is so low and they are so far behind the rest
of the Country. They will never be any more than they were 50 years
ago. Keep voting Republican and in 100 years you'll still be where you
are today...AT THE BOTTOM. Good luck to all the people who live in
these states. Thank God we all take care of each other in this Country
no matter what state we live in or what party we support. What would
the people in these states do without those" FEDERAL DOLLARS" they get
each year? Maybe they might want to keep the Federal Government in
their lives awhile longer.
September 22, 2011 at 4:02 pm |
Elizabeth From Toronto
Good question, now we talking! Someone should ask the Republican
candidates running for the Presidency this question, Republican
candidates get a free ride at every election because smart questions
like this one that look at if core republican policies work or not are
never answered.
September 22, 2011 at 4:03 pm |
Kevin SD CA
It says there is nothing wrong with being poor! It says there is
nothing wrong with being poor, and having dignity rather than being on
the Socialist Welfare Gravy Train State run by Democrats! It says they
are not privileged enough to be part of the government gravy train
which sucks the life out of all of us! It says that there are plenty
of places where the elite need to leave well enough alone! It says
that every poor part of the planet I have visited the people are just
as happy as or happier than the selfish self-serving morons who call
themselves Liberals!
September 22, 2011 at 4:03 pm |
Pat (Missouri)
It says that Repulicans don't care about the people they are
supposed to be serving. I'll bet the fat cats in those states are
getting fatter.
September 22, 2011 at 4:06 pm |
Michael Roepke Dallas, TX
Less Government regulations, lower taxes for the job creators,
lower wages without union pressure, and a weak State dept of
education? It means that while the state might be poor, the Republican
movers and shakers aren't.
September 22, 2011 at 4:06 pm |
Jeff Baker
It says that most of the Republican party is fooled into thinking
the GOP is really about smaller government. The states listed are
mostly in the bible belt and vote more on social issues. The poor
should support someone like Ron Paul that will fight to end imflation
caused by the Federal Reserve making the poor even poorer.
September 22, 2011 at 4:07 pm |
mike halter
Thats all part of the Republican master plan Jack. After they bust
all the Unions and the middle class is wiped out .
We will all have to work for min wage with no Health Care. And the
rich will get richer.
Mike Largo F.L.
September 22, 2011 at 4:10 pm |
Renee Peoria,Ill
They voted for Republicans to run their states, their situations
have gotten worse, and they still haven't made the connection. I'd say
it says the I.Q. of the average Republican voter is even worse than
the people they're voting for. God help this country!
September 22, 2011 at 4:10 pm |
Curtis in philadelphia
What does it say Jack? Simple: don't trust Republican politicians.
September 22, 2011 at 4:16 pm |
Tate
What does it say that half of those states have a democratic
governor? What does it say that 9 of the 10 poorest cities in the US
have a democratic mayor, and the only one that isn't is an
independant? It says that you can find numbers to "prove" whatever you
want, regardless of the presence of an actual correlation.
September 22, 2011 at 4:18 pm |
roger from phoenix
Red states no bueno , Blue state no bueno , perhaps Obama could
suggest all the poor people and jobless people in the U.S. might start
thinking about moving out of the country , Obama could suggest they
try to get their old job back in china or india or mexico. Perhaps
congress could give them a few bucks to move. Call it cash to dash
program.
September 22, 2011 at 4:21 pm |
Pete in Milton, FL
What does it say? Well, if most of the poorest states are
Republican, that tells me that there's a strong correlation between
being poor, gullibility, and ignorance. If somone keeps being poor,
but keeps voting for the same party that made him and his state poor,
well, that's just plain ignorant.....or stupid. They're probably not
totally poor, since obviously they have enough money to watch Fox
News.
September 22, 2011 at 4:23 pm |
lilmagothy, annapolis
It says that the minimum wage is not adequate to support an
individual, let alone a family. It says that, the tea potty
notwithstanding, some social services are necessary "to promote the
general welfare" (that's from the Constitution, Jack). It says that as
the income disparity between the CEOs, the bankers, and the weallthy
vis a vis the people who actually do the work and produce the goods
and services has increased dramatically, it should be painfully
obvious that "trickle down" is a myth that needs to be put out of its
misery. It says that the republicans are, and probably always will be,
pimps for corporate America and concerned about the average American
only between the time of conception and birth.
September 22, 2011 at 4:23 pm |
Annie, Atlanta
Want to bet the citizens of those states are the most uninformed
and uneduated, too? And I'd also put good money on the guys who run
those states coming out of public service a lot richer than when they
went in. American politics you gotta love it. Bad thing is the Dems
are figuring out how to game the system now, too. We're in so much
trouble, and most of us don't know it. We're being subverted with
propaganda 24/7. We only know whose competing on Dancing with the
Stars.
September 22, 2011 at 4:24 pm |
roya1230
Well if republicans continue to have a upper hand for the next
four years the whole country will be in poverty. Their policies is set
to benefit the rich, so rich will be richer, middle class will
disappear and poor will be poorer.
September 22, 2011 at 4:26 pm |
roya1230
Well if republicans continue to have a upper hand for the next
four years the whole country will be in poverty.
September 22, 2011 at 4:26 pm |
Peter, Tarrytown, N.Y.
When one has no hope and no hope of ever having hope, one often
turns to religion for solace. Republican candidates use religion for
the purpose of getting votes.
Poor states have poor educational systems producing poorly
prepared citizens.
An educated cirizeny is the bane of politicians and religions.
September 22, 2011 at 4:30 pm |
dale in MA
It clearly defines the republiCON's priorities. Does the study
address the income gap in those states? Are you Republican because
you're rich or are you rich because you're Republican. The wealth in
the blue states seems to be only slightly more distributed, but then
again we don't have holy rollers coming buy damning us to hell if we
don't pay up to their preacher weekly.
Those same republican controlled states are too busy messing up
the one man one vote rules to notice the poverty around them. Poor
people may vote(for the time being), but they don't do political
contributions enough to matter to these fat cat politicians.
September 22, 2011 at 4:33 pm |
Ed in california
If you want to present it that way Jack then it is
also fair to ask Obama doesn't send more stimulus
money to those Republican States?
Isn't the credo...."to each according to their need?"
Ed in Sacramento
September 22, 2011 at 4:36 pm |
Pat in Michigan
It says it all.They may have lost the first round of the civil war
but they have managed a tremendous comeback.
When all is said and done we will be just as poor as our ancestors
in the 1800's
September 22, 2011 at 4:38 pm |
Loren
Not a lot. Remember that those States were governed by Democrats a
lot longer than Republicans. Their current status just reflects how
bad a condition the Democrats have left them in.
September 22, 2011 at 4:39 pm |
Bob Kansas City, Mo.
Jack-It sounds like these states get what they ask for, how many
incumbents at the state and federal level keep winning elections time
after time making the voting populace scared of all the boogeyman
socialists they tell them are hiding behind trees if they don't
reelect him/her.
September 22, 2011 at 4:40 pm |
Gordon NJ
Despite all their endless Bible thumping and false piety,
Republicans do not seem to like being their brother's keepers. They go
to Church on Sunday, and then spend the rest of the week creating laws
and policies that help the rich at the expense of the poor. I always
find it ironic that Ayn Rand, the Republican's high goddess of
self-righteous greed, was an atheist.
September 22, 2011 at 4:40 pm |
lou new jersey
It means if you move too one of these States you're dead meat.
September 22, 2011 at 4:41 pm |
HJ - Saint Paul, MN
It gives statistical support to the fact that Republican policies
do not help the economy. Eliminating the minimum wage is supposed to
decrease poverty? HOW? Do they even hear the things coming out of
their mouths? Its trickle down all over again but from the expense
side. Hey I got an idea: why don't we have people just work for free
and provide them food and lodging? Can't put my finger on it but it
sounds familiar.
September 22, 2011 at 4:46 pm |
NCSKIPBO
So does it surprise you to note that most of the states listed
are below the Mason-Dixon line. Business and govenment have spent
decades promoting the movement of manufacuturing to southern state to
"lower costs" (labor). As that happened much of the work disappeared
to off shore locations. These off shore locations are in countries
that use child labor, pollute the evironment and have substandard
health care thus a low life expectancy. All the while our government
allows the import of these goods. Buy American
September 22, 2011 at 4:49 pm |
lou
Poor, often under-educated people vote against their own interest
out of pure ignorance. It's so frustrating as a democrat. I'm almost
at the point of giving up. I'm upper middle class. I don't have to
worry about the republicans taking away social services or entitlement
programs. I can pay for my kid's college and my retirement. At some
point you just get tired of fighting for these folks when they can't
even be bothered to vote for the party saving their skins. The older I
get, the more republican I feel.
September 22, 2011 at 4:52 pm |
Fred In LA
I live in California and that probably equals 5 of those
Republican run states. And believe my, the Liberal Democrats have run
this State into the ground. But to answer your question, it means the
rules and regulations put out by the Democrats against manufacturing
has destroyed those states capabilities to earn. Especially in
Louisiana and Mississippi.
September 22, 2011 at 4:52 pm |
Kathie
Just look at what's happened in Wisconsin! Workers rights
destroyed and catering to the rich. The gop only "cares" about us at
election time. the gop is aligned with their money gods. paul ryan
won't even meet with consitituents during the congress recesswe had
to pay $15 and then he had his constituents escorted from the meeting
when questions were asked by them!
September 22, 2011 at 4:54 pm |
Paulette in Dallas
It is time for the people in these poorest statest to wise up and
give a Democrat a chance. The Republicans are only being
obstructionsits right now to black anything good Obama can do. He
never should have been elected President and is giving the Democrats a
poor image. Draft Hillary! The american people need someone with the
know how and the can do spirit to pull us out of this mess. that will
also put an end to all of this Tea Party nonsense.
September 22, 2011 at 4:54 pm |
bud rupert
I don't want to be trite or use hackneyed phrases but frankly Jack
I see many right wing folks (you can call them Republican) as more
ideological, more inflexible stuck in the present and looking at the
past for answers to their troubles....I could also say that generally
they are under educated and mean spirited but I won't go there.
September 22, 2011 at 5:02 pm |
Jack - Lancaster, Ohio
Mr. Cafferty:
Could you list the ten richest states republican or democrat
combined? Then perhaps we can see a trend ?
September 22, 2011 at 5:06 pm |
andyz Lynn, MA
It means that their govenors have attended the Rick Perry School
of State Governance.
September 22, 2011 at 5:15 pm |
Valerie in Raleigh
It is simple the Germans used it to get their people to go along
with World War II. You keep the people uneducated and uninformed, make
them afraid of any kind of change, tell them that others mean them
harm, that the Democrats want to take their guns away, talk a lot
about God and religion and make sure they hear your taking propaganada
points again and again and this certain segment of the poplulation
will believe you and vote agaist their best interests. It is called
Republicnaism!!! The more uneducated the better it works.
September 22, 2011 at 5:16 pm |
Nancy, Tennessee
The people of Tennessee just got a Republican governor so it's
hard to blame us being one of the poorest states on him.
Tennessee has been a poor state since the depression. Employers
like to come here and pay low wages claiming the lower cost of living
is the reason. Bah humbug! If we need a new car, we pay more than they
do in the North because of the costs to ship it South. Housing is a
little less, but it doesn't make up for the difference in wages. Food
and gas are along the national average. We have few unions and the
ones we have are very weak. Employers exploit our workers. Even with
the low wages here, many of our factories have gone overseas.
Lawmakers need to think long and hard about import taxes for those who
go overseas and support foreign workers and want to sell their goods
to us.
September 22, 2011 at 5:17 pm |
Gigi Oregon
I think it is sad the way these people have been capitalized on by
their political leaders with deals in back rooms to make themselves
rich at the expense of these families. One of these days maybe a super
power will place sanctions against the U.S. and force us to provide
better human rights to our poor. All the better to vote for a party
that takes our taxes and gives back to the people ...like health care,
social security which we have taken from our pay check from our first
day of employment until retirement. Many of our parents pay in but
never live long enough to collect a dime. I for one, am tired of our
government giving millions a day money to rogue countries and being
told we don't need a decent health care for our people.
September 22, 2011 at 5:17 pm |
Mark Daniel Cohen
It says that many of the poor will remain poor because they insist
on being poor.
September 22, 2011 at 5:18 pm |
s in fl
It says it all, Jack!
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
Dean (Modesto)
Don't know what it means but I'm dying to find out :D
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
steve from Nevada
Many Republicans vote against their economic interests because
they are social conservatives, not fiscal conservatives.
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
Jack
It says that poor people are smarter than Democrats.
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
Brittney -- NYC
Half of poor, uneducated people are easy to fool into voting
against their own interests because they have no time to read up and
research the real issues and the real answers, the other half doesn't
vote because they believe they've been poor so long that no matter who
is in power they always will be. Republicans take advantage of that.
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
Brady in NY
Well obviously it says that their policies don't work in reality.
If the Republicans can't even provide for their own states, how can we
expect them to deliver on a national level? They might very well drag
us into the Third-World, which would be good for them since they could
then exploit our cheap labor.
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
Jenni Swink
It says that the cost of living is a lot lower than other states.
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
Steve D
It shows poor people as a group don't vote!!!!
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
Steve
Jack:
It isn't surprising that Republicans own the 10 poorest states.
After all they are for big business only, not the working little
people. Look at their party where are the blacks and Latinos?
September 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm |
Bill Denegar
You get what you vote for.
Spring Hill, FL
September 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm |
Jess Wilder
Jack, it says that the Republicans are more focused on rhetoric
and pointing out what others have failed to do than on what they can
do to actually fix the problem. Rhetoric wins votes in these states,
not reason.
September 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm |
Josh in California
Its funny that, those that rally against socialism, are the states
that need these programs the most. Its clear that the republicans have
been bought and sold by the financial elite.
September 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm |
FRANK
Jack, what it says is that the Republican party has done some
research on who does and doesn't vote. I would bet anything that a
high percent of people in poverty don't vote. That's why the
republicans can just blow them off.
September 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm |
Dan from Stewartstown PA
It says that these "patriots" are firm backers of the "Job
Creators" whether they create jobs in China, Bangladesh or any other
place that the almighty profit trumps any sense of American security,
spirit or commitment to the general welfare of our weakening great
nation. It also show how uninformed most voters are when they make
decisions based on political soundbites and commercials by
multinational corporations. The general public may be poorer than
ever, but by allowing themselves to become the unwitting dupes of
these arrogant and self serving candidates, maybe we deserve what we
get.
September 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm |
Dan in Albuquerque
It is a reflection of typical GOP catering to those who have. The
South has not generally been industrialized as much as the North,
either. They have historically been farmers, although it is slowly
changing. The GOP's traditional opposition to social programs usually
means there are fewer training programs to develop a qualified labor
pool, as is becoming the case nationwide.
September 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm |
Doug McGee
It says that year after year the GOP is successful in using
divisive issues (abortion etc) to get the population of these mostly
evangelical states to vote against their interests.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Ken in NC
It means the "TRICKLE" in their trickle down dried up after they
gave to all their big owners on the top. In other words "The Top" is
taking their trickle and ours too. We don't even get Republican
peanuts. All we get from them is Republican peanut hulls.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Sug
It means that there are more people who vote against their own
best interest ... perhaps because many of those states are among the
lowest in level and quality of education.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Mitoosense Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Sounds like class warfare to me. The product of 2big2fail Corprate
Wealth Fare. Bush doctrines and courtesy of the Federal Reserve. All
GOP roads lead to greed. The Double Standard of Republican 2 for me
and one for you long long division.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Butch F.
What it means is this: Republicans WANT to make ALL 50 States
equally poor and sick. Big Business and the very rich NEED their tax
breaks to do this.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Mario in NY
This should make it clear that if you are poor, meaning middle
class and you are thinking to vote for GOP next election? You deserve
what you get.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Jess Wilder--Mason, TN
Jack, it says that the Republicans are more focused on rhetoric
and pointing out what others have failed to do than on what they can
do to actually fix the problem. Rhetoric wins votes in these states,
not reason.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
neil
Jack I think it displays a general lack of caring about others in
hard circumstances by republican individuals en masse. Their
constiuents generally fall into two categories, business owners who in
turn exploit individuals to get the cheapest possible labor, and those
whose only care is about spreading their own conservative views
instead of the welfare of their fellow man. If you look at the
standard of living in those states you mentioned, goes to show how the
Republican Party wants the rest of the nation to turn out. Care about
the rich, they pad your pockets, forget the poor because they do
nothing for you.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Umer (Shreveport, Louisiana)
Jack, it goes to show that people have not been voting their
economic interest for decades because of social issues. The democratic
party needs to reducate the citizens of these states about how the
corporatist policies of the republican party are feudalistic and
keeping these very people from gaining any traction in upward
mobility. The republican party is anti education (Bobby Jindal is
slashing education in Louisiana), anti science (Perry does not believe
in evolution), anti poor (tax cuts for the rich with hipes of trickle
down).
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Sully
All this means is that Republicans are just as bad with money as
Democrats are. The politicians on Capitol Hill should really make note
of that...
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Renita M,S
Jack, do the math.These states are poor because they rather for
the minorites to have a low employement rate before they admitt they
are just races peolpes.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Bob, in Florida
You're joking! ... Right???
The REAL question is .... How do Republicans ever get voted into
office? Republcians DO NOT do anything for ANYONE who is NOT wealthy.
When the overwhelming voting public is middle class or poor....vote
these people into office...It only shows the voters' stupidity!
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Jeff in CA
This may sound mean, but the answer is that all those states are
full of stupid religious people voting against their own best
interest. Sorry but that's the way it is.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
marybeth, massachusetts
Jack,
I'm not surprised; states that vote Republican have a gov't that
follows Repblican values, which means low/minimum wage jobs, huge tax
cuts and many tax loopholes for the wealthy and business, little to no
social safety nets (Rick Perry fired 75% of the firefighters in Texas.
Burn baby burn!), little to no gov't regulations or oversight so
businesses are free to pollute the environment, rip off the unwary,
and unions have been run out (unions were the groups that fought for
better wages, better working conditions, workplace safety, and
benefits like paid holidays, sick time, and vacation time for
workers). Funding for education is not a priority, so the school
systems are poor and quality of education is not very good.
But business lines the pockets of politicians, who continue to
benefit the rich. And the poor people continue to vote against their
best interests by electing politicians who take away more from them
and give it to their rich cronies.
What is says is that if other states decide to vote Republican,
they will join these 10 Southern red states in the race to bring more
people to poverty and to a lower standard of living. Look what
happened in Wisconsin. The goal is to make the entire country a 3rd
world banana republic. The definition of one (3rd world country) is a
country that concentrates the majority of its wealth in the hands of a
small few while the rest live in poverty. There is NO middle class.
I'd say that we're there.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Deb M. in Florida
It says that there are a lot of people voting against their own
interests on a regular basis.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
James Bowen
It should be obvious that republican cannot lead.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Jerry Mund, Appleton, WI
It says compassionate conservatism is another empty republican
throw away line. Both parties lie, but the Republicans have raised it
to a high art form. I bet all 10 states have a poor education level.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Adam
It says that they focus too many resources to corporate "persons"
rather than living, breathing persons.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Bill in Missouri
Jack,
Because the 10 poorest states vote Republican just means:
You can fool some of the people some of the time
All the people some of the time.
