Leonard Pitts Jr.: If GOP is so right, why are red states so far behind?

[applegrove]

Leonard Pitts Jr.: If GOP is so right, why are red states so far behind?

By LEONARD PITTS JR. at the Miami Herald/McClatchy DC
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/09/03/238428_leonard-pitts-jr-if-gop-is-so.html?rh=1

"SNIP........................

It is also worth noting that PolitiFact's endorsements of Occupy Democrats' claims come with multiple caveats. In evaluating the statement about 97 of the 100 poorest counties being red, for instance, PolitiFact reminds us that red states tend to have more rural counties and rural counties tend to have lower costs of living. It also points out that a modest income in rural Texas may actually give you greater spending power than the same income in Detroit. So comparisons can be misleading.

Duly noted. But the starkness and sheer preponderance of the numbers are hard to ignore. As of 2010, according to the Census Bureau, Connecticut, which has not awarded its electoral votes to a Republican presidential candidate since 1988, had a per capita income of $56,000, best in the country, while Mississippi, which hasn't gone Democrat since 1976, came in at under $32,000 - worst in the country. At the very least, stats like these should call into question GOP claims of superior economic policy.

Yet, every election season the party nevertheless makes those claims. It will surely do so again this fall. So it seems fair to ask: Where are the numbers that support the assertion? Why is Texas only middling in terms of per capita income? Why is Mississippi not a roaring engine of economic growth? How are liberal Connecticut and Massachusetts doing so well?

It seems to suggest Republican claims are, at best, overblown. If that's not the case, I'd appreciate it if some Republican would explain why. Otherwise, I have another earnest, but pointed question for my Democratic friends:

How in the world do they get away with this?



..........................SNIP"

[BlueJazz]

1. I've used those facts on many occasions when defending Democratic policies.

Most republicans, when forced to see this reality usually either try change the subject or do the proverbial
"Deer in the headlights" face.
Reminds me of when my nephew (10year old) stayed over at my house and I came into the kitchen at 2:30 AM and caught him eating
the chocolate ice cream.

I said "Damn, nephew...you sitting there eating ice cream and don't offer me any"
We both laughed.

[freshwest]

2. Because Republicanism, like Capitalism, is a Faith-Based Religion. And a few other things I'll skip.

[applegrove]

3. That is it exactly.

[global1]

4. The Repubs Keep The Red States Behind On Purpose So.....

they could put the blame on the government failing the people so they could get the people of these Red states to vote for them to minimize government.

It's a big circle jerk.

[sheshe2]

5. Nah, could not be true...

It seems to suggest Republican claims are, at best, overblown.

Oh wait, it is true!

[Scuba]

6. Republicans are wrong about everything, always. Why won't the liberal media would call them on it?

[Mr.Bill]

7. Republicans run for office

on the premise that government doesn't work, then they get elected and prove it.

[MannyGoldstein]

8. Tribulations designed by The Lord

To test their faith in Ayn Rand economic policies.

[onecaliberal]

9. 3 words

Corporate Media Liars.

[Ed Suspicious]

10. This is the question indeed.

How in the world do they get away with this?

[tblue37]

12. Propaganda works, and corporations control the MSM. nt

[JDPriestly]

11. K&R.

[Enthusiast]

13. This illustrates how extremely one sided the media is.

The media would never cast Republican policies in a negative light. This is how they get away with Bullshit Lies®.

[IronLionZion]

14. Their policy is for lower wages

they don't try to hide it, many of them are openly for lower wages. What they lie about is their reason for it. They claim lower wages will create more jobs if you think its a zero sum game where someone has to lose for someone else to gain. Their real reasons is they like to exploit cheap labor and believe that a good chunk of society should be kept down so they can feel superior to those people.

Conservatives and liberals have wildly different definitions for middle class and also for small business.

[ncjustice80]

15. I long for the day the GOP is destroyed.