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For several years a meme has been circulating among Liberals pointing out that blue states contribute more to the Federal government than red states do, with most red states taking in more Federal money than they give back. This of course is misleading, since most of the wealth in this country is concentrated in highly populated cities in blue states. It's also misleading because it's not an examination of what individuals take out of the system, but what the Government spends within various states across the board.
This article from USA Today compiled data showing which states had the highest per capita expenditures for every type of government-provided benefit and blue states top the list and red states made up most of the bottom 10. New Yorkers lead pack in government benefits - USATODAY.com
Top 10 - Most dependent on government aid
1 New York
2 West Virginia