And these 10 states all of the time
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Marc
Well it say's that most of those states are ignorant to the fact
that the GOP are not fighting for their interest! I think if you are
poor and are GOP, Then you really don't no policies, but just Nascar
and Jerry Springer.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
jeff in Santa Fe
Why are most of the 10 poorest states Republican? The ten poorest
states also happen to be the ten of the dumbest states, so that should
answer your question.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Philip TN
Everything is relative and does not depend on interpretation by
the government's definitions. Quality of life despite what the
government tells you lies within the individual. To be defined as poor
does not mean to be automatically unhappy. Basic principals of life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are not buzz words.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Lyle
It means they made a poor choice in not knowing who they voted
for, maybe next time people will take the chance to make a right
choice in leaders and learn who they are and everything they believe
in not just this subject or that like most greedy people do. You might
get this but end up with a lot of that.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Jeff H
It shows that Republicans are more ideology based than reality
based. They don't do much thinking of their won, they rely on their
leaders to tell them how to think.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
C Dalton
This is an easy one Jack. Republicans are addressing the poor.
They are redistricting and passing laws to limit or remove their
voting rights. They are taking away their right to bargain with the
fat cats, and they are suggesting cuts to all of the programs which
might benefit them all in the hopes that the poor will just fade away.
Out of sight, out of mind. Problem solved.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
MAGDY
It shows that there is a big gap between a marketing statement
("fiscally responsible and the party of the people") and actual
execution reality ("protecting the wealthy and corporations"). Perry
talks the talk but does not walk the talk. He drives poverty up and
real job creation down but clever marketing tells the average Joe he
is one of them the same average Joe that may lose his job to Perry's
policies in the future. Walk your talk or don't talk. Amercia it is
time to wake up.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
Nicholas
This shows that the majority of the people who vote Republican in
these states do not even make enough money to be a Republican. The
Republican party looks out for the wealthiest of citizens, not the
poorest, as evident in the Bush tax cuts. I'm from Louisiana and have
lived in the south the majority of my life. There is a huge dispair
between the rich and poor moreso in the south than in the west,
midwest, and northern states.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
scott
the only way the republicans can keep their vote going is to keep
us "poor and stupid" and unfortunatly it works in these states. "yes
lets keep voting for the same people that keeps us in the lowest
quality living in the U.S. I believe someone very smart once said
"doing something over and over again and expext something diffrent is
plain stupid"
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
Vance-Georgia
Trickle down economics has not worked in the Southern states, nor
has tax cuts for the wealthy, nor has cutting education expenditures
and increasing class sizes, nor has "quasi" segregation of the elite
versus the minorities. Neo-keynsian economics, entrepreneurship,
advanced technology creates JOBS. The National elections will see the
Tea Party votes come home to roost and the Red States if they were not
gerrymandered as my district iswill loose.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
David
It means that Marx was wrong in his conceptualization of Class
Consciousness. Voting in these states is based upon issues such as
religion, gun rights, and the "culture wars," and not on economic
self-interest. In addition, the expectation of wealth (the so-called
American Dream) appears to have a strong hold on voters in these
states. Thus, solidarity by economic class is extraordinarily weak.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
Wayne
With the 10 poorest states being republican, this says that these
state are the least intelligent as well. How else can you explain a
population of people supporting the very party that could care less
about them. Go figure !
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
Jon from Tempe
It says that the Republican trickle down theory of economics that
our country has unfortunately embraced has really harmed this
counttry. It is especially more visible in the red states as those
states have no opposition to these principles. Ronald Reagn ushered in
an era that has nearly destroyed our country. Unfortunately, my party,
the Democrats, has not done a good job in showing the peope that this
economic theory does not work. America is no longer a democracy, it is
a plutonomy. The red states are even more in the direction of
plutonomy because of zero opposition to the Reagan revolution.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
FRANK in Mesa, Az
Jack, what it says is that the Republican party has done some
research on who does and doesn't vote. I would bet anything that a
high percent of people in poverty don't vote. That's why the
republicans can just blow them off.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
CommonSense in California
Well Jack, although the Republican spin machine will never admit
to it, it says what is glaringly obvious: The Republican economic
policies DO work. They work for the rich, because they are designed to
make poor and middle class (soon to be poor) pay the price and carry
the majority of the burden. They don't want to get rid of tax cuts for
corporations or the ultra-rich. Every single time they get into
office, we hear this mantra....and every single time, corporations and
the rich benefit, and thank the rest of us, by shipping US jobs off to
other countries. My question is, what are they going to do when the
entire middle class is poor and there's no one left to foot the bill
for the fat cats?
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
BobP
what is says is, that those living below poverty level think the
DEMS in large part got us in these problems. I reside in a poor city
Cleveland in a state thats gone downhill, why? because of loss of
MANUFACTURING jobs that Ohio depended on. The Repubs are not much
better either. s/BobP, Cleveland
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
Mark, Round Hill, VA
The 10 poorest states are Republican because they can fool most of
the poor most of the time. Let's hope that they can't fool the poor
all of the time.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
Jesse Sanchez
If the poorest states are all Republican then the trickle down
policy inevitably does not work. Policies like this has allowed large
businesses and corrupt politicians to drain these economies of wealth
and prosperity in exchange for greed and poverty.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
Parris, Baltimore MD
To me it says that the Republican idiology is a complete and total
failure, not that the Dems have faired much better. There is something
fundamentally wrong with a line of thought that concludes that a tax
code which benefits the ULTRA RICH can benefit the middle and lower
classes as well. America is imploding as a result of the unbridaled
and unchecked greed that was allowed to run wild through almost every
level of our society. Its morning in America, and ain't this hangover
something...
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Douglas Hayes
Thatis a easy answer : The Repelicans are the PROBLEM !
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Maren
Perhaps it says something about the nature of poverty, as opposed
to conservative philosophy. Poor people often don't have access to
information, may not have had access to a descent education, are often
depressed and have likely never had an opportunity to feel "in charge"
of their lives. The generational poor are the perfect audience for the
conservative rationale that they are worthless pawns for "plantation"
owners to move around the board as they see fit. Harsh
authoritarianism is all they've ever known. Republicans. Gotta love
'um. No, really, you have to love them!
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Gary - Woodhaven, Michigan
It says that as far as Wall Street, big business, and the
Republicans are concerned we still have a ways to go until we finally
are competitive with the third world countries in wages and benefits,
Reagan began it and the Bushes did their best to get there, especially
W, but this policy was postponed under Clinton and Obama.
Keep electing these half wit Republicans and we'll get there.
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Laith Gulli, Columbus, IN
This is an example of OPPOSITE POLARITY VOTINGnot happythen grab
the ballot and vote opposite to the current office holdersregardless
of personal party affiliations or feelings-if the voters keep this up
then a true democracy can someday be realized that is controlled by
"we the People."
Laith F. Gulli, Columbus, Indiana
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Morgan - Florida
The Republicans are unconcerned about Southern poverty because
poor blacks will never vote for them and the overwhelming majority of
Southern whites will vote for them regardless of circumstances.
Widespread (especially rural) poverty is an historical condition to
which the South is long accustomed and is therefore a political issue
with significantly less political traction than might be the case
elsewhere.
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Classic
Shocker!!!!!
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
William C. Weaver
I live in Kentucky and we do have a lot of poverty, but proud
people who work hard in a state with a balanced budget. Maybe we just
live in the real world and wealth is pretend for those in deep debt.
Bill in Louisville
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Anne N. Houston, TX
It says Republican policies are essentially class warfare and
racist as well. You might as well throw in sexist, as women of all
races are more likely to live in poverty, especially elderly women.
Rule ONE when dealing with the GOP: If they are accusing others of it
(class warfare, for example), THEY ARE DOING IT AND WANT TO DEFLECT
YOUR ATTENTION FROM THAT FACT!
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Gregg Niemi
Jack, it says that most Americans have lost the capacity to
distinguish between fact and opinion. When they are told that reducing
taxes on the rich will create jobs, they believe it without further
evidence. When they are told that big government is wasting their
money they accept it without noticing what it's wasted on. And when
they hear that brown skinned people are taking their jobs they demand
a fence instead of wondering what kind of jobs those were.
Have the tea partiers noticed that since their guys took over the
Congress the economy has slid back into a recession? No Way - they've
been told that's Obama's fault so who needs evidence.
As long as we let the Republicans keep forcing the idea that
education is intended to help people get jobs, we'll keep producing
people who willingly vote against their own interests. Can you spell
Oligarchy?
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Matt Wayner
Republicans excell at getting people to vote against their own
financial interest. And if that fails, there's always voter
supression.
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Vince Hugh
Jack, what's more significant is that the 10 largest and poorest
cities in the USA are controlled by Democrats! You have to break down
why these Republican states are so poor in he south...and that's
because they have the highest percent of minorities and most have low
educational achievements. Get outside of the 'black' areas, and you
see wealth, fine schools, and a highly educated voter. Basically there
are 'two souths'.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Cheryl
It proves that pride does come before destruction. The people with
the most pride and cannot received government aid are those with the
most pride. Donald Trump did not let his pride get in the way of
filing bankruptcy or gaining government aid. The republican party is
currently taking advantage of the pride of people; feeding on their
pride to not take aid yet forgetting their moral fabic of taking care
of the poor, widow and those less than themselve. Did it say how you
treat the least is how you are treating Jesus?
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Darrin from Fort Lauderdale
It means that the Right Wing has successfully duped the "Nascar"
crowd into giving up their economic interests in the name of social
issues for the past 30 years. As long as the Republicans keep up
fear-mongering about abortion, gay rights, gun rights and religion,
the wool will continue to cover the eyes of those least likely and
least educated enough to recognize a political Red Herring when they
see it.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Jon
Way to go Jack! That is a very good point. The poorest states and
usually the most under educated states are Republican. That in itself
should give them a fail for ecnomic policy, the only thing those
Governors know how to do is steal jobs from other states and then
claim they created jobs.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Joyce Grissom, Marshall, TX
It says that the GOP cares only about the rich. They want to take
the country back and erase all educational, technological and social
gain ever accomplished that benefited anyone other than a select group
whose incomes are the top 1%.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Chris in SINY
If the Republicans don't care about the middle class,,why would
they care about the poor?
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Will
I think the other comments here are more enlightening than the
question. This was a loaded question, and the majority of commenters
seemed to have no problem jumping on the bandwagon and demonizing the
Republican party while declaring that Democrats can do no wrong. From
the perspective of somebody who lives in one of these "poor" states, I
don't think it says much about the Republican party at all, to be
honest.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Richard Zuehsow
what does this say,,,, the 10 poorest states,,,,,ten poorest
countrys. they continue to want to dig a hole to get ua out of this
mess. Newt Gringrich rightly compromised with president Clinton in
raising taxes to balance the budget. Need I say more.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Rich Switzer
The GOP wealthy supporters hate the fact that they have OBEY the
minimum wage laws in hiring workers. They hate UNIONS even more. The
poor states are usually "so called right to work" states which always
means lower wages and benefits and big business profits. In 2012 THE
GOP will be making all 50 state poverty states by eliminating unions
and minimum wage laws in the "disguise" of creating JOBS.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Sandy in Easton, PA
Jack, I've mulled this over for a long time and wonder if the poor
people in these states believe they will someday hit the big time and
need the tax breaks for the rich that they seemingly believe in.
Another statistic to consider is the amount of federal aid going to
and revenue coming from these states again, lopsided. They should
thank their lucky stars that some of us (not necessarily politicians)
are working hard to help them survive daily. It seems obvious that
they cannot figure things out.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Peter Mchale
States with complicated and expensive infrastructures are also the
states that produce all the Nation's Wealth and whose populatons pay
the lions share of Federal Tax. The poored states produce no wealth
and pay little tax. Texas being the best example.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Tre Bradley
The south has never truly given up on recapturing the wealth and
power back since the civil war, and how it's feels about it's citizen
that began as there slaves and will never allow any group to achieve
the level of there prosperity without them playing by their rules.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Tom - Cincinnati, OH
It means absolutely nothing! What does mean something is that
virtually all major CITIES are steeped in poverty, decay, and economic
turmoil and all are run by democrat politicians. And that has been the
case for a long, long time.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Dan Awalt
The "Top 10"...on the bottom, economically, and supporting the
Repubs? It's education and information, Jack, or the lack thereof.
Ignorance allows people in these states to buy into the Republican
snake oil. They actually support the party which harms them the most.
Ignorance surely is bliss!
Dan
Bradenton, Florida
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Ralph Nelson
The Republican Party going back to the 1870's has always
represented the rich and big business (50% of the deligates to the
last McCain presidentail convention had incomes over $500,000). Both
of these groups got rich exploiting the poor. There really wasn't a
middle class before FDR. That is his (and labor's) greatest
accomplishment. The nation's poorest states are Repulbican because of
their economic policies of worker exploitation and little support for
the middle class. Note these states are also most likely at the bottom
in education and probably health care. An educated public is the
Republican Party's greatest enemy. So...it is Republican economic
practices.
September 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm |
Bob M. from NY
Why are the Republicans still in charge in the poor states?
Becouse they're taking care of them good old boys who are working and
doing well. If the unemployed were to band together, and become a
force like the Tea Party. Then a new song will be a playing!
September 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm |
Juan in Miami
Line up the data of wealth by state with education by state and
yet get two big RED bars.
September 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm |
Steven Armstrong
It actually scares me to see how important it is to Republicans
that we, as a nation, fail. They want, so badly, to be able to say
that it is because we elected a black president. They want to say that
it's because we object to states rights. They want to say it's because
we allow women's rights. They want to say it's because we don't pray
enough. They want to say it's because we don't want war. They want to
say it's because we don't practice their weird form of patriotism.
They want to say that we should expect a miracle. We should go to
church. We should surrender to the capital accumulaters they call
job-creators and that we should ignore the class warfare that we are
greviously losing. Don't call it that. They would attack.
September 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm |
Jim-Charlotte NC
Jack
For 90 years these people voted for Democrats because they llost
the Civil War and blamed Republicans. Then in the 60's they all
converted to the Republican Party because Johnson signed into law the
Civil Rights act. What can you say about a bunch of people who harbor
such resentment that they will cut off their nose to spite their face
September 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm |
Stella from Chicago
It says that the Republicans don't care at all about people &
poverty, they exploit them, they keep them in poverty & ignorance in
order to keep their millions and to get more & more rich. It's a
dictatorship like communism or fascism no
difference.
September 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm |
bluebill
What it says Jack is that the GOP agenda of the past 10-12 years
creates more poverty. The fact that "Poverty" has not been nentioned
in any of the recent GOP Debates also speaks loudly that the new GOP
could care less about poor people. Poor people are not their
constituents, do not fund their campaigns, and often cannot afford the
time or transportation to vote. My suggestion to fix this is 1)
Develop a system where people can vote on-line. 2) In order to help
reduce the defict, Charge a 50% tax on all political campaign ads. The
Rethuglican GOP's like Boehner, Cantor, and Co. seem to have endless
moneys for campaign ads, and yet no moneys for the people who really
need help.
September 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm |
charles wightman
these people do not vote....if 100% of the eligible voters
excercized that right, the republicans would be out of business....
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Wayne
Jack,
With the 10 poorest states being republican, this calls into
question the intelligence of the people voting republican. How else
can you explain a population of people supporting the very party that
could care less about them. Go figure !
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Paris in NY
The Republicans have and will always be the party of the rich.
They have never cared about the poor people of this country because
the poor can't afford to hire lobbyist to bribe Congress. It's hard to
believe these guys can't see the pain and suffering their selfish
behavior are causing to decent hard working Americans. We really need
to overhaul the whole political system so they work just as hard for
their money as we do ours.
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Jac from Montana
I live in Montana but we have very few tea partiers here.
I think its because the Deep South is mainly poorly educated
and deeply depressed. They don't know what they are
doing.
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
david bidlack
dave b. lansing michigan great question jack. i have wondered for
years why a poor state that could not even get by without revenue
sharing of federal dollars would vote for a party that wants all
federal revenue to go to defense only with all states being on their
own! states rights would in the long run help states like michigan
with a much less powerful federal goverment. NO RAIN IN TEXAS ? guess
which states are in the middle of this countries fresh water reserves?
just keep voting for smaller goverment dummies and see what the price
of water will be a gallon in our future?
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Scott Jackson
The GOP does a few things very, very well. They are masters of
fear. They are also masters of the shell game. They get you to pay
attention to things that are really not all that important get you
in a lather about it, and blame the other side for it. While that is
happening, they are lining their pockets, while undermining anything
and everything that does not directly tie to their agenda. It's the
pied piper syndrome, and unfortunately there are way too many lemmings
willing to go off the cliff for them (not with them).
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Kelly Vista, CA
The poor have statisticlly low voting rates and are also more
likely to be victims of deceptive voting practices, such as
gerrymandering. When a person is simply struggling to feed their
family, politics is not what is important to them. I also think poor
education & a general feeling of helplessness add to low voting rates
among the poor.
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Brendan
The is quite revealing! The GOP always speaks about cutting the
poverty alleviation (entitlement) programs.Perhaps the impoverished
GOP supporters in those states have not yet figured out that the
republicans debate with democrats is primarily about the GOP's
insistence to switch off their life support machine programs.
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Angela
This shows that the focus of the Republicans on "job creators" far
exceeds any concern they may have for those who are unemployed or
underemployed, i.e. those of us who are really suffering. Just look at
the programs they want to cut-which is pretty much anything that helps
those who can't help themselves (social security, planned parenthood).
People need to open their eyes and start voting for their own
interests, not the interests of the "job creators" because all they
care about is padding their own pockets.
September 22, 2011 at 5:28 pm |
Harry Bolton
The Republicans don't care about the poor, yet they are the party
of the "Christians" I can't comprehend this.
September 22, 2011 at 5:28 pm |
LA Belle
It says that's why the Repbulicans are fighting so hard to have
their way until they succeed in putting all states in the same
category. Everyone POOR without a pot to piss in.
Ruby (Louisiana)
September 22, 2011 at 5:28 pm |
Ana
It says the people in these states are voting against their
interests. They are probably worried they will be taxed too much when
they win the lottery.
September 22, 2011 at 5:28 pm |
Randy
It shows just how ignorant and uneducated the generations were who
got this country into this wealth worship really are. Election after
election the grey hairs kept putting "good ol' boys" in office who
couldn't care less about them and their hardships. In 2008 they had
been ripped off by their fellow WASPS so much they turned to a black
man to bail them out. Knowing the ignorance of their cattle, the
oligarchs had bought him off 4 years earlier. The game is RIGGED for
the rich and corporations, the only thing the electorate can do now is
recognize the real enemy and literally set out to destroy their power.
And lastly, be vigilant about keeping your eyes on these same insanely
greedy people who have a crackhead type sickness for money.
September 22, 2011 at 5:28 pm |
Don from Florida
Jack its very simple The republicans philosofy is the rich get
richer and the poor stay poor.
September 22, 2011 at 5:28 pm |
Victoria in MS
It just shows you the IQ level of people living in those states.
It does not make sense for poor americans who depend on government aid
to be Republican.
September 22, 2011 at 5:28 pm |
mike longwwod,fla.
