If Republican Ideology Is So Great, Why Are So Many of Their States Poor?

 

By Allen Clifton

 

It’s always been something that’s confounded me. Republicans talk in length about the greatness of Republican economic ideology, and how it’s the only thing that can bring our country to greatness.

 

But outside of Texas, what strongly Republican state is a highly desirable place in which to live? And even in Texas, where I live, every major city votes for Democrats in major elections.

 

Now, I can already hear the Republicans bashing California. California is a very liberal state, and trust me I know it has its problems, but let’s not forget it had a Republican governor during the majority of the Bush years—you know, when it faced such terrible financial woes.

But when you look at states like Louisiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Kansas, West Virginia, South Carolina and Mississippi—these are very poor states. They’re simply not that highly desirable to live in (I’m not saying they’re terrible, and I’m sure there are a lot of great places and people in them, but facts are facts).

For this article I’ll focus on one of the “most Republican” states in the country–Mississippi.

For all the “greatness” of Republican ideology, let’s take a look at Mississippi:

• Ranked last in education
• Took in more federal dollars (when adjusted for how much they paid out) than almost any other state in the country
• Ranked dead last for median family income
• Ranked near the top for rate of divorce
• Ranked last for percentage of citizens with health insurance
• Ranked dead last for average life expectancy
• Ranked first for percentage of people living below the poverty line
• Ranked first for infant mortality rate

http://www.forwardprogressives.com/if-republican-ideology-is-so-great-why-are-so-many-of-their-states-poor/