Jack, I'm from the south where most of these states are. I'm
white, and in my 40's. Unfortunately it means the old way of biggoted
thinking still exsists. a vote against the democrats, is a vote
against minorities. This is the plain truth of the matter. Even if
these dumb, poor whites vote against their own interests. It means
stupid people still vote. They've been brainwashed by their own
families from generation to generation, into voteing against their own
interest. Unfortunately bill maher is right on this subject, when he
says, he doesn't wish america was stupid, it just is...
September 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm |
Corey
Jack, it says that people are party loyalists even when it
jeopardizes their well being. Proof that people aren't voting for
candidates that actually care about them. It's all about party
affiliation..........plain and simple.
September 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm |
Judy, Earth
Poverty = poor education = ignorance = easily duped = voting
republican when it's so obviously against their best interests. No
wonder republicans are so reluctant to aid education in any way.
September 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm |
JT
It tells me that the Republicans don't really have a plan. As long
as President Obama is out of the picture, they don't care. The
Republicans will say and do anything. The bad part about it is, some
of the very people that vote for them don't want to hear the truth
anyway.
September 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm |
Maryann from Concord, NH
Hi Jack,
Are you kidding? These are the same types of people who fought to
keep slavery even though they were probably (99.99%) never going to
own a slave they just wanted to keep their options open. They simply
have no clue as to the consequences of their actions.
September 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm |
Randy
It says that a lot of voters in these here United States vote
against their own best interest in order to stop abortion, gays from
marrying, and the right to own a gun, if they can afford one.
September 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm |
Ben Miller
And I believe all those states make their budget. The question
should be "What does it say about those Democratic states that are not
making their budget and are experiencing large cuts and shortfalls
like New York, California, Illinois and Michigan?"
September 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm |
Donald Wines
It says to me that not only are they the poorest states, the
inhabitants are among the least intelligent. How can you continue to
be misled by your so-called Republican leaders who are doing nothing
about the high rate of poverty, but yet you continue to vote for them.
Wake up! Vote them out and vote in somebody who will improve the
situation. Does that mean vote for the Democrats? Listen to and
examine the messages spoken by all sides and vote accordingly.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Michael in Albuquerque, NM
Republicans don't believe in paying workers. Republicans don't
believe in Education. Republicans don't believe in infrustructure of
any kind.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Phil in Oakland
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Republicans* (but were
too seduced by their Big Lie to ask)
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Adam from Florida
Basically, Democrats are always just slightly too liberal with the
spending of our money. Did the $865 billion stimulus plan work? Yeah,
for all of about 1.5 years. So should we entrust our money yet again
to the Democrats? I think not. Get rid of minimum wage, and you will
see a huge surge in employment. That's just simple economics: high
quantity of jobs supplied with a high price floor will inevitably
leave you with a low quantity demanded for those high priced jobs.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Rick Rivard
It's called Education "Stupid" without doing the home work....Get
the Fed's out of the Education field and maybe the Education system in
all the States, and specifically the "Red's" would improve. Note:
Minority Education is and has been per-centage wise, a thorn in the
South and even the NorthRe- Michigan etc...EDUCATE, GRADUUATE,
instead of Incarcerate.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
JT, Missouri
It tells me that the Republicans don't really have a plan. As long
as President Obama is out of the pitcure, they don't care. The
Republicans will say and do anything. The bad part about it is, some
of the very people that vote for them don't want to hear the truth
anyway.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Janna @ Wash DC
Republicans in congress are mega-millionaires, what do they know
about poverty? The Republicans have long-taken from the poor and will
continue to do so; Republicans take billions of dollars from numerous
programs to pay for their own [welfare] ; not the people's welfare ;
the corporate and bailout welfare.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Paul Scott
For some inexplicable reason a majority of people living in
poverty vote time and again to elect their oppressors, the GOP.
Perhaps this results from one of the root causes of poverty; low
education levels. You say Republicans believe their economic agenda is
the only way to create jobs. I say "What agenda?" If the tea party has
their way this country will shortly be in a depression that will have
people longing for the 1930's to return. Then, to fix the problem,
those suffering the most will vote for Rick Perry. God help us.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
HJ in Colorado
One of the great mysteries of life is why the poorest of the poor,
the least educated, most unemployed and underemployed - the very
people who need the type of government help the Republicans want to
eliminate - either don't vote or vote for the party that has the least
concern for their plight. It reinforces my belief that you can never
underestimate the ignorance of the American voter; and as long as that
continues the poorest states will remain Republican.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Mike in Texas
It means even the poorest us citizens would rather live down south
than up north with you fat cats.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Jim
It means that Republicans are full of ____. They don't care about
anyone but their rich friends. They are big supporters of business
which has outsourced our country. Tax breaks to business that
outsource jobs just seems like a slap in the face to America. Business
is waiting to invest their cash till sales improve. How id that going
to happen when the majority of jobs we have left are fast food jobs!
Decreased sales, outsourced and layoffs= less taxes. Less taxes cause
government layoffs. Meaning even less sales. This cycle has to end.
There are millions of people in this region that would love to work in
an auto plant for $15 an hour. Why ship these jobs to Mexico, Asia or
else where? I understand how the unions have ruined the North of the
USA but there are plenty of places in these states with right to work
laws that would love jobs with health insurance and retirement. At
least 29% of the children in my NC community live in poverty. So
Republicans who is Patriotic, people who would love to work but can't
find a job or you who continue to protect the wealthy and allow
companies to outsource jobs?
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Mark, Billings MT
It says that national democratic party needs to move more to the
center. Montana usually goes red in federal elections, but
conservative democrats do well in state elections. Our current
governor is a "blue dog" and many here wish he could run for a third
term.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Carol Ann Faulkner
So called "Christian" candidates only seem to cite their
Christianity about all matters sexual. They neglect to note that
Christ relentlessly preached in the Gospels about helping the poor and
those in need. It is complete and utter hypocrisy to be all for the
wealthy and against improving things for the poor, and then boast
about your Christianity. Its disgusting politics and nothing more.
September 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
Donald Owens
It says that this is the Bible belt and most of those whose vote
vote one issue, Abortion. When these conservative Christian
Republicans realize there is more to this world than abortion then
they will be on the road to recovery. It is like being an alcoholic or
hooked on drugs, until you see the error of your ways you are doomed
to failure. Poor people follow those who they perceive to be smarter
than them and the Republicans play this card every two years. The
south has the resources to be prosperous but only those with
connections get the jobs.
September 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
Joel Moreno
It confirms my fear that the Republican Party uses religion,
patriotism, and people's own fears as means to achieve their agenda.
The agenda, to help and maintain the rich while also allowing
government to enable them to become even richer. Creating laws that
help the very rich. Just like third world countries, brainwash the
population especially the less educated and you will succeed. It's not
an accident that most countries in Latin America keep their poor
uneducated. The Republicans would love nothing more for this country.
They are on their way!!!
September 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
Tammy Hackley
It says that most of the people in those states are not very
bright. I can remember driving through the streets of Ga and seeing a
with part of the roof falling in. There was a elderly couple sitting
on the porch. They had a Mccain/Palin sign in their front yard. It
boggles my mind how the most disadvantaged Americans claim to be
Republican. Republicans only care about big business and the rich. You
can only respect the fact that they don't even try to hide it. If you
are poor, the Republican party is going to do nothing to help you, if
anything they will continue to kick you while you are down by removing
funds from programs that can help you so they gave give more tax
breaks to big businesses and wealthy Americans. People you need to
wake up!!
September 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
Manny
It's funny how Republicans are always saying, "lets get rid of
Entilements!! ", or cuts, cuts, and even more cuts in spending. The
people living in poverty that vote them are not realizing that these
cuts will effect them even more. If you are living under poverty, why
are you voting for a party that is clearly protecting the upperclass.
It's time for these states to get the hint. This my friends is class
warfare!
September 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
Bob in FL
Jack, get to the root of the problem by looking at the
demographics. The liberal biased question doesn't speak to the root
cause. Also, get the UAW and the NLRB out of South Carolina.
September 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
Eric Gray
I believe it shows that the republicans talk a big game without
being able to back it up. It proves that they can't pull the country
out of this depression or create jobs. The republicans had their 8
years to dig us our grave putting us in 2 wars without preparation or
support. They didn't raise taxes they didn't have the support of the
UN. Putting us in the astronomical debt and miserable economy that we
are currently dealing with. Give Obama time to clean up the most
disastrous mess that anyone has ever inherited responsibility of.
September 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
Michelle
Non poor person oppinion: The truly poor have more on their minds
than getting to the poll to vote. Do they have transportation? No! Can
they afford a taxi ride to the voting booth? No! Are they educated?
No. Are their schools failing? Yes. Are they promised things that
never come happen? Yes. I live in NC. However, I live in a middle
class community in Raleigh. Are there poor? Yes. Do I see it every
day? No. Do I live in their neighborhoods? No. Do they vote for even
the very things that their children will benefit from such a new BOE
members who dismantled the diversity policy of our county? No. Why? We
can keep guessing, but the fact is if you don't live in a poor
community and are not poor it's just speculation. Why is it poor
African families who live in Africa put more of an importance on
education-willing to walk miles to get one compared to our own poor
population in the US? Because, other than the occasional food drop,
they get nothing for being poor in Africa; and here in America we aid
the poor to stay poor. Maybe once their funds are cut they'll start
showing up to the polls.
September 22, 2011 at 5:32 pm |
Charlie in Indy
The ten poor red states are also So called right to work (for less
states) as is Texas . Their citizens are so indoctrinated they are
like chickens that trust Col. Sanders with their futures. They are
poor because their corporate owned politicians are doing the business
to them for their right wing billionaire campaign funding supporters.
who also support the religious groups that indoctrinate the people
every Sunday.
September 22, 2011 at 5:32 pm |
Donna in Allen, TX
Southerners take their religious and social conservatism very
seriously. It's ironic that policies forwarded by the Democrats would
benefit them far more than anything Republicans offer, but they would
never align themselves with the party that favors gay rights, women's
rights, etc.
September 22, 2011 at 5:32 pm |
Michael
This is tangible evidence of just what kind of effect that
republican policies have on real economies. They have demonstrated
over and over again their determination to enhance, empower and
encourage the rich in contrast to the poor, widowed, fatherless
members of society. My question is, "how do they keep getting away
with it"? They will yet politically win their state. When will justice
roll down like a river and righteous judgement as a mighty stream?
September 22, 2011 at 5:32 pm |
Sarah Carlson
Defining "poverty' as only those families of 4, for example, who
make about $22, 000 or less doesn't take into account how difficult it
is to live on $25,000 or $30,000. Defining poverty relative to the
national average income paints a more accurate picture of how many
people in the U.S. really are poor, but the U.S. is one of the few
countries with a fixed poverty rate, intended I believe to obscure the
magnitude of the problem.. We do NOT live in a land of equal
opportunity. If you are born poor, you will most likley remain poor in
this country. GDP does not correlate with social indicator
improvements, which have been consistently low in the U.S. despite
percieved monetary gains. Republican or Democrat, why are so many
people in all of those states poor? Why are the rich getting richer
and the middle class getting poorer? How can we as a nation not care
about our own people?
September 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm |
Harry
Ill tell you what it says.
it tells me Republicans care more about corporate crooks that back
offshoring profits overseas to keep from paying taxes while the middle
class pays thier fair sher and struggle to put food on table because
of job losses. Republicans have always backed tax breaks for the
wealthy while at the same time place the tax burdens on the backs of
the poor. They call themselves conservatives today because the
Republican party lost to the right wing Tea Party. Republicans bank on
the fact that most poor folks are uneducated about politics and will
not get to the voting booths to make a change. Most labor jobs now
gone overseas, Republicans also know that the power of the once strong
unions the voice of the working people have vanished. Now the working
poor and middle class are at the mercie of the rich or top 10% backed
by most Tea party Republicans that carry most of the voting weight.
The poverty striken and poor don't stand a chance in any of these red
states unless these people are finially educated on politics and
understand thier voting power .
Harry from Georgia
September 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm |
HH in GA
Look at the condition of these states and you can see where the
rest of the country is headed if Republicans gain control in 2012.
Republicans prey on the weak and the politically apathetic who live in
a state of false consciousness. Wake up everyone! Republicans are only
for protecting their own. I once heard it referred to as the Iron Law
of Oligarchy.
September 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm |
richard
I can tell you this. You con not have 10 babys when you can't
afford one. Who pays... Case closed.
September 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm |
tom
Jack,why do people in these states even elect republicans?I guess
they cant afford to gas up their cars to get to the polls.This country
will eventually end up like the middle east.Class Warfare is ongoing
in politics and one day on the streets.Wake up Republicans or you will
bring about the means to your own end.Dog eat dog world is it not!
September 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm |
Sotee
It says that Republicans are proponents of disingenuous doctrines
like the trickling down of wealth when in reality the rich tend to get
richer and have little or no regard for the poor. Whoever is poor from
these states and votes Republican evidently has no idea or cares about
how the Republicans feel about their wellbeing and prosperity and is
self destructive to themselves and the nation.
September 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm |
Jake Zollner
This only proves the fact that Republicans are interested in
maintaining a large lower class to do all of their manual labor, a
smaller middle class of foremen and managers to keep the lower class
in line, and a very small elite class whom rake in the global profits.
September 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm |
THOMAS, CHICAGO
Lover of Mississippi, it is poor because they attract job creators
that pay the lowest wages they can.
They are republicans because they are blinded by their prejudices
and inferior education.
PS. POOR OR NOT I AM MOVING TO MISSISSIPPI NEXT YEAR,
September 22, 2011 at 5:34 pm |
darko pejovic
hi jack.i would like to explain in my opinion why the poorest
states vote republican.Most of the poorest people believe in the
morals and famely before the dollar, that is why most of them are
poor,and the republicans cash on that to bennefit for themselfs by
playing dirty politics making them think that they are fighting for
that.
September 22, 2011 at 5:34 pm |
bobby wong
There is something strange going on. I can see why Donald Trump
would want to vote for the Republican Party because the party can keep
him wealthy. I don't see how the middle class and the poor would
support the Republican Party. Job creation by cutting tax may work in
the 80s. But today's global economy, companies are likely to hire in
China and India.
September 22, 2011 at 5:35 pm |
Br. Lawrence
In the heart of the matter, the answer says that Republicans
appeal to and hold close, the Poverty Consciousness a state of mind
that declares, "I can never get enough, need more, and there's never
enough to go around!" This is the reason impoverished and wealthy
people can both be unhappy, regardless their finances. This directly
opposes the Abundance Consciousness which states, "The Universe
provides all I need, always, when I am responsible for myself." These
people are usually quite happy indeed. From this you can draw your own
conclusions about these states.
September 22, 2011 at 5:35 pm |
Marquis
It's classic GOP ideology... "All for the rich, to hell with the
poor." After all if people are poor it's there own fault, right?
September 22, 2011 at 5:35 pm |
Mark from Voorhees, NJ
It means that advertising paid for by the oil companies that you
see every five minutes, and other fake patriotism garbage works. They
get the people who are the least informed to vote against their own
interests. Nice job Chamber of Commerce! Thanks Koch brothers!
September 22, 2011 at 5:35 pm |
Corey
Jack, it says that people are party loyalists even when it
jeopardizes their well being. Proof that people aren't voting for
candidates that actually care about them. It's all about ole fashion
party affiliation.......plain and simple.
September 22, 2011 at 5:36 pm |
Donald Wines
It says to me that not only are they the poorest states, the
inhabitants are not using their best judgement in selecting leaders
who will improve their conditions. How can you continue to be misled
by leaders who are doing nothing about the high rate of poverty, but
yet you continue to vote for them because of party lines?
Wake up! Vote them out and vote in somebody who will improve the
situation. Does that mean vote for the other party? Listen to and
examine the messages spoken by all sides and vote accordingly.
September 22, 2011 at 5:36 pm |
Katherine in Harvey, LA
What does it say? Volumes!!! Foremost, it says that the
Republicans and the Democrats need to put party affiliation/loyalty
aside, and truly focus on what is the best steps to get America out of
the downward spiral. We have been losing ground (eduation,
entrepreneurship, innovations, world leadership, manufacturing, and
the list goes on infinitum) on the international front for over 20
years. This is not a problem caused or heightened by the Obama
administration (he would have to be a diety or a demon to have causee
the decline in the few years that he has been in office; and he is
not; he is just a man trying to do a job). So my message to all
politicians and business people, stop the partisanship and let's
restore our great country so that we and our children can achieve our
full potential; and, by the grace of God, prosper and sustain
ourselves.
September 22, 2011 at 5:36 pm |
Frank-Birmingham, AL
Poor states, uneducated or undereducated people make poor
decisions.
Get rid of them immigrants. Gay people marry? No fags allowed. Sex
education to prevent teen age pregnancy, not on my dime. Class
warfare, you bet. What hedge fund manager or Wall Street banker
doesn't want privatized profit with socialized risk.
Don't study history. The wealthy would never do this
intentionally. . . again.
September 22, 2011 at 5:36 pm |
kathy from peoria az
It means nothing has changed with Republicans. They are for the
rich and always will be. If they really cared about the American
people they would set aside their differences and work with the
President at all costs but that will never happen. The republicans
have forgotten they are the ones that got us in this mess but keep
blaming President Obama. Just like a spoiled child who will blame
everyone else but themselves. What bothers me is that people buy into
this bologna that republicans dish out.
September 22, 2011 at 5:36 pm |
Larry in Houston
Jack I've read the majority of these comments on here. Why do
you think I'm down here in Houston ? If you read the comments from NC
SKIPBO & Greg in Arkansas , you will see why Perry has gotten to be
Governor for the 3rd time. The republicans have enough money to spend
on Billboards / Bumper stickers / radio station & T.V. ads and have a
"calling office" in every city / town / & county in the Whole State.
When the mexicans see the pics on those bumper stickers & billboards &
hear their radio station ads including putting ads in every newspaper
in every county & town, they don't know who they are actually running
against, so they figure the only one that is running for office is the
person that they see and hear about.
September 22, 2011 at 5:36 pm |
george Granger
if you look deeper ,you will find any even more interesting
statistic,because most of the poorest states are republican(and tea
party leaning) most of the federal money for social programs go to red
states.for the poor.You add in that most FEMA involved disasters
"seem" to happen in red states(south and southeast) you have any even
llarger disperportionate amount of federal money going in, to red
states ,than blue. I dont understand all the hypocrisy on the part of
the red sates congressional leaders and the fact that the people of
these states continue to elect the same corporate ,trickle down
coporate -, except for the obvious that all the populations in red
states being in poverty and probably uneducated and ignorant,dont
understand, that the very people trying to screw them they continue to
vote in! thank you respectfully george w granger los olivos california
September 22, 2011 at 5:37 pm |
Discouraged in Colorado
This is not surprising, because the average American will not take
the time to gather facts before following a particular party. I left
the GOP because they no longer represent the interest of the American
people. Big business is taking advantage of groups like the Tea Party
as toadies while they continue to collect corporate welfare (and the
Tea Party continues to push a dangerous political agenda). This idea
to provide "Job Creators" with tax breaks that are not working is
ridiculous. The failed policies of the GOP has had a lasting affect in
America as we continue to suffer from poor leadership. The actions
along by congress especially those in the GOP is a prime example of
why Americans are suffering. "Party affiliation should not be more
important than being an American" Even though the people in the 10
poorest states are suffering, you can rest assure that they will cast
a vote not in favor of improvement, but that of party loyalty. Sad!
September 22, 2011 at 5:37 pm |
J
It says that stats are meaningless. California is the biggest blue
state out there, and it has piled up absurd levels of debt and other
financial hardships.
Sure the average Californian's income is probably higher than some
of the other states listed, but that's just a microcosm of the country
as a whole, where a few small % own the vast majority of the wealth.
The state as a whole is about to crumble financially.
Maybe if Kentucky had as much prime beachfront property as Cali,
they'd attract movie stars and such, to bring up the average.
September 22, 2011 at 5:37 pm |
Sean in Canada
I think low taxes and balanced budgets = less spending on welfare
therefore putting more people below the poverty line.
Good for the tax payer but hard on the poor.
September 22, 2011 at 5:37 pm |
Angie, MD
Unfortunately, many republicans, especially the poor and
uneducated, are to ignorant to realize that the only people the
Republicans look out for, besides themselves,are the wealthy, the
Lobbyists, Big Business, Oil comp. etc. Republicans and Democrats
alike should all be ashamed of themselves for the way they have
behaved and their self-serving ways. They are an embarrassment to all
of us. They are a disgrace and things need to change drasticly. We
need to eliminate this two pary system, it has turned into a
playground fight with a bunch of children,
September 22, 2011 at 5:38 pm |
Carol - Chattanooga, Tn.
I live in Tennessee and the bumper sticker I saw yesterday says it
all "I'll take my religion, my guns and my money, you can keep the
change.'" The people who keep sending Republicans to Washington in
Tennessee don't care about anything more than those three things. Do
they care about jobs? Well, maybe, but not as much as they care about
social issues. I don't know where they get their money, but I would
guess that a lot of it comes from the government in the form of well
fare. So much for smaller government. They continue to vote against
themselves and don't even understand what you are talking about if you
point that out. I think they must check their brains at the door but
not their guns. No, never those.
September 22, 2011 at 5:39 pm |
JohnC
Jack, I lived in VA all my 45 yrs. of life, it don't suprise me
when it come to the Republicans and the state they represent. They
never cared about the poor and never will. they get on TV and talk
like they care about the poor and the welfare of their kids, but their
kids don't go to public schools and don't know what its like to be
poor in my opinion. If they have a plan to get the american people
back to work, prove it and stop attacting President Obama for
everything that he's trying to do. We need unity from both parties,how
can we do for other countries and not take care of the American
people. Poor is Poor, it does'nt care what color or race you are.
September 22, 2011 at 5:40 pm |
Amy
You're information about Red States being the poorest doesn't hold
water. Athens, Georgia has just been designated as one of the poorest
cities in the U. S. The University of Georgia and many other prominent
businesses are located in Athens. Political parties has nothing to do
with state by state poverty. It's location, location, location.
September 22, 2011 at 5:40 pm |
Byron
The culprit is the influence of Evangelism in Republican states
and Democrats threaten to sever the connection of church and state.
These churches rob their followers and coerce them into voting
Republican regardless of economic outlook and poverty, but rather
based on social issues such as abortion and homosexuality.
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Comments (282 comments)
Permalink
What does it say that most of the 10 poorest states are Republican?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
As the Republican race for the White House heats up, here's something
the GOP can't be too comfortable with:
Most of the 10 poorest states in the country are Republican.
Mississippi is the poorest... followed by Arkansas, Tennessee, West
Virginia, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama and
North Carolina.
And the list doesn't even include Texas, where Rick Perry is governor
and one in five people lives in poverty.
In a piece on CNN.com, Roland Martin writes Republicans expect to win
all 10 of these states in 2012, although President Obama won North
Carolina by a slim margin in 2008 and West Virginia is usually
considered a Democratic state.
Martin points out that despite the red-leanings in these states, you
don't hear so much from Republicans about poverty.
In fact the word "poor" has barely come up at the GOP debates thus
far. The only exceptions were:
Rick Santorum discussing welfare reform
Ron Paul suggesting the U.S. get rid of the minimum wage
and Mitt Romney using the phrase "energy-poor."
Overall, Republicans believe their economic agenda is the best way to
get people back to work - and many in the GOP are quick to blame
President Obama for the rise in the poverty rate.
But how about addressing the root causes of poverty more directly -
especially when millions of people in these so-called red states are
suffering.
The Census Bureau reports a record $46.2 million Americans are living
below the poverty line - which translates to about $22,000 a year for
a family of four.
Minorities are especially hard hit - with 27% of blacks living in
poverty and 26% of Hispanics compared to about 10% of whites.
Heres my question to you: What does it say that most of the 10
poorest states are Republican?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
John in Florida Keys:
Jack, I think it means those 10 states have more under-educated,
down-and-out and desperate folks who are easily influenced by the
republican BS. You know, like I'll make gas $2 a gallon when I'm
president or there's no such thing as global warming or let's all pray
for rain and the best one, it's ok to default on our debt. Yes, we are
fast becoming a third world country. Sanity is slipping away.
Joshua on Facebook:
I hope Democrats hammer this point home over and over again until
people finally get it. Even the stupid ones.
Mark:
Obviously, it means that even POOR people have enough sense to vote
for traditional values and are opposed to the tax and spend policies
of liberals... which by the way, do NOT in any way help them leave
their poverty status.
James in San Diego:
Its a preview of what the entire country will look like if the
Republicans get back in control of Congress and the White House.
Sandra:
Jack, 1) Possibly the Republicans don't have the best ideas about how
to fix the economy and create jobs and 2) Maybe the poor should start
looking around for a candidate who actually supports their needs.
Apparently, that trickle down thing isn't even working in the
Republican states.
Bill in Pennsylvania:
Jack, Simple. You have to be able to think to see through all the 24/7
hate mongers propaganda. There is a good reason Rush Limbaugh has a
$400 million contract (yes over $400 million). Its for the radio
propaganda he delivers. He delivers followers, the unthinking "ditto
heads". Some of them can actually find the polls.
Ron:
It tells me that the 10 poorest states are also the 10 dumbest states.
Posted by CNN's Jack Cafferty
Filed under: Republican Party Republicans
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[what's this]
soundoff (282 Responses)
Samantha
The lack of funds allocated to their education institutions is
accurately reflected in their voting preferences.
September 22, 2011 at 1:24 pm |
Ann from Charleston SC
I am so glad you asked this question! I live in South Carolina, a
state that couldn't be more Republican, yet we always show up at the
top of lists of undesirable qualities and at the bottom of lists of
desirable qualities. The latest shows SC ranks 7 in a list of husbands
who murder their wives. I don't recall where we are on the poverty
list, but I imagine we are one of the top ten. What does it say? To me
it says Republicans don't know much about governing.
September 22, 2011 at 1:27 pm |
Noel Sivertson Roswell New Mexico.
It says the Republican plan of moving toward a lord-serf society
is working. It also says Republicans are masters at getting people to
vote against their own self interests.
September 22, 2011 at 1:32 pm |
Pete in Georgia
How do you define "poorest' ??
Let's look at some of the forever Democratic stronghold areas of
America like Detroit, Buffalo, or 75% of all medium sized towns and
cities in the northeast, most if not all Democratic, union
strongholds, entitlements thru the roof......................all a
wasteland of decay and dismal failure while govenment pours billions
of taxpayer dollars into a hopeless, sinking, losing cause.
Let's have some dialog on this, OK ??
September 22, 2011 at 1:34 pm |
B. J., Quincy, Il
It says that the republican party talks a good game but when it
comes right down to it they are vampires who suck the blood right out
of their states.
September 22, 2011 at 1:37 pm |
John from Alabama
Jack: It says, a great deal about the Republicans, and how they
hold on to people. Republicans appeal to the poor and uneducated
people who claim to be born again Christians. The Republicans use the
threat of big government in every aspect of their lives, and more
taxes will be needed if the Democrats are in charge. Those in the ten
most poorest states vote a party line rather than individual
candidates in the different offices up for election. Republicans pray
on the fears of people: rather than, being progressive and looking
forward to solutions. The poor do not want change and are afraid of
those who promise better days ahead. It is acceptance over clear
thinking, better to do nothing than to rock the boat, and it is the
will of God to vote for the Republicans. In Reality, God is most
likely not happy with the Republicans or Demcrats.
September 22, 2011 at 1:38 pm |
Ed from Harrisburg
Jack, this is a no-brainer... Republicans have been growing and
spending more of people's money to enrich their big donor base than
any country history. Hoover, a Republican spent the country into a
depression. Bush, a Republcan, backrupted several businesses before
nearly bankrupting the country as Presdent. Rupublicans are the party
of spend, spend, spend and raiding the tax base, despite their
deceptions to the contrary.
September 22, 2011 at 1:40 pm |
Lou, Fayetteville, NC
The poorer you are, the more you follow promises and Republicans
have been promising everything and giving nothing to the poor for
years but they keep hoping. The two parties have lost their focus and
true North. However, Republicans do a better job of selling their
ideas. If you are poor, the rich Mormon's and the slick Texan's
promises sound better. But then a lot of us voted for promises from a
Democrat knowing full well he couldn't produce, but we had hope.
September 22, 2011 at 1:42 pm |
s in fl
It tells me that the Colonel would be jealous of the way these
republicans get their chickens to jump into fryer. Waving the flag all
the way in. On second thought, it brings to mind Gen. Buck riding the
nuke in Dr. Strangelove.
September 22, 2011 at 1:46 pm |
Bob C
When you have an uneducated public, the party who can appeal most
to that neglected intellect will be the most successful. The
Republican Party is masterful at spewing messages of hate and
discontent and blaming the Democratics for their unfortunate
situation. These type of messages resonate extremely well in a poor
and uneducated community.
September 22, 2011 at 1:48 pm |
Tom in Desoto, TX
What it says is that the Republican idea for education is working.
They will watch the F-word agenda network, swallow everything they say
and they will go off to any war republicans want them to. They only
things required of republicans is to keep guns, not books, aside from
the Bible, in their hands, and show make believe hero movies, staring
John Wayne, once a day.
September 22, 2011 at 1:49 pm |
ImALibertarian
Houston -
Obviously - the Republican States steal less.
September 22, 2011 at 1:50 pm |
Steve Newman, Washington, DC
It means that Republican policies don't work!
September 22, 2011 at 1:52 pm |
Bizz, Quarryville Pennsylvania
It proves to me that the republicans trickle down theory only
helps to create a two class nation of rich and poor. The statistics
prove that the rich are getting richer and and more middle class are
joining the poor.
September 22, 2011 at 1:58 pm |
Mel - Houston
It says two things to me, Jack. First, Republican public officials
do not have a high regard for the common man. Second, that the
electorate in that state is not as informed as they should be. Just a
guess but most likely these states are also not rank very high in
educational achievement. I believe Thomas Jefferson had some things to
say about public education and the endureance of democracy. What did
he know?
September 22, 2011 at 1:59 pm |
Spencer
To me it says that there has been a complete turn around of
political identity for a lot of people. Democrats usually carry most
of the poor votes as well as the poorer states. This is an indication
of the lack of confidence in Obama and the democratic party in
general. Plus with someone like Ron Paul running for GOP, I'd switch
to republical to vote for him myslef as well, if I was registered
Democrat.
September 22, 2011 at 2:00 pm |
Spencer
It says to me that Obama is losing ground with the American public
in general. He hasn't proven anything over the past four years that he
has any clue let alone an answer to fixing the economy and the job
market. Noted that those issues aren't totaly in Obamas control. He
still has yet to show any productivity in those two major issues. Now
for Palin. I'm beside myself that she has even been considered in any
of the GOP or presidential polling. She hasn't came out and stated
that she's officially running for GOP nomination let alone have any
involvment in politics what so ever any more. It's sad when a
nonrunning self proclaimed politician can steal the spot light from
what needs to be the real focus politicaly for America.
September 22, 2011 at 2:03 pm |
EJ in Metro Houston
it shows to me Jack that a lot of areas where there is poverty are
also ones with very little advanced education. The minorities that
live in poverty either don't vote or don't vote Republican. The poorer
whites that do vote normally WILL vote Republican These are the ones
that listen to right wing talk radio, don't do research about facts
and actually just follow what they are told. It's also normally a
"bible belt area" as well and they depend a lot on God to pull them
through. When you have a lack of good education, good teachers and
good schools where the children can go to the cycle just continues.
September 22, 2011 at 2:04 pm |
Steve
...and they want to go for 40 more!
IL
September 22, 2011 at 2:06 pm |
Jenna Roseville CA
What does it say that most of the 10 poorest states are
Republican?
It says to me that here is proof that the Repubicans have no idea
what they are doing. So why would we want them to lead our nation?
Just look at today, the GOP tried to put a tax cut amendment, that
would result in the loss of 10K jobs, on the back of a bill that would
get money to FEMA to help Americans effected by natural disasters.
We don't need "their kind" in office. Who exactly are these
Republicans representing anyways??
Jenna
Roseville CA
September 22, 2011 at 2:07 pm |
FA
It says that selfishness doesn`t pay back. Solidarity and unity
does. But we already knew that.
September 22, 2011 at 2:08 pm |
Gary - Woodhaven, Michigan
It says that the people are insane for continually making the same
mistake over and over by electing Republicans expecting a different
result, to paraphrase Einstein. But then the majority like Palin, so
they've got to be nuts.
September 22, 2011 at 2:08 pm |
john/omaha
would that be 10 out of 50 or 10 out of 57?
September 22, 2011 at 2:08 pm |
Jim
Jack, I would add to the "poorest" the " Evangelical South". The
Tea Party", some 60 Representatives breaks out with 11 from Texas, 5
from Florida, 4 from Georga, 3 from South Carolina, 2 from Tennesse, 2
from North Carolina, 1 from Mississippi, and 1 from Louisana. some 29
in total. The Repupublican's have hung their hat on the religious
poor.
Jim LA
September 22, 2011 at 2:09 pm |
Dan K
If the 10 poorest states are Republican it tells me that people
vote for the party with the best propagana not actual facts! If you
listen to the Republicans though they have all the answers! The main
theme they have is to have no taxes for the rich and everything
deductable for big business!
Do you really think they care about the poor and middle class! Is
one of our elected Republican reps. not a millionaire (If so he soon
will be)
September 22, 2011 at 2:11 pm |
Donna, Wisconsin
I think the question should be why doesn't the GOP even
acknowledge this and address how they would handle the situation. They
don't even have questions at their debates that go anywhere near
"poor" or lack of food, housing or healthcare. Nor do they acknowledge
the 'working poor'. Folks need to see the GOP's real adgenda: Helping
the rich get richer. That's the "Class Warfare" they are fighting to
continue.
September 22, 2011 at 2:12 pm |
Ron WPAFB
Do you need to say anything else, Jack? No!
September 22, 2011 at 2:13 pm |
Jayne
It says the Republican Party has cornered the market on stupid
people. I'll never understand how or why people vote against their own
self interest. Republican politicians care about two things:
themselves and their wealthy donors. The rest of us are collateral
damage . . . including poor people who vote Republican.
September 22, 2011 at 2:16 pm |
David R Bebeau,Springfield Missouri
Jack,I can answer your question and it has nothing to do with
right or left.It means that we are independent and self reliant and we
probably live a better life than rich states.MORE GOVERNMENT IS N O
T!! THE ANSWER JACK.
David
September 22, 2011 at 2:16 pm |
Ken from Pinon Hills, California
Elect a Republican President and we will all be the poorest 50
States. The Republican controlled house is trying to make that so
today.
September 22, 2011 at 2:19 pm |
Ed from California
Can you spell corruption? No education, repression, racism, or
simply they just don't vote. If you look up as to who gets all of
their federal tax dollar back, plus, they receive extra in federal
handouts, it's the red states, Mississippi being #1 on the handout
parade. W.Virginia #2, Alaska #6(I thought they had oil??), Bama #7,
S. Carolina #8. And the list goes on and on..CA is near the bottom(I
guess we have to pay to keep the lights on for the red states). Mitch
McConnell's state is #11, McCain's and Kyle's state is #16(I guess
those illegals eat a lot). It really says that the Kochplican's are
hypocrites and liar's. Okay, lets cut back....lets really cut back on
the states handouts...altogether
If these red states receive more in, than they pay out, for
schools, teachers, police, fire, state services, where is the money
going? That's how you spell corruption.
September 22, 2011 at 2:23 pm |
Michael Bindner, Alexandria, VA
It means that their opposition to unionization and some decent
level of government is not so smart after all. It also means that
electing the governor of a state leading in the race to the bottom is
probably not such a good idea either.
September 22, 2011 at 2:26 pm |
Mark M. IN Newmarket, NH
It says that the labor movement in this country needs to
rediscover its pecker; that Democrats gave up on referring to
Republican economic policies as feudalism way too early; and that
someone besides me needs to notice that the economy was a lot stronger
when labor was as well.
September 22, 2011 at 2:26 pm |
Peg from NY
It says that Republicans readily drink the koolaid supplied by any
member of the Republican Party. The worse off they are, the more
koolaid they drink.
September 22, 2011 at 2:28 pm |
Larry in Houston
Jack It says that they have us under their thumbs. It also says
that if you live in a republican state you will most likely work for
minimum wage and very little health insurance if any. And you have
the "option" of purchasing your own Health Insurance, with your
minimum wage, or if your lucky enough to make a little above it.
September 22, 2011 at 2:28 pm |
Jesse from DFW
Good observation!
If we apply the critical factors that we face economically, how
would a survey of the people in each state respond to what is
important to them. Compare it with the Republican Agenda to determine
what matches up!
September 22, 2011 at 2:29 pm |
Cheryl in Bluffton, SC
It says that the Republicans' two big ideas, tax cuts for the rich
and deregulation of industry, don't create prosperity. In fact, they
have led us to exactly the mess we are in now and ironically, those
poor, red states receive more money from the federal government than
they pay in.
September 22, 2011 at 2:29 pm |
Ed from Texas
It says they suffer from bi-polar disorder. Not only do they vote
against their own economic interest, but their states' leaders oppose
federal spending at the same time their states receive more fback from
Washington than they in taxes.
September 22, 2011 at 2:30 pm |
James in Springfield, VA
It means that their Elected officials are not doing there job and
need to get voted out of office. But then again most people in America
have a short attention span so it is not like elections matter.
September 22, 2011 at 2:31 pm |
Mark Bussell
Plain and simple Jack, it say they loath the poor
September 22, 2011 at 2:34 pm |
Alex in Bremerton, WA
It says that it is hard to pull yourself up by your bootstraps if
you don't have any boots. But the Republicans don't care about that as
they cut welfare programs during hard times. It says that it is hard
to expect your neighbor to help you after a natural disaster if his
home is leveled too. But the Republicans want to defund FEMA anyway.
It says that we should seek charity from the churches when we are old
and sick so the Republicans can eliminate Social Security and
Medicare. The Republicans' vision of a shining city on the hill does
not bode well for the huddled masses outside of the gates!
Alex the unemployed Veteran
September 22, 2011 at 2:35 pm |
Brad, Portland, OR
It says that when Republicans are in control and can implement
whatever policies they want, they damage the economy and reduce the
standard of living for the majority of the people.
But on the bright side, when Republicans are in control, the rich
get richer and corporations become more profitable so they can give
their CEOs bigger bonuses.
So it must be worth it, or middle class and poor people wouldn't
keep voting Republican.
September 22, 2011 at 2:36 pm |
barbara in nc
It appears to me that all that pork taken home to their districts
went into wealthy pockets instead of creating good jobs or furthering
the education of people in their states.
But then, if people are ignorant, uneducated, they tend to vote
republican.
September 22, 2011 at 2:37 pm |
Bert in CA
Hi Jack, it says Reaganomics failed and our nations wealth will
not trickle down if placed in the grip of global corporations and
speculators playing the worlds stock markets which have no allegiance
to any nation. It says those voters better wise up and accept the GOP
has become the guys Ike warned us about; a government-corporate
complex like King George III and the East India tea Co.
September 22, 2011 at 2:37 pm |
Suren
It means they're poor, therefore: uneducated, therefore: easily
manipulated, therefore: republican.
September 22, 2011 at 2:41 pm |
John G
Jack, it's elementary my friend. I explained to my kids at an
early age the following: Republicans are for the rich and Democrats
support the poor. While that may be dumbing it down at bit, the
principal holds true still today.
John in Tampa, FL
September 22, 2011 at 2:45 pm |
Larry -Denver
There must be a direct correlation between the poorest states and
the states where Republicans take more lobby money and do nothing for
their states. I bet those poorest states are also the most illiterate?
Have the lowest % of high school and college graduates and yet keep
cheering at executions. Still does not solve the economic issues of
this country. The poor stay poor and the fat cat politicians really
dont care enough
September 22, 2011 at 2:45 pm |
JD
The people vote right wing because left wing is only safe in the
good times. Times of economic prosperity, and times they can afford a
drink or two, as to now when they can barely makes ends meet. I'm not
saying its right, but past historical evidence proves it right. If
Obama wants to win, he needs to follow in the steps of roseavelt and
bring about a new deal like function; the people vote for jobs and
money.
September 22, 2011 at 2:48 pm |
jimmy in nc
Jack, it says we are poor but proud. The Republicans offer the
best chance to restore pride in the USA and self-reliance. Sure we are
poor but that does not mean that we want quiche, cappucino or other
left-wing accoutrements.
September 22, 2011 at 2:51 pm |
Gary H. Boyd
Jack, all but one of the ten states you mention are in the
southeastern U.S. where lower wages and incomes have been the case for
decades. But, these same folks are strongly self-reliant and dedicated
to a remarkable work ethic and with ingrained religious beliefs - all
of which are part of the GOP fabric. The Democrats, by comparison,
have no such credentials.
Gary in Scottsdale, Arizona
September 22, 2011 at 2:54 pm |
Michael "C" Lorton, Virginia
Jack: What it says is that the poverty of our century is unlike
that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, but of a set of
priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. It is the
Republicans way of redistributing money from the bottom up.
September 22, 2011 at 2:54 pm |
Ray in Knoxville
What does it say, Jack? It says that this is what America faces
unless we undo the past 30 years of Republican economic policies.
September 22, 2011 at 2:55 pm |
dave in nashville
Simple, the less fortunate are not voting. This is not rocket
science.
September 22, 2011 at 2:55 pm |
Gerry
Probably because they live on the incomew that they earn not from
government subsidies.
Gerry
Ash Fork, Az.
September 22, 2011 at 2:56 pm |
Michelle M
Among other things, it says we should listen to all the Republican
fools who rail against 'federal government spending'- and stop
subsidizing their sorry butts with the money of blue states. If they
don't like gov't spending, they shouldn't benefit from it. Let's see
how long LA, GA, SC, etc keep voting Republican after they get no
welfare from BLUE states. I'm so sick of this hypocrisy. And I'm sick
of living in a fantasy-land constructed by Rs who obstruct everything,
while vacuuming up benefits they don't support. If Cantor doesn't want
disaster-relief w/o budget cuts- fine. No relief for Virginia. Simple.
Like his ideas? Keep voting for him. Want to live in AMERICA? Vote for
a human.
September 22, 2011 at 2:59 pm |
Terri From Blountville, TN
This also corresponds to the "most religious" states according to
a recent gallup poll. I think it says that the "religious" people in
these states believe the rhetoric about their faith spewed by
Republican politicians. They vote for someone who is perceived as
religious whether they truly are or not. Unfortunately, this is not in
the best interest of those living in poverty.
September 22, 2011 at 2:59 pm |
Tom Bulger, Canandaigua
"According to recent US census figures, since President Bush
assumed power in 2000 poverty has risen by 7%, the proportion of those
without healthcare has risen by 9%, and median household income has
fallen by 3%. But where the poor are most numerous, it seems the
Democrats are weakest. The 10 states with the lowest household median
income, where people are least likely to have healthcare and most
likely to live in poverty, all voted Republican in 2004." (Gary
Younge, the Guardian, 9/18/06)
What it tells me is poor people can't afford legitimate news like
cable's CNN.
September 22, 2011 at 3:01 pm |
Lori - PA
It means that Republicans could care less about those who can't
afford to contribute their election campaigns. Duh.
September 22, 2011 at 3:07 pm |
TOM TYSKIEWICZ
Well Jack, since most of the very POOR states are in the
confederacy, I'd say that the southern politicans have successfully
created their aristocracy with a majority of people living in SERFDOM
just as GOD has commanded. With their corporate & wall street masters
this is their GAME PLAN for AMERICA.
September 22, 2011 at 3:08 pm |
Floyd - Crescent City, CA
It just shows that the poor are ignorant, uneducated and stupid.
September 22, 2011 at 3:09 pm |
Jan Puerto Rico
Poor people probably don't vote!
Hope this changes or they will be forever poor
September 22, 2011 at 3:09 pm |
Frank in Valparaiso
The GOP business model is a failure. Its economic model is as
George H W Bush said, voodoo economics. nobody teaches trickle down or
the Laffer Curve as real economics theory.
That they keep voting Republican shows how well GOP snake oil
sells.
September 22, 2011 at 3:10 pm |
Kevin in CA
It re-enforces the old adage that if you're a Republican you are
either rich or uninformed.
September 22, 2011 at 3:10 pm |
Dave, Orlando, FL
It says that people who vote republican are idiots to keep
electing the same sorry creeps who keep them the poorest Americans in
the country. But then most are Tea Party Republicans so you really
cant expect much in the way of smarts there. I doubt that if you put
all of the brain cells of all the Tea Party members in their entirety
into a tea cup you would only get half a cup.
September 22, 2011 at 3:11 pm |
Paul Lagle
What it means is that of those states, only the majority of THOSE
VOTING choose to vote Republican. I have no idea what the split in the
vote is for each state. However, the vast majority of people may or
may not reflect which candidate is or has been chosen. Other than
that, the statement has no meaning.
September 22, 2011 at 3:12 pm |
Larry from Georgetown, Tx
It says that most Americans say In God We Trust unless you're a
member of the GOP, their motto is "In Wall Street We Trust". The GOP's
new theme is "God Bless Wall Street and our wealthy friends and the
heck with the poor".
September 22, 2011 at 3:13 pm |
TomInRochNY
It says that if republicans gain congress and the white house more
prosperous states will no doubt become poor. When is the last time you
heard an outcry of anger from republicans to end poverty? How about
allowing hard working Americans to make a living wage? Okay, let's try
penalizing so called American corporations for outsourcing/insourcing
jobs? Uhm, eliminating loopholes that only the wealthy and
corporations can truly benefit from? Ending tax payer funded subsidies
to big business? Yeah , they're definitely the party of Joe six pack.
Tom, Rochester NY
September 22, 2011 at 3:15 pm |
Doug
The most dominant theme that comes to mind, looking at the States
listed here as being the poorest, is Bible Belt. So, Republicans are
Bible Belters, as well as rich white old folks. Democrats seem to
congregate in the Talking Monkey States, like Massachusetts and New
York. The harder to pin down Independents, or, Weather Vane Weather
Freaks, are mixed in randomly, amongst the Democrats and Republicans.
What was the question? Doug. Pepperell, MA.
September 22, 2011 at 3:17 pm |
Steve, Clifton, VA
It means that these States are also the least educated and least
likely to be informed or to complain. These are the States that love
to say "we have get America back."
September 22, 2011 at 3:20 pm |
Rich McKinney, Texas
Jack a poor person gets no more vote then a rich one. There are
however more poor people then rich people in America and always have
been so if the poor vote democratic historically then democrats are a
shoe in come 2012. It does not mater when your hungry who would make
the best president what maters is the president that will give you the
most regardless of where they get the money from. That is what Obama
is doing by making the republicans out to be for big business
attempting to take from the wealthy and give to the poor. It equals
more votes for him. He has turned it into an us against them fight
even though he is a multi millionaire himself. In reality he is them
but he does not want you to realize that.
September 22, 2011 at 3:22 pm |
Richard C.
I think your comment is irrelevant because all the states are
suffering to a certain degree. I should also add that maybe they are
poor because Obama has ignored them as part of his re-election
campaign just as he has ignored any job creation ideas. I do not think
Obama has the sense to care about anyone or anything except himself.
Malvern, PA
September 22, 2011 at 3:23 pm |
Greg in Arkansas
Seven of the ten poorest states (plus Texas) you mentioned are
"right to work states" where unions are all but banned and six of the
ten poorest states place 40th or lower in education achievement
levels. Under-educated people can be easily convinced how to vote
based on 30 second political commercials and solutions that are
printed on bumper stickers.
In Arkansas, I hear people that are making minimum wage, trash
talk unions while they complain about low pay, no benefits and
horrible working conditions yet they still support tax breaks for the
wealthy......go figure???
Education is the solution....the only solution....but as long as
the republicans control the legislatures and squeeze funding for
education......not much will ever change.
September 22, 2011 at 3:24 pm |
Mark
Obviously, it means that even POOR people have enough sense to
vote for traditional values and are opposed to the tax and spend
policies of Liberals....which by the way, do NOT in any way help them
leave their poverty status.
September 22, 2011 at 3:25 pm |
Gail, Plano TX.
It says Jack, that someone is cooking the books! It just does not
make sense, so I must assume that the votes are being stuffed in the
ballot boxes. I lived in MS in 1958, and it was unbelievable. The
poverty I saw then was so extreme, I was shocked. The black community
had no paved streets! Just dirt roads! As a New Yorker, I was never
aware that such inequality existed in the good ole USA. So answer this
question, Jack. If u were a poor person, would u not vote for a
Democratic candidate than the rich Republican fat cat?
September 22, 2011 at 3:26 pm |
Rick, Medina, OH
Jack,
The Republicans won in these states ... the solution is greater
voter turn-out by those most affected!
Rick,
Medina, OH
September 22, 2011 at 3:29 pm |
Terry in Virginia
I disagree that West Virginia is Republican. Both Senators are
Democrats. Manchin, although he acts like a Republican, is actually a
Democrat and the former governor. The current (acting) Governor
Tomblin is a Democrat, too. At worst, West Virginia is a purple state.
Poverty doesn't look good for either party and both sides are to blame
for this mess. All Democratic and Republican incumbents deserve to be
tossed out on their back sides election after election until the party
leaders finally figure out that We the People - all the people and not
just the Koch Brothers and Grover Norquist - count.
September 22, 2011 at 3:33 pm |
Tom (Atlanta)
Jack if you are emplying "cause and effect" that does make sense
in a Democracy unless the poor don't trust Democrat to govern in these
states. I guessthat must be it. The poor must think the Democrats are
not worthy. Sorry Roland, you must now be too wealthy to remember how
it was back in Texas. Or is it that your Texas Aggie economics
showing?
September 22, 2011 at 3:34 pm |
Harvey Gold-Brandon, MS
It says that the poor don't have time nor money to vote...all they
know is they're broke and hungry....which is exactly why Republicans
want to make even more people poor. The more broke people there are
the less they know what's going on in the world, or care.....and the
less they know, the more Republicans win...makes perfect sense to me.
September 22, 2011 at 3:35 pm |
Sylvia from San Diego
What this tells me is that even though these states are the
poorest and vote mostly Republican, the services provided by those
mean republican are always better than those provided by the
democrats......
September 22, 2011 at 3:39 pm |
Sandra
Jack,
Two points come to mind: 1) Possibly the Republicans don't have
the best ideas about how to fix the economy and create jobs and 2)
maybe the poor should start looking around for a candidate who
actually supports their needs. Apparently, that trickle down thing
isn't even working in the Republican states.
September 22, 2011 at 3:47 pm |
Greg McCarthy
Jack, I would guess that these states vote red because the
homeless do not have a mailing address which makes it difficult to get
a voter ID now to even be able to vote. /sarcasm
The ones who DO have homes end up electing their officials. Too
bad it seems to be based more on extreme religious beliefs rather than
basic moral principles. Greg M. FL
September 22, 2011 at 3:48 pm |
Joe
Jack,
The fact that the ten poorest states are Republican represents a
demographic of citizens who have given-up on any possible chance of
change; therefore, they vote based upon their social agendas, and do
not realize how the wealthy have manipulated their perspective on
important economic issues.
Unfortunately these poor states are not able to open their eyes
enough to see how their locally elected Republican leaders have sold
their rights down the muddy waters of allowing the rich to get richer.
Joe, Binghamton, NY
September 22, 2011 at 3:51 pm |
Bill in PA
Jack
Simple. You have to be able to think to see through all the 24/7
hate mongers propaganda
There is a good reason R. Limbaugh has a 440 MILLION dollar
contract (yes over four-hundred millions) for the radio propaganda he
delivers. He delivers followers, the unthinking "ditto heads". Some of
them can actually find the polls.
September 22, 2011 at 3:52 pm |
James in San Diego
Its a preview of what the entire country will look like if the
Republicans get back in control of Congress and the White House.
September 22, 2011 at 3:53 pm |
Paul From Austin Texas
It shows that when they get down to brass tacks Jack the
Republicans only care about the big guys not us small fry. Is that
what we have to look forward to in the future is a wider split of the
haves and the have nots. The ones in the tea party better get ready
for most of them to be added to the have nots they are just being used
by the fat cats in the Repulican party to get what they want. Wake up
America.
September 22, 2011 at 3:58 pm |
Jane in CA
Republican policies only work for rich people, and they take money
from what other states would spend supporting low income people to do
it. There is no support for people who need help, which lowers their
chances of improving their position. Plus, you get a lot of folks who
believe that God uses wealth as a reward and only sinners are poor.
Right to work is part of it, you get the right to work for less than
it takes to keep you alive. Republicans stopped caring about anyone
but millionaires over 40 years ago. If you are poor you just don't
exist for them.
September 22, 2011 at 4:01 pm |
Paul P.
It tells me what I already know, that Republicans aren't that
interested in helping people through government programs or education,
they view that as a waste of taxpayer money. Better those people just
pull up their bootstraps on their own and stop being a drain on
society, and let us know when you get around to making that first
million so we can pander to you with alot of tax loopholes and cushy
tax rates in exchange for some political contributions.
September 22, 2011 at 4:01 pm |
gunny
Keep voting for the republicans. It amazes me how many poor people
or middle class people still vote for these republicans idiots.
Republicans have never protected the poor or the working people, they
have always protected the rich.
Republicans are quick to blame Obama or the liberals. Where were
they when Bush was spending money on 2 wars. No one spoke up then and
said hey we have to be responsible and not throw money at a war we
will never win. They will never tell the truth. Liars every one of
them. I dont have much faith in the democrats these day either.
September 22, 2011 at 4:02 pm |
Stella-Northern New York
Hello Jack. They may be the poorest states but they also collect
the highest returns of federal dollars. For every $1.00 they pay into
the federal government they are getting back $1.50 on average of those
federal funds. Not so bad. There are advantages to keeping your
Republican state poor with a low GDP. The sad part is those federal
dollars are going into pockets that don't need that money. Could it be
the super rich and big corporations (the job creators)in each state??
After all if your a Republican you wholeheartedly support everything
for the big boys and nothing for you. Something might trickle down to
you in the next century. Then your grandchildren can say for you "See
I told you so". Ask Ron Paul,ask the Teaparty,and ask the Republican
party how they would sum up the people who live in these states. If
they were Democratic states they would call them a bunch of lazy good
for nothing free loaders who will not take responsibility for
improving their own well being. Of course we're talking about
Republican states here. So they tell them its the fault of the
Democrats that their GDP is so low and they are so far behind the rest
of the Country. They will never be any more than they were 50 years
ago. Keep voting Republican and in 100 years you'll still be where you
are today...AT THE BOTTOM. Good luck to all the people who live in
these states. Thank God we all take care of each other in this Country
no matter what state we live in or what party we support. What would
the people in these states do without those" FEDERAL DOLLARS" they get
each year? Maybe they might want to keep the Federal Government in
their lives awhile longer.
September 22, 2011 at 4:02 pm |
Elizabeth From Toronto
Good question, now we talking! Someone should ask the Republican
candidates running for the Presidency this question, Republican
candidates get a free ride at every election because smart questions
like this one that look at if core republican policies work or not are
never answered.
September 22, 2011 at 4:03 pm |
Kevin SD CA
It says there is nothing wrong with being poor! It says there is
nothing wrong with being poor, and having dignity rather than being on
the Socialist Welfare Gravy Train State run by Democrats! It says they
are not privileged enough to be part of the government gravy train
which sucks the life out of all of us! It says that there are plenty
of places where the elite need to leave well enough alone! It says
that every poor part of the planet I have visited the people are just
as happy as or happier than the selfish self-serving morons who call
themselves Liberals!
September 22, 2011 at 4:03 pm |
Pat (Missouri)
It says that Repulicans don't care about the people they are
supposed to be serving. I'll bet the fat cats in those states are
getting fatter.
September 22, 2011 at 4:06 pm |
Michael Roepke Dallas, TX
Less Government regulations, lower taxes for the job creators,
lower wages without union pressure, and a weak State dept of
education? It means that while the state might be poor, the Republican
movers and shakers aren't.
September 22, 2011 at 4:06 pm |
Jeff Baker
It says that most of the Republican party is fooled into thinking
the GOP is really about smaller government. The states listed are
mostly in the bible belt and vote more on social issues. The poor
should support someone like Ron Paul that will fight to end imflation
caused by the Federal Reserve making the poor even poorer.
September 22, 2011 at 4:07 pm |
mike halter
Thats all part of the Republican master plan Jack. After they bust
all the Unions and the middle class is wiped out .
We will all have to work for min wage with no Health Care. And the
rich will get richer.
Mike Largo F.L.
September 22, 2011 at 4:10 pm |
Renee Peoria,Ill
They voted for Republicans to run their states, their situations
have gotten worse, and they still haven't made the connection. I'd say
it says the I.Q. of the average Republican voter is even worse than
the people they're voting for. God help this country!
September 22, 2011 at 4:10 pm |
Curtis in philadelphia
What does it say Jack? Simple: don't trust Republican politicians.
September 22, 2011 at 4:16 pm |
Tate
What does it say that half of those states have a democratic
governor? What does it say that 9 of the 10 poorest cities in the US
have a democratic mayor, and the only one that isn't is an
independant? It says that you can find numbers to "prove" whatever you
want, regardless of the presence of an actual correlation.
September 22, 2011 at 4:18 pm |
roger from phoenix
Red states no bueno , Blue state no bueno , perhaps Obama could
suggest all the poor people and jobless people in the U.S. might start
thinking about moving out of the country , Obama could suggest they
try to get their old job back in china or india or mexico. Perhaps
congress could give them a few bucks to move. Call it cash to dash
program.
September 22, 2011 at 4:21 pm |
Pete in Milton, FL
What does it say? Well, if most of the poorest states are
Republican, that tells me that there's a strong correlation between
being poor, gullibility, and ignorance. If somone keeps being poor,
but keeps voting for the same party that made him and his state poor,
well, that's just plain ignorant.....or stupid. They're probably not
totally poor, since obviously they have enough money to watch Fox
News.
September 22, 2011 at 4:23 pm |
lilmagothy, annapolis
It says that the minimum wage is not adequate to support an
individual, let alone a family. It says that, the tea potty
notwithstanding, some social services are necessary "to promote the
general welfare" (that's from the Constitution, Jack). It says that as
the income disparity between the CEOs, the bankers, and the weallthy
vis a vis the people who actually do the work and produce the goods
and services has increased dramatically, it should be painfully
obvious that "trickle down" is a myth that needs to be put out of its
misery. It says that the republicans are, and probably always will be,
pimps for corporate America and concerned about the average American
only between the time of conception and birth.
September 22, 2011 at 4:23 pm |
Annie, Atlanta
Want to bet the citizens of those states are the most uninformed
and uneduated, too? And I'd also put good money on the guys who run
those states coming out of public service a lot richer than when they
went in. American politics you gotta love it. Bad thing is the Dems
are figuring out how to game the system now, too. We're in so much
trouble, and most of us don't know it. We're being subverted with
propaganda 24/7. We only know whose competing on Dancing with the
Stars.
September 22, 2011 at 4:24 pm |
roya1230
Well if republicans continue to have a upper hand for the next
four years the whole country will be in poverty. Their policies is set
to benefit the rich, so rich will be richer, middle class will
disappear and poor will be poorer.
September 22, 2011 at 4:26 pm |
roya1230
Well if republicans continue to have a upper hand for the next
four years the whole country will be in poverty.
September 22, 2011 at 4:26 pm |
Peter, Tarrytown, N.Y.
When one has no hope and no hope of ever having hope, one often
turns to religion for solace. Republican candidates use religion for
the purpose of getting votes.
Poor states have poor educational systems producing poorly
prepared citizens.
An educated cirizeny is the bane of politicians and religions.
September 22, 2011 at 4:30 pm |
dale in MA
It clearly defines the republiCON's priorities. Does the study
address the income gap in those states? Are you Republican because
you're rich or are you rich because you're Republican. The wealth in
the blue states seems to be only slightly more distributed, but then
again we don't have holy rollers coming buy damning us to hell if we
don't pay up to their preacher weekly.
Those same republican controlled states are too busy messing up
the one man one vote rules to notice the poverty around them. Poor
people may vote(for the time being), but they don't do political
contributions enough to matter to these fat cat politicians.
September 22, 2011 at 4:33 pm |
Ed in california
If you want to present it that way Jack then it is
also fair to ask Obama doesn't send more stimulus
money to those Republican States?
Isn't the credo...."to each according to their need?"
Ed in Sacramento
September 22, 2011 at 4:36 pm |
Pat in Michigan
It says it all.They may have lost the first round of the civil war
but they have managed a tremendous comeback.
When all is said and done we will be just as poor as our ancestors
in the 1800's
September 22, 2011 at 4:38 pm |
Loren
Not a lot. Remember that those States were governed by Democrats a
lot longer than Republicans. Their current status just reflects how
bad a condition the Democrats have left them in.
September 22, 2011 at 4:39 pm |
Bob Kansas City, Mo.
Jack-It sounds like these states get what they ask for, how many
incumbents at the state and federal level keep winning elections time
after time making the voting populace scared of all the boogeyman
socialists they tell them are hiding behind trees if they don't
reelect him/her.
September 22, 2011 at 4:40 pm |
Gordon NJ
Despite all their endless Bible thumping and false piety,
Republicans do not seem to like being their brother's keepers. They go
to Church on Sunday, and then spend the rest of the week creating laws
and policies that help the rich at the expense of the poor. I always
find it ironic that Ayn Rand, the Republican's high goddess of
self-righteous greed, was an atheist.
September 22, 2011 at 4:40 pm |
lou new jersey
It means if you move too one of these States you're dead meat.
September 22, 2011 at 4:41 pm |
HJ - Saint Paul, MN
It gives statistical support to the fact that Republican policies
do not help the economy. Eliminating the minimum wage is supposed to
decrease poverty? HOW? Do they even hear the things coming out of
their mouths? Its trickle down all over again but from the expense
side. Hey I got an idea: why don't we have people just work for free
and provide them food and lodging? Can't put my finger on it but it
sounds familiar.
September 22, 2011 at 4:46 pm |
NCSKIPBO
So does it surprise you to note that most of the states listed
are below the Mason-Dixon line. Business and govenment have spent
decades promoting the movement of manufacuturing to southern state to
"lower costs" (labor). As that happened much of the work disappeared
to off shore locations. These off shore locations are in countries
that use child labor, pollute the evironment and have substandard
health care thus a low life expectancy. All the while our government
allows the import of these goods. Buy American
September 22, 2011 at 4:49 pm |
lou
Poor, often under-educated people vote against their own interest
out of pure ignorance. It's so frustrating as a democrat. I'm almost
at the point of giving up. I'm upper middle class. I don't have to
worry about the republicans taking away social services or entitlement
programs. I can pay for my kid's college and my retirement. At some
point you just get tired of fighting for these folks when they can't
even be bothered to vote for the party saving their skins. The older I
get, the more republican I feel.
September 22, 2011 at 4:52 pm |
Fred In LA
I live in California and that probably equals 5 of those
Republican run states. And believe my, the Liberal Democrats have run
this State into the ground. But to answer your question, it means the
rules and regulations put out by the Democrats against manufacturing
has destroyed those states capabilities to earn. Especially in
Louisiana and Mississippi.
September 22, 2011 at 4:52 pm |
Kathie
Just look at what's happened in Wisconsin! Workers rights
destroyed and catering to the rich. The gop only "cares" about us at
election time. the gop is aligned with their money gods. paul ryan
won't even meet with consitituents during the congress recesswe had
to pay $15 and then he had his constituents escorted from the meeting
when questions were asked by them!
September 22, 2011 at 4:54 pm |
Paulette in Dallas
It is time for the people in these poorest statest to wise up and
give a Democrat a chance. The Republicans are only being
obstructionsits right now to black anything good Obama can do. He
never should have been elected President and is giving the Democrats a
poor image. Draft Hillary! The american people need someone with the
know how and the can do spirit to pull us out of this mess. that will
also put an end to all of this Tea Party nonsense.
September 22, 2011 at 4:54 pm |
bud rupert
I don't want to be trite or use hackneyed phrases but frankly Jack
I see many right wing folks (you can call them Republican) as more
ideological, more inflexible stuck in the present and looking at the
past for answers to their troubles....I could also say that generally
they are under educated and mean spirited but I won't go there.
September 22, 2011 at 5:02 pm |
Jack - Lancaster, Ohio
Mr. Cafferty:
Could you list the ten richest states republican or democrat
combined? Then perhaps we can see a trend ?
September 22, 2011 at 5:06 pm |
andyz Lynn, MA
It means that their govenors have attended the Rick Perry School
of State Governance.
September 22, 2011 at 5:15 pm |
Valerie in Raleigh
It is simple the Germans used it to get their people to go along
with World War II. You keep the people uneducated and uninformed, make
them afraid of any kind of change, tell them that others mean them
harm, that the Democrats want to take their guns away, talk a lot
about God and religion and make sure they hear your taking propaganada
points again and again and this certain segment of the poplulation
will believe you and vote agaist their best interests. It is called
Republicnaism!!! The more uneducated the better it works.
September 22, 2011 at 5:16 pm |
Nancy, Tennessee
The people of Tennessee just got a Republican governor so it's
hard to blame us being one of the poorest states on him.
Tennessee has been a poor state since the depression. Employers
like to come here and pay low wages claiming the lower cost of living
is the reason. Bah humbug! If we need a new car, we pay more than they
do in the North because of the costs to ship it South. Housing is a
little less, but it doesn't make up for the difference in wages. Food
and gas are along the national average. We have few unions and the
ones we have are very weak. Employers exploit our workers. Even with
the low wages here, many of our factories have gone overseas.
Lawmakers need to think long and hard about import taxes for those who
go overseas and support foreign workers and want to sell their goods
to us.
September 22, 2011 at 5:17 pm |
Gigi Oregon
I think it is sad the way these people have been capitalized on by
their political leaders with deals in back rooms to make themselves
rich at the expense of these families. One of these days maybe a super
power will place sanctions against the U.S. and force us to provide
better human rights to our poor. All the better to vote for a party
that takes our taxes and gives back to the people ...like health care,
social security which we have taken from our pay check from our first
day of employment until retirement. Many of our parents pay in but
never live long enough to collect a dime. I for one, am tired of our
government giving millions a day money to rogue countries and being
told we don't need a decent health care for our people.
September 22, 2011 at 5:17 pm |
Mark Daniel Cohen
It says that many of the poor will remain poor because they insist
on being poor.
September 22, 2011 at 5:18 pm |
s in fl
It says it all, Jack!
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
Dean (Modesto)
Don't know what it means but I'm dying to find out :D
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
steve from Nevada
Many Republicans vote against their economic interests because
they are social conservatives, not fiscal conservatives.
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
Jack
It says that poor people are smarter than Democrats.
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
Brittney -- NYC
Half of poor, uneducated people are easy to fool into voting
against their own interests because they have no time to read up and
research the real issues and the real answers, the other half doesn't
vote because they believe they've been poor so long that no matter who
is in power they always will be. Republicans take advantage of that.
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
Brady in NY
Well obviously it says that their policies don't work in reality.
If the Republicans can't even provide for their own states, how can we
expect them to deliver on a national level? They might very well drag
us into the Third-World, which would be good for them since they could
then exploit our cheap labor.
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
Jenni Swink
It says that the cost of living is a lot lower than other states.
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
Steve D
It shows poor people as a group don't vote!!!!
September 22, 2011 at 5:19 pm |
Steve
Jack:
It isn't surprising that Republicans own the 10 poorest states.
After all they are for big business only, not the working little
people. Look at their party where are the blacks and Latinos?
September 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm |
Bill Denegar
You get what you vote for.
Spring Hill, FL
September 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm |
Jess Wilder
Jack, it says that the Republicans are more focused on rhetoric
and pointing out what others have failed to do than on what they can
do to actually fix the problem. Rhetoric wins votes in these states,
not reason.
September 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm |
Josh in California
Its funny that, those that rally against socialism, are the states
that need these programs the most. Its clear that the republicans have
been bought and sold by the financial elite.
September 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm |
FRANK
Jack, what it says is that the Republican party has done some
research on who does and doesn't vote. I would bet anything that a
high percent of people in poverty don't vote. That's why the
republicans can just blow them off.
September 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm |
Dan from Stewartstown PA
It says that these "patriots" are firm backers of the "Job
Creators" whether they create jobs in China, Bangladesh or any other
place that the almighty profit trumps any sense of American security,
spirit or commitment to the general welfare of our weakening great
nation. It also show how uninformed most voters are when they make
decisions based on political soundbites and commercials by
multinational corporations. The general public may be poorer than
ever, but by allowing themselves to become the unwitting dupes of
these arrogant and self serving candidates, maybe we deserve what we
get.
September 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm |
Dan in Albuquerque
It is a reflection of typical GOP catering to those who have. The
South has not generally been industrialized as much as the North,
either. They have historically been farmers, although it is slowly
changing. The GOP's traditional opposition to social programs usually
means there are fewer training programs to develop a qualified labor
pool, as is becoming the case nationwide.
September 22, 2011 at 5:20 pm |
Doug McGee
It says that year after year the GOP is successful in using
divisive issues (abortion etc) to get the population of these mostly
evangelical states to vote against their interests.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Ken in NC
It means the "TRICKLE" in their trickle down dried up after they
gave to all their big owners on the top. In other words "The Top" is
taking their trickle and ours too. We don't even get Republican
peanuts. All we get from them is Republican peanut hulls.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Sug
It means that there are more people who vote against their own
best interest ... perhaps because many of those states are among the
lowest in level and quality of education.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Mitoosense Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Sounds like class warfare to me. The product of 2big2fail Corprate
Wealth Fare. Bush doctrines and courtesy of the Federal Reserve. All
GOP roads lead to greed. The Double Standard of Republican 2 for me
and one for you long long division.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Butch F.
What it means is this: Republicans WANT to make ALL 50 States
equally poor and sick. Big Business and the very rich NEED their tax
breaks to do this.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Mario in NY
This should make it clear that if you are poor, meaning middle
class and you are thinking to vote for GOP next election? You deserve
what you get.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Jess Wilder--Mason, TN
Jack, it says that the Republicans are more focused on rhetoric
and pointing out what others have failed to do than on what they can
do to actually fix the problem. Rhetoric wins votes in these states,
not reason.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
neil
Jack I think it displays a general lack of caring about others in
hard circumstances by republican individuals en masse. Their
constiuents generally fall into two categories, business owners who in
turn exploit individuals to get the cheapest possible labor, and those
whose only care is about spreading their own conservative views
instead of the welfare of their fellow man. If you look at the
standard of living in those states you mentioned, goes to show how the
Republican Party wants the rest of the nation to turn out. Care about
the rich, they pad your pockets, forget the poor because they do
nothing for you.
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Umer (Shreveport, Louisiana)
Jack, it goes to show that people have not been voting their
economic interest for decades because of social issues. The democratic
party needs to reducate the citizens of these states about how the
corporatist policies of the republican party are feudalistic and
keeping these very people from gaining any traction in upward
mobility. The republican party is anti education (Bobby Jindal is
slashing education in Louisiana), anti science (Perry does not believe
in evolution), anti poor (tax cuts for the rich with hipes of trickle
down).
September 22, 2011 at 5:21 pm |
Sully
All this means is that Republicans are just as bad with money as
Democrats are. The politicians on Capitol Hill should really make note
of that...
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Renita M,S
Jack, do the math.These states are poor because they rather for
the minorites to have a low employement rate before they admitt they
are just races peolpes.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Bob, in Florida
You're joking! ... Right???
The REAL question is .... How do Republicans ever get voted into
office? Republcians DO NOT do anything for ANYONE who is NOT wealthy.
When the overwhelming voting public is middle class or poor....vote
these people into office...It only shows the voters' stupidity!
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Jeff in CA
This may sound mean, but the answer is that all those states are
full of stupid religious people voting against their own best
interest. Sorry but that's the way it is.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
marybeth, massachusetts
Jack,
I'm not surprised; states that vote Republican have a gov't that
follows Repblican values, which means low/minimum wage jobs, huge tax
cuts and many tax loopholes for the wealthy and business, little to no
social safety nets (Rick Perry fired 75% of the firefighters in Texas.
Burn baby burn!), little to no gov't regulations or oversight so
businesses are free to pollute the environment, rip off the unwary,
and unions have been run out (unions were the groups that fought for
better wages, better working conditions, workplace safety, and
benefits like paid holidays, sick time, and vacation time for
workers). Funding for education is not a priority, so the school
systems are poor and quality of education is not very good.
But business lines the pockets of politicians, who continue to
benefit the rich. And the poor people continue to vote against their
best interests by electing politicians who take away more from them
and give it to their rich cronies.
What is says is that if other states decide to vote Republican,
they will join these 10 Southern red states in the race to bring more
people to poverty and to a lower standard of living. Look what
happened in Wisconsin. The goal is to make the entire country a 3rd
world banana republic. The definition of one (3rd world country) is a
country that concentrates the majority of its wealth in the hands of a
small few while the rest live in poverty. There is NO middle class.
I'd say that we're there.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Deb M. in Florida
It says that there are a lot of people voting against their own
interests on a regular basis.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
James Bowen
It should be obvious that republican cannot lead.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Jerry Mund, Appleton, WI
It says compassionate conservatism is another empty republican
throw away line. Both parties lie, but the Republicans have raised it
to a high art form. I bet all 10 states have a poor education level.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Adam
It says that they focus too many resources to corporate "persons"
rather than living, breathing persons.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Bill in Missouri
Jack,
Because the 10 poorest states vote Republican just means:
You can fool some of the people some of the time
All the people some of the time.
And these 10 states all of the time
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Marc
Well it say's that most of those states are ignorant to the fact
that the GOP are not fighting for their interest! I think if you are
poor and are GOP, Then you really don't no policies, but just Nascar
and Jerry Springer.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
jeff in Santa Fe
Why are most of the 10 poorest states Republican? The ten poorest
states also happen to be the ten of the dumbest states, so that should
answer your question.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Philip TN
Everything is relative and does not depend on interpretation by
the government's definitions. Quality of life despite what the
government tells you lies within the individual. To be defined as poor
does not mean to be automatically unhappy. Basic principals of life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are not buzz words.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Lyle
It means they made a poor choice in not knowing who they voted
for, maybe next time people will take the chance to make a right
choice in leaders and learn who they are and everything they believe
in not just this subject or that like most greedy people do. You might
get this but end up with a lot of that.
September 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
Jeff H
It shows that Republicans are more ideology based than reality
based. They don't do much thinking of their won, they rely on their
leaders to tell them how to think.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
C Dalton
This is an easy one Jack. Republicans are addressing the poor.
They are redistricting and passing laws to limit or remove their
voting rights. They are taking away their right to bargain with the
fat cats, and they are suggesting cuts to all of the programs which
might benefit them all in the hopes that the poor will just fade away.
Out of sight, out of mind. Problem solved.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
MAGDY
It shows that there is a big gap between a marketing statement
("fiscally responsible and the party of the people") and actual
execution reality ("protecting the wealthy and corporations"). Perry
talks the talk but does not walk the talk. He drives poverty up and
real job creation down but clever marketing tells the average Joe he
is one of them the same average Joe that may lose his job to Perry's
policies in the future. Walk your talk or don't talk. Amercia it is
time to wake up.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
Nicholas
This shows that the majority of the people who vote Republican in
these states do not even make enough money to be a Republican. The
Republican party looks out for the wealthiest of citizens, not the
poorest, as evident in the Bush tax cuts. I'm from Louisiana and have
lived in the south the majority of my life. There is a huge dispair
between the rich and poor moreso in the south than in the west,
midwest, and northern states.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
scott
the only way the republicans can keep their vote going is to keep
us "poor and stupid" and unfortunatly it works in these states. "yes
lets keep voting for the same people that keeps us in the lowest
quality living in the U.S. I believe someone very smart once said
"doing something over and over again and expext something diffrent is
plain stupid"
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
Vance-Georgia
Trickle down economics has not worked in the Southern states, nor
has tax cuts for the wealthy, nor has cutting education expenditures
and increasing class sizes, nor has "quasi" segregation of the elite
versus the minorities. Neo-keynsian economics, entrepreneurship,
advanced technology creates JOBS. The National elections will see the
Tea Party votes come home to roost and the Red States if they were not
gerrymandered as my district iswill loose.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
David
It means that Marx was wrong in his conceptualization of Class
Consciousness. Voting in these states is based upon issues such as
religion, gun rights, and the "culture wars," and not on economic
self-interest. In addition, the expectation of wealth (the so-called
American Dream) appears to have a strong hold on voters in these
states. Thus, solidarity by economic class is extraordinarily weak.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
Wayne
With the 10 poorest states being republican, this says that these
state are the least intelligent as well. How else can you explain a
population of people supporting the very party that could care less
about them. Go figure !
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
Jon from Tempe
It says that the Republican trickle down theory of economics that
our country has unfortunately embraced has really harmed this
counttry. It is especially more visible in the red states as those
states have no opposition to these principles. Ronald Reagn ushered in
an era that has nearly destroyed our country. Unfortunately, my party,
the Democrats, has not done a good job in showing the peope that this
economic theory does not work. America is no longer a democracy, it is
a plutonomy. The red states are even more in the direction of
plutonomy because of zero opposition to the Reagan revolution.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
FRANK in Mesa, Az
Jack, what it says is that the Republican party has done some
research on who does and doesn't vote. I would bet anything that a
high percent of people in poverty don't vote. That's why the
republicans can just blow them off.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
CommonSense in California
Well Jack, although the Republican spin machine will never admit
to it, it says what is glaringly obvious: The Republican economic
policies DO work. They work for the rich, because they are designed to
make poor and middle class (soon to be poor) pay the price and carry
the majority of the burden. They don't want to get rid of tax cuts for
corporations or the ultra-rich. Every single time they get into
office, we hear this mantra....and every single time, corporations and
the rich benefit, and thank the rest of us, by shipping US jobs off to
other countries. My question is, what are they going to do when the
entire middle class is poor and there's no one left to foot the bill
for the fat cats?
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
BobP
what is says is, that those living below poverty level think the
DEMS in large part got us in these problems. I reside in a poor city
Cleveland in a state thats gone downhill, why? because of loss of
MANUFACTURING jobs that Ohio depended on. The Repubs are not much
better either. s/BobP, Cleveland
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
Mark, Round Hill, VA
The 10 poorest states are Republican because they can fool most of
the poor most of the time. Let's hope that they can't fool the poor
all of the time.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
Jesse Sanchez
If the poorest states are all Republican then the trickle down
policy inevitably does not work. Policies like this has allowed large
businesses and corrupt politicians to drain these economies of wealth
and prosperity in exchange for greed and poverty.
September 22, 2011 at 5:23 pm |
Parris, Baltimore MD
To me it says that the Republican idiology is a complete and total
failure, not that the Dems have faired much better. There is something
fundamentally wrong with a line of thought that concludes that a tax
code which benefits the ULTRA RICH can benefit the middle and lower
classes as well. America is imploding as a result of the unbridaled
and unchecked greed that was allowed to run wild through almost every
level of our society. Its morning in America, and ain't this hangover
something...
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Douglas Hayes
Thatis a easy answer : The Repelicans are the PROBLEM !
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Maren
Perhaps it says something about the nature of poverty, as opposed
to conservative philosophy. Poor people often don't have access to
information, may not have had access to a descent education, are often
depressed and have likely never had an opportunity to feel "in charge"
of their lives. The generational poor are the perfect audience for the
conservative rationale that they are worthless pawns for "plantation"
owners to move around the board as they see fit. Harsh
authoritarianism is all they've ever known. Republicans. Gotta love
'um. No, really, you have to love them!
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Gary - Woodhaven, Michigan
It says that as far as Wall Street, big business, and the
Republicans are concerned we still have a ways to go until we finally
are competitive with the third world countries in wages and benefits,
Reagan began it and the Bushes did their best to get there, especially
W, but this policy was postponed under Clinton and Obama.
Keep electing these half wit Republicans and we'll get there.
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Laith Gulli, Columbus, IN
This is an example of OPPOSITE POLARITY VOTINGnot happythen grab
the ballot and vote opposite to the current office holdersregardless
of personal party affiliations or feelings-if the voters keep this up
then a true democracy can someday be realized that is controlled by
"we the People."
Laith F. Gulli, Columbus, Indiana
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Morgan - Florida
The Republicans are unconcerned about Southern poverty because
poor blacks will never vote for them and the overwhelming majority of
Southern whites will vote for them regardless of circumstances.
Widespread (especially rural) poverty is an historical condition to
which the South is long accustomed and is therefore a political issue
with significantly less political traction than might be the case
elsewhere.
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Classic
Shocker!!!!!
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
William C. Weaver
I live in Kentucky and we do have a lot of poverty, but proud
people who work hard in a state with a balanced budget. Maybe we just
live in the real world and wealth is pretend for those in deep debt.
Bill in Louisville
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Anne N. Houston, TX
It says Republican policies are essentially class warfare and
racist as well. You might as well throw in sexist, as women of all
races are more likely to live in poverty, especially elderly women.
Rule ONE when dealing with the GOP: If they are accusing others of it
(class warfare, for example), THEY ARE DOING IT AND WANT TO DEFLECT
YOUR ATTENTION FROM THAT FACT!
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Gregg Niemi
Jack, it says that most Americans have lost the capacity to
distinguish between fact and opinion. When they are told that reducing
taxes on the rich will create jobs, they believe it without further
evidence. When they are told that big government is wasting their
money they accept it without noticing what it's wasted on. And when
they hear that brown skinned people are taking their jobs they demand
a fence instead of wondering what kind of jobs those were.
Have the tea partiers noticed that since their guys took over the
Congress the economy has slid back into a recession? No Way - they've
been told that's Obama's fault so who needs evidence.
As long as we let the Republicans keep forcing the idea that
education is intended to help people get jobs, we'll keep producing
people who willingly vote against their own interests. Can you spell
Oligarchy?
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Matt Wayner
Republicans excell at getting people to vote against their own
financial interest. And if that fails, there's always voter
supression.
September 22, 2011 at 5:24 pm |
Vince Hugh
Jack, what's more significant is that the 10 largest and poorest
cities in the USA are controlled by Democrats! You have to break down
why these Republican states are so poor in he south...and that's
because they have the highest percent of minorities and most have low
educational achievements. Get outside of the 'black' areas, and you
see wealth, fine schools, and a highly educated voter. Basically there
are 'two souths'.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Cheryl
It proves that pride does come before destruction. The people with
the most pride and cannot received government aid are those with the
most pride. Donald Trump did not let his pride get in the way of
filing bankruptcy or gaining government aid. The republican party is
currently taking advantage of the pride of people; feeding on their
pride to not take aid yet forgetting their moral fabic of taking care
of the poor, widow and those less than themselve. Did it say how you
treat the least is how you are treating Jesus?
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Darrin from Fort Lauderdale
It means that the Right Wing has successfully duped the "Nascar"
crowd into giving up their economic interests in the name of social
issues for the past 30 years. As long as the Republicans keep up
fear-mongering about abortion, gay rights, gun rights and religion,
the wool will continue to cover the eyes of those least likely and
least educated enough to recognize a political Red Herring when they
see it.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Jon
Way to go Jack! That is a very good point. The poorest states and
usually the most under educated states are Republican. That in itself
should give them a fail for ecnomic policy, the only thing those
Governors know how to do is steal jobs from other states and then
claim they created jobs.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Joyce Grissom, Marshall, TX
It says that the GOP cares only about the rich. They want to take
the country back and erase all educational, technological and social
gain ever accomplished that benefited anyone other than a select group
whose incomes are the top 1%.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Chris in SINY
If the Republicans don't care about the middle class,,why would
they care about the poor?
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Will
I think the other comments here are more enlightening than the
question. This was a loaded question, and the majority of commenters
seemed to have no problem jumping on the bandwagon and demonizing the
Republican party while declaring that Democrats can do no wrong. From
the perspective of somebody who lives in one of these "poor" states, I
don't think it says much about the Republican party at all, to be
honest.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Richard Zuehsow
what does this say,,,, the 10 poorest states,,,,,ten poorest
countrys. they continue to want to dig a hole to get ua out of this
mess. Newt Gringrich rightly compromised with president Clinton in
raising taxes to balance the budget. Need I say more.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Rich Switzer
The GOP wealthy supporters hate the fact that they have OBEY the
minimum wage laws in hiring workers. They hate UNIONS even more. The
poor states are usually "so called right to work" states which always
means lower wages and benefits and big business profits. In 2012 THE
GOP will be making all 50 state poverty states by eliminating unions
and minimum wage laws in the "disguise" of creating JOBS.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Sandy in Easton, PA
Jack, I've mulled this over for a long time and wonder if the poor
people in these states believe they will someday hit the big time and
need the tax breaks for the rich that they seemingly believe in.
Another statistic to consider is the amount of federal aid going to
and revenue coming from these states again, lopsided. They should
thank their lucky stars that some of us (not necessarily politicians)
are working hard to help them survive daily. It seems obvious that
they cannot figure things out.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Peter Mchale
States with complicated and expensive infrastructures are also the
states that produce all the Nation's Wealth and whose populatons pay
the lions share of Federal Tax. The poored states produce no wealth
and pay little tax. Texas being the best example.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Tre Bradley
The south has never truly given up on recapturing the wealth and
power back since the civil war, and how it's feels about it's citizen
that began as there slaves and will never allow any group to achieve
the level of there prosperity without them playing by their rules.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Tom - Cincinnati, OH
It means absolutely nothing! What does mean something is that
virtually all major CITIES are steeped in poverty, decay, and economic
turmoil and all are run by democrat politicians. And that has been the
case for a long, long time.
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Dan Awalt
The "Top 10"...on the bottom, economically, and supporting the
Repubs? It's education and information, Jack, or the lack thereof.
Ignorance allows people in these states to buy into the Republican
snake oil. They actually support the party which harms them the most.
Ignorance surely is bliss!
Dan
Bradenton, Florida
September 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm |
Ralph Nelson
The Republican Party going back to the 1870's has always
represented the rich and big business (50% of the deligates to the
last McCain presidentail convention had incomes over $500,000). Both
of these groups got rich exploiting the poor. There really wasn't a
middle class before FDR. That is his (and labor's) greatest
accomplishment. The nation's poorest states are Repulbican because of
their economic policies of worker exploitation and little support for
the middle class. Note these states are also most likely at the bottom
in education and probably health care. An educated public is the
Republican Party's greatest enemy. So...it is Republican economic
practices.
September 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm |
Bob M. from NY
Why are the Republicans still in charge in the poor states?
Becouse they're taking care of them good old boys who are working and
doing well. If the unemployed were to band together, and become a
force like the Tea Party. Then a new song will be a playing!
September 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm |
Juan in Miami
Line up the data of wealth by state with education by state and
yet get two big RED bars.
September 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm |
Steven Armstrong
It actually scares me to see how important it is to Republicans
that we, as a nation, fail. They want, so badly, to be able to say
that it is because we elected a black president. They want to say that
it's because we object to states rights. They want to say it's because
we allow women's rights. They want to say it's because we don't pray
enough. They want to say it's because we don't want war. They want to
say it's because we don't practice their weird form of patriotism.
They want to say that we should expect a miracle. We should go to
church. We should surrender to the capital accumulaters they call
job-creators and that we should ignore the class warfare that we are
greviously losing. Don't call it that. They would attack.
September 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm |
Jim-Charlotte NC
Jack
For 90 years these people voted for Democrats because they llost
the Civil War and blamed Republicans. Then in the 60's they all
converted to the Republican Party because Johnson signed into law the
Civil Rights act. What can you say about a bunch of people who harbor
such resentment that they will cut off their nose to spite their face
September 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm |
Stella from Chicago
It says that the Republicans don't care at all about people &
poverty, they exploit them, they keep them in poverty & ignorance in
order to keep their millions and to get more & more rich. It's a
dictatorship like communism or fascism no
difference.
September 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm |
bluebill
What it says Jack is that the GOP agenda of the past 10-12 years
creates more poverty. The fact that "Poverty" has not been nentioned
in any of the recent GOP Debates also speaks loudly that the new GOP
could care less about poor people. Poor people are not their
constituents, do not fund their campaigns, and often cannot afford the
time or transportation to vote. My suggestion to fix this is 1)
Develop a system where people can vote on-line. 2) In order to help
reduce the defict, Charge a 50% tax on all political campaign ads. The
Rethuglican GOP's like Boehner, Cantor, and Co. seem to have endless
moneys for campaign ads, and yet no moneys for the people who really
need help.
September 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm |
charles wightman
these people do not vote....if 100% of the eligible voters
excercized that right, the republicans would be out of business....
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Wayne
Jack,
With the 10 poorest states being republican, this calls into
question the intelligence of the people voting republican. How else
can you explain a population of people supporting the very party that
could care less about them. Go figure !
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Paris in NY
The Republicans have and will always be the party of the rich.
They have never cared about the poor people of this country because
the poor can't afford to hire lobbyist to bribe Congress. It's hard to
believe these guys can't see the pain and suffering their selfish
behavior are causing to decent hard working Americans. We really need
to overhaul the whole political system so they work just as hard for
their money as we do ours.
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Jac from Montana
I live in Montana but we have very few tea partiers here.
I think its because the Deep South is mainly poorly educated
and deeply depressed. They don't know what they are
doing.
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
david bidlack
dave b. lansing michigan great question jack. i have wondered for
years why a poor state that could not even get by without revenue
sharing of federal dollars would vote for a party that wants all
federal revenue to go to defense only with all states being on their
own! states rights would in the long run help states like michigan
with a much less powerful federal goverment. NO RAIN IN TEXAS ? guess
which states are in the middle of this countries fresh water reserves?
just keep voting for smaller goverment dummies and see what the price
of water will be a gallon in our future?
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Scott Jackson
The GOP does a few things very, very well. They are masters of
fear. They are also masters of the shell game. They get you to pay
attention to things that are really not all that important get you
in a lather about it, and blame the other side for it. While that is
happening, they are lining their pockets, while undermining anything
and everything that does not directly tie to their agenda. It's the
pied piper syndrome, and unfortunately there are way too many lemmings
willing to go off the cliff for them (not with them).
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Kelly Vista, CA
The poor have statisticlly low voting rates and are also more
likely to be victims of deceptive voting practices, such as
gerrymandering. When a person is simply struggling to feed their
family, politics is not what is important to them. I also think poor
education & a general feeling of helplessness add to low voting rates
among the poor.
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Brendan
The is quite revealing! The GOP always speaks about cutting the
poverty alleviation (entitlement) programs.Perhaps the impoverished
GOP supporters in those states have not yet figured out that the
republicans debate with democrats is primarily about the GOP's
insistence to switch off their life support machine programs.
September 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Angela
This shows that the focus of the Republicans on "job creators" far
exceeds any concern they may have for those who are unemployed or
underemployed, i.e. those of us who are really suffering. Just look at
the programs they want to cut-which is pretty much anything that helps
those who can't help themselves (social security, planned parenthood).
People need to open their eyes and start voting for their own
interests, not the interests of the "job creators" because all they
care about is padding their own pockets.
September 22, 2011 at 5:28 pm |
Harry Bolton
The Republicans don't care about the poor, yet they are the party
of the "Christians" I can't comprehend this.
September 22, 2011 at 5:28 pm |
LA Belle
It says that's why the Repbulicans are fighting so hard to have
their way until they succeed in putting all states in the same
category. Everyone POOR without a pot to piss in.
Ruby (Louisiana)
September 22, 2011 at 5:28 pm |
Ana
It says the people in these states are voting against their
interests. They are probably worried they will be taxed too much when
they win the lottery.
September 22, 2011 at 5:28 pm |
Randy
It shows just how ignorant and uneducated the generations were who
got this country into this wealth worship really are. Election after
election the grey hairs kept putting "good ol' boys" in office who
couldn't care less about them and their hardships. In 2008 they had
been ripped off by their fellow WASPS so much they turned to a black
man to bail them out. Knowing the ignorance of their cattle, the
oligarchs had bought him off 4 years earlier. The game is RIGGED for
the rich and corporations, the only thing the electorate can do now is
recognize the real enemy and literally set out to destroy their power.
And lastly, be vigilant about keeping your eyes on these same insanely
greedy people who have a crackhead type sickness for money.
September 22, 2011 at 5:28 pm |
Don from Florida
Jack its very simple The republicans philosofy is the rich get
richer and the poor stay poor.
September 22, 2011 at 5:28 pm |
Victoria in MS
It just shows you the IQ level of people living in those states.
It does not make sense for poor americans who depend on government aid
to be Republican.
September 22, 2011 at 5:28 pm |
mike longwwod,fla.
Jack, I'm from the south where most of these states are. I'm
white, and in my 40's. Unfortunately it means the old way of biggoted
thinking still exsists. a vote against the democrats, is a vote
against minorities. This is the plain truth of the matter. Even if
these dumb, poor whites vote against their own interests. It means
stupid people still vote. They've been brainwashed by their own
families from generation to generation, into voteing against their own
interest. Unfortunately bill maher is right on this subject, when he
says, he doesn't wish america was stupid, it just is...
September 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm |
Corey
Jack, it says that people are party loyalists even when it
jeopardizes their well being. Proof that people aren't voting for
candidates that actually care about them. It's all about party
affiliation..........plain and simple.
September 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm |
Judy, Earth
Poverty = poor education = ignorance = easily duped = voting
republican when it's so obviously against their best interests. No
wonder republicans are so reluctant to aid education in any way.
September 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm |
JT
It tells me that the Republicans don't really have a plan. As long
as President Obama is out of the picture, they don't care. The
Republicans will say and do anything. The bad part about it is, some
of the very people that vote for them don't want to hear the truth
anyway.
September 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm |
Maryann from Concord, NH
Hi Jack,
Are you kidding? These are the same types of people who fought to
keep slavery even though they were probably (99.99%) never going to
own a slave they just wanted to keep their options open. They simply
have no clue as to the consequences of their actions.
September 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm |
Randy
It says that a lot of voters in these here United States vote
against their own best interest in order to stop abortion, gays from
marrying, and the right to own a gun, if they can afford one.
September 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm |
Ben Miller
And I believe all those states make their budget. The question
should be "What does it say about those Democratic states that are not
making their budget and are experiencing large cuts and shortfalls
like New York, California, Illinois and Michigan?"
September 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm |
Donald Wines
It says to me that not only are they the poorest states, the
inhabitants are among the least intelligent. How can you continue to
be misled by your so-called Republican leaders who are doing nothing
about the high rate of poverty, but yet you continue to vote for them.
Wake up! Vote them out and vote in somebody who will improve the
situation. Does that mean vote for the Democrats? Listen to and
examine the messages spoken by all sides and vote accordingly.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Michael in Albuquerque, NM
Republicans don't believe in paying workers. Republicans don't
believe in Education. Republicans don't believe in infrustructure of
any kind.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Phil in Oakland
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Republicans* (but were
too seduced by their Big Lie to ask)
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Adam from Florida
Basically, Democrats are always just slightly too liberal with the
spending of our money. Did the $865 billion stimulus plan work? Yeah,
for all of about 1.5 years. So should we entrust our money yet again
to the Democrats? I think not. Get rid of minimum wage, and you will
see a huge surge in employment. That's just simple economics: high
quantity of jobs supplied with a high price floor will inevitably
leave you with a low quantity demanded for those high priced jobs.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Rick Rivard
It's called Education "Stupid" without doing the home work....Get
the Fed's out of the Education field and maybe the Education system in
all the States, and specifically the "Red's" would improve. Note:
Minority Education is and has been per-centage wise, a thorn in the
South and even the NorthRe- Michigan etc...EDUCATE, GRADUUATE,
instead of Incarcerate.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
JT, Missouri
It tells me that the Republicans don't really have a plan. As long
as President Obama is out of the pitcure, they don't care. The
Republicans will say and do anything. The bad part about it is, some
of the very people that vote for them don't want to hear the truth
anyway.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Janna @ Wash DC
Republicans in congress are mega-millionaires, what do they know
about poverty? The Republicans have long-taken from the poor and will
continue to do so; Republicans take billions of dollars from numerous
programs to pay for their own [welfare] ; not the people's welfare ;
the corporate and bailout welfare.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Paul Scott
For some inexplicable reason a majority of people living in
poverty vote time and again to elect their oppressors, the GOP.
Perhaps this results from one of the root causes of poverty; low
education levels. You say Republicans believe their economic agenda is
the only way to create jobs. I say "What agenda?" If the tea party has
their way this country will shortly be in a depression that will have
people longing for the 1930's to return. Then, to fix the problem,
those suffering the most will vote for Rick Perry. God help us.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
HJ in Colorado
One of the great mysteries of life is why the poorest of the poor,
the least educated, most unemployed and underemployed - the very
people who need the type of government help the Republicans want to
eliminate - either don't vote or vote for the party that has the least
concern for their plight. It reinforces my belief that you can never
underestimate the ignorance of the American voter; and as long as that
continues the poorest states will remain Republican.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Mike in Texas
It means even the poorest us citizens would rather live down south
than up north with you fat cats.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Jim
It means that Republicans are full of ____. They don't care about
anyone but their rich friends. They are big supporters of business
which has outsourced our country. Tax breaks to business that
outsource jobs just seems like a slap in the face to America. Business
is waiting to invest their cash till sales improve. How id that going
to happen when the majority of jobs we have left are fast food jobs!
Decreased sales, outsourced and layoffs= less taxes. Less taxes cause
government layoffs. Meaning even less sales. This cycle has to end.
There are millions of people in this region that would love to work in
an auto plant for $15 an hour. Why ship these jobs to Mexico, Asia or
else where? I understand how the unions have ruined the North of the
USA but there are plenty of places in these states with right to work
laws that would love jobs with health insurance and retirement. At
least 29% of the children in my NC community live in poverty. So
Republicans who is Patriotic, people who would love to work but can't
find a job or you who continue to protect the wealthy and allow
companies to outsource jobs?
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Mark, Billings MT
It says that national democratic party needs to move more to the
center. Montana usually goes red in federal elections, but
conservative democrats do well in state elections. Our current
governor is a "blue dog" and many here wish he could run for a third
term.
September 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm |
Carol Ann Faulkner
So called "Christian" candidates only seem to cite their
Christianity about all matters sexual. They neglect to note that
Christ relentlessly preached in the Gospels about helping the poor and
those in need. It is complete and utter hypocrisy to be all for the
wealthy and against improving things for the poor, and then boast
about your Christianity. Its disgusting politics and nothing more.
September 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
Donald Owens
It says that this is the Bible belt and most of those whose vote
vote one issue, Abortion. When these conservative Christian
Republicans realize there is more to this world than abortion then
they will be on the road to recovery. It is like being an alcoholic or
hooked on drugs, until you see the error of your ways you are doomed
to failure. Poor people follow those who they perceive to be smarter
than them and the Republicans play this card every two years. The
south has the resources to be prosperous but only those with
connections get the jobs.
September 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
Joel Moreno
It confirms my fear that the Republican Party uses religion,
patriotism, and people's own fears as means to achieve their agenda.
The agenda, to help and maintain the rich while also allowing
government to enable them to become even richer. Creating laws that
help the very rich. Just like third world countries, brainwash the
population especially the less educated and you will succeed. It's not
an accident that most countries in Latin America keep their poor
uneducated. The Republicans would love nothing more for this country.
They are on their way!!!
September 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
Tammy Hackley
It says that most of the people in those states are not very
bright. I can remember driving through the streets of Ga and seeing a
with part of the roof falling in. There was a elderly couple sitting
on the porch. They had a Mccain/Palin sign in their front yard. It
boggles my mind how the most disadvantaged Americans claim to be
Republican. Republicans only care about big business and the rich. You
can only respect the fact that they don't even try to hide it. If you
are poor, the Republican party is going to do nothing to help you, if
anything they will continue to kick you while you are down by removing
funds from programs that can help you so they gave give more tax
breaks to big businesses and wealthy Americans. People you need to
wake up!!
September 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
Manny
It's funny how Republicans are always saying, "lets get rid of
Entilements!! ", or cuts, cuts, and even more cuts in spending. The
people living in poverty that vote them are not realizing that these
cuts will effect them even more. If you are living under poverty, why
are you voting for a party that is clearly protecting the upperclass.
It's time for these states to get the hint. This my friends is class
warfare!
September 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
Bob in FL
Jack, get to the root of the problem by looking at the
demographics. The liberal biased question doesn't speak to the root
cause. Also, get the UAW and the NLRB out of South Carolina.
September 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
Eric Gray
I believe it shows that the republicans talk a big game without
being able to back it up. It proves that they can't pull the country
out of this depression or create jobs. The republicans had their 8
years to dig us our grave putting us in 2 wars without preparation or
support. They didn't raise taxes they didn't have the support of the
UN. Putting us in the astronomical debt and miserable economy that we
are currently dealing with. Give Obama time to clean up the most
disastrous mess that anyone has ever inherited responsibility of.
September 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
Michelle
Non poor person oppinion: The truly poor have more on their minds
than getting to the poll to vote. Do they have transportation? No! Can
they afford a taxi ride to the voting booth? No! Are they educated?
No. Are their schools failing? Yes. Are they promised things that
never come happen? Yes. I live in NC. However, I live in a middle
class community in Raleigh. Are there poor? Yes. Do I see it every
day? No. Do I live in their neighborhoods? No. Do they vote for even
the very things that their children will benefit from such a new BOE
members who dismantled the diversity policy of our county? No. Why? We
can keep guessing, but the fact is if you don't live in a poor
community and are not poor it's just speculation. Why is it poor
African families who live in Africa put more of an importance on
education-willing to walk miles to get one compared to our own poor
population in the US? Because, other than the occasional food drop,
they get nothing for being poor in Africa; and here in America we aid
the poor to stay poor. Maybe once their funds are cut they'll start
showing up to the polls.
September 22, 2011 at 5:32 pm |
Charlie in Indy
The ten poor red states are also So called right to work (for less
states) as is Texas . Their citizens are so indoctrinated they are
like chickens that trust Col. Sanders with their futures. They are
poor because their corporate owned politicians are doing the business
to them for their right wing billionaire campaign funding supporters.
who also support the religious groups that indoctrinate the people
every Sunday.
September 22, 2011 at 5:32 pm |
Donna in Allen, TX
Southerners take their religious and social conservatism very
seriously. It's ironic that policies forwarded by the Democrats would
benefit them far more than anything Republicans offer, but they would
never align themselves with the party that favors gay rights, women's
rights, etc.
September 22, 2011 at 5:32 pm |
Michael
This is tangible evidence of just what kind of effect that
republican policies have on real economies. They have demonstrated
over and over again their determination to enhance, empower and
encourage the rich in contrast to the poor, widowed, fatherless
members of society. My question is, "how do they keep getting away
with it"? They will yet politically win their state. When will justice
roll down like a river and righteous judgement as a mighty stream?
September 22, 2011 at 5:32 pm |
Sarah Carlson
Defining "poverty' as only those families of 4, for example, who
make about $22, 000 or less doesn't take into account how difficult it
is to live on $25,000 or $30,000. Defining poverty relative to the
national average income paints a more accurate picture of how many
people in the U.S. really are poor, but the U.S. is one of the few
countries with a fixed poverty rate, intended I believe to obscure the
magnitude of the problem.. We do NOT live in a land of equal
opportunity. If you are born poor, you will most likley remain poor in
this country. GDP does not correlate with social indicator
improvements, which have been consistently low in the U.S. despite
percieved monetary gains. Republican or Democrat, why are so many
people in all of those states poor? Why are the rich getting richer
and the middle class getting poorer? How can we as a nation not care
about our own people?
September 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm |
Harry
Ill tell you what it says.
it tells me Republicans care more about corporate crooks that back
offshoring profits overseas to keep from paying taxes while the middle
class pays thier fair sher and struggle to put food on table because
of job losses. Republicans have always backed tax breaks for the
wealthy while at the same time place the tax burdens on the backs of
the poor. They call themselves conservatives today because the
Republican party lost to the right wing Tea Party. Republicans bank on
the fact that most poor folks are uneducated about politics and will
not get to the voting booths to make a change. Most labor jobs now
gone overseas, Republicans also know that the power of the once strong
unions the voice of the working people have vanished. Now the working
poor and middle class are at the mercie of the rich or top 10% backed
by most Tea party Republicans that carry most of the voting weight.
The poverty striken and poor don't stand a chance in any of these red
states unless these people are finially educated on politics and
understand thier voting power .
Harry from Georgia
September 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm |
HH in GA
Look at the condition of these states and you can see where the
rest of the country is headed if Republicans gain control in 2012.
Republicans prey on the weak and the politically apathetic who live in
a state of false consciousness. Wake up everyone! Republicans are only
for protecting their own. I once heard it referred to as the Iron Law
of Oligarchy.
September 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm |
richard
I can tell you this. You con not have 10 babys when you can't
afford one. Who pays... Case closed.
September 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm |
tom
Jack,why do people in these states even elect republicans?I guess
they cant afford to gas up their cars to get to the polls.This country
will eventually end up like the middle east.Class Warfare is ongoing
in politics and one day on the streets.Wake up Republicans or you will
bring about the means to your own end.Dog eat dog world is it not!
September 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm |
Sotee
It says that Republicans are proponents of disingenuous doctrines
like the trickling down of wealth when in reality the rich tend to get
richer and have little or no regard for the poor. Whoever is poor from
these states and votes Republican evidently has no idea or cares about
how the Republicans feel about their wellbeing and prosperity and is
self destructive to themselves and the nation.
September 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm |
Jake Zollner
This only proves the fact that Republicans are interested in
maintaining a large lower class to do all of their manual labor, a
smaller middle class of foremen and managers to keep the lower class
in line, and a very small elite class whom rake in the global profits.
September 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm |
THOMAS, CHICAGO
Lover of Mississippi, it is poor because they attract job creators
that pay the lowest wages they can.
They are republicans because they are blinded by their prejudices
and inferior education.
PS. POOR OR NOT I AM MOVING TO MISSISSIPPI NEXT YEAR,
September 22, 2011 at 5:34 pm |
darko pejovic
hi jack.i would like to explain in my opinion why the poorest
states vote republican.Most of the poorest people believe in the
morals and famely before the dollar, that is why most of them are
poor,and the republicans cash on that to bennefit for themselfs by
playing dirty politics making them think that they are fighting for
that.
September 22, 2011 at 5:34 pm |
bobby wong
There is something strange going on. I can see why Donald Trump
would want to vote for the Republican Party because the party can keep
him wealthy. I don't see how the middle class and the poor would
support the Republican Party. Job creation by cutting tax may work in
the 80s. But today's global economy, companies are likely to hire in
China and India.
September 22, 2011 at 5:35 pm |
Br. Lawrence
In the heart of the matter, the answer says that Republicans
appeal to and hold close, the Poverty Consciousness a state of mind
that declares, "I can never get enough, need more, and there's never
enough to go around!" This is the reason impoverished and wealthy
people can both be unhappy, regardless their finances. This directly
opposes the Abundance Consciousness which states, "The Universe
provides all I need, always, when I am responsible for myself." These
people are usually quite happy indeed. From this you can draw your own
conclusions about these states.
September 22, 2011 at 5:35 pm |
Marquis
It's classic GOP ideology... "All for the rich, to hell with the
poor." After all if people are poor it's there own fault, right?
September 22, 2011 at 5:35 pm |
Mark from Voorhees, NJ
It means that advertising paid for by the oil companies that you
see every five minutes, and other fake patriotism garbage works. They
get the people who are the least informed to vote against their own
interests. Nice job Chamber of Commerce! Thanks Koch brothers!
September 22, 2011 at 5:35 pm |
Corey
Jack, it says that people are party loyalists even when it
jeopardizes their well being. Proof that people aren't voting for
candidates that actually care about them. It's all about ole fashion
party affiliation.......plain and simple.
September 22, 2011 at 5:36 pm |
Donald Wines
It says to me that not only are they the poorest states, the
inhabitants are not using their best judgement in selecting leaders
who will improve their conditions. How can you continue to be misled
by leaders who are doing nothing about the high rate of poverty, but
yet you continue to vote for them because of party lines?
Wake up! Vote them out and vote in somebody who will improve the
situation. Does that mean vote for the other party? Listen to and
examine the messages spoken by all sides and vote accordingly.
September 22, 2011 at 5:36 pm |
Katherine in Harvey, LA
What does it say? Volumes!!! Foremost, it says that the
Republicans and the Democrats need to put party affiliation/loyalty
aside, and truly focus on what is the best steps to get America out of
the downward spiral. We have been losing ground (eduation,
entrepreneurship, innovations, world leadership, manufacturing, and
the list goes on infinitum) on the international front for over 20
years. This is not a problem caused or heightened by the Obama
administration (he would have to be a diety or a demon to have causee
the decline in the few years that he has been in office; and he is
not; he is just a man trying to do a job). So my message to all
politicians and business people, stop the partisanship and let's
restore our great country so that we and our children can achieve our
full potential; and, by the grace of God, prosper and sustain
ourselves.
September 22, 2011 at 5:36 pm |
Frank-Birmingham, AL
Poor states, uneducated or undereducated people make poor
decisions.
Get rid of them immigrants. Gay people marry? No fags allowed. Sex
education to prevent teen age pregnancy, not on my dime. Class
warfare, you bet. What hedge fund manager or Wall Street banker
doesn't want privatized profit with socialized risk.
Don't study history. The wealthy would never do this
intentionally. . . again.
September 22, 2011 at 5:36 pm |
kathy from peoria az
It means nothing has changed with Republicans. They are for the
rich and always will be. If they really cared about the American
people they would set aside their differences and work with the
President at all costs but that will never happen. The republicans
have forgotten they are the ones that got us in this mess but keep
blaming President Obama. Just like a spoiled child who will blame
everyone else but themselves. What bothers me is that people buy into
this bologna that republicans dish out.
September 22, 2011 at 5:36 pm |
Larry in Houston
Jack I've read the majority of these comments on here. Why do
you think I'm down here in Houston ? If you read the comments from NC
SKIPBO & Greg in Arkansas , you will see why Perry has gotten to be
Governor for the 3rd time. The republicans have enough money to spend
on Billboards / Bumper stickers / radio station & T.V. ads and have a
"calling office" in every city / town / & county in the Whole State.
When the mexicans see the pics on those bumper stickers & billboards &
hear their radio station ads including putting ads in every newspaper
in every county & town, they don't know who they are actually running
against, so they figure the only one that is running for office is the
person that they see and hear about.
September 22, 2011 at 5:36 pm |
george Granger
if you look deeper ,you will find any even more interesting
statistic,because most of the poorest states are republican(and tea
party leaning) most of the federal money for social programs go to red
states.for the poor.You add in that most FEMA involved disasters
"seem" to happen in red states(south and southeast) you have any even
llarger disperportionate amount of federal money going in, to red
states ,than blue. I dont understand all the hypocrisy on the part of
the red sates congressional leaders and the fact that the people of
these states continue to elect the same corporate ,trickle down
coporate -, except for the obvious that all the populations in red
states being in poverty and probably uneducated and ignorant,dont
understand, that the very people trying to screw them they continue to
vote in! thank you respectfully george w granger los olivos california
September 22, 2011 at 5:37 pm |
Discouraged in Colorado
This is not surprising, because the average American will not take
the time to gather facts before following a particular party. I left
the GOP because they no longer represent the interest of the American
people. Big business is taking advantage of groups like the Tea Party
as toadies while they continue to collect corporate welfare (and the
Tea Party continues to push a dangerous political agenda). This idea
to provide "Job Creators" with tax breaks that are not working is
ridiculous. The failed policies of the GOP has had a lasting affect in
America as we continue to suffer from poor leadership. The actions
along by congress especially those in the GOP is a prime example of
why Americans are suffering. "Party affiliation should not be more
important than being an American" Even though the people in the 10
poorest states are suffering, you can rest assure that they will cast
a vote not in favor of improvement, but that of party loyalty. Sad!
September 22, 2011 at 5:37 pm |
J
It says that stats are meaningless. California is the biggest blue
state out there, and it has piled up absurd levels of debt and other
financial hardships.
Sure the average Californian's income is probably higher than some
of the other states listed, but that's just a microcosm of the country
as a whole, where a few small % own the vast majority of the wealth.
The state as a whole is about to crumble financially.
Maybe if Kentucky had as much prime beachfront property as Cali,
they'd attract movie stars and such, to bring up the average.
September 22, 2011 at 5:37 pm |
Sean in Canada
I think low taxes and balanced budgets = less spending on welfare
therefore putting more people below the poverty line.
Good for the tax payer but hard on the poor.
September 22, 2011 at 5:37 pm |
Angie, MD
Unfortunately, many republicans, especially the poor and
uneducated, are to ignorant to realize that the only people the
Republicans look out for, besides themselves,are the wealthy, the
Lobbyists, Big Business, Oil comp. etc. Republicans and Democrats
alike should all be ashamed of themselves for the way they have
behaved and their self-serving ways. They are an embarrassment to all
of us. They are a disgrace and things need to change drasticly. We
need to eliminate this two pary system, it has turned into a
playground fight with a bunch of children,
September 22, 2011 at 5:38 pm |
Carol - Chattanooga, Tn.
I live in Tennessee and the bumper sticker I saw yesterday says it
all "I'll take my religion, my guns and my money, you can keep the
change.'" The people who keep sending Republicans to Washington in
Tennessee don't care about anything more than those three things. Do
they care about jobs? Well, maybe, but not as much as they care about
social issues. I don't know where they get their money, but I would
guess that a lot of it comes from the government in the form of well
fare. So much for smaller government. They continue to vote against
themselves and don't even understand what you are talking about if you
point that out. I think they must check their brains at the door but
not their guns. No, never those.
September 22, 2011 at 5:39 pm |
JohnC
Jack, I lived in VA all my 45 yrs. of life, it don't suprise me
when it come to the Republicans and the state they represent. They
never cared about the poor and never will. they get on TV and talk
like they care about the poor and the welfare of their kids, but their
kids don't go to public schools and don't know what its like to be
poor in my opinion. If they have a plan to get the american people
back to work, prove it and stop attacting President Obama for
everything that he's trying to do. We need unity from both parties,how
can we do for other countries and not take care of the American
people. Poor is Poor, it does'nt care what color or race you are.
September 22, 2011 at 5:40 pm |
Amy
You're information about Red States being the poorest doesn't hold
water. Athens, Georgia has just been designated as one of the poorest
cities in the U. S. The University of Georgia and many other prominent
businesses are located in Athens. Political parties has nothing to do
with state by state poverty. It's location, location, location.
September 22, 2011 at 5:40 pm |
Byron
The culprit is the influence of Evangelism in Republican states
and Democrats threaten to sever the connection of church and state.
These churches rob their followers and coerce them into voting
Republican regardless of economic outlook and poverty, but rather
based on social issues such as abortion and homosexuality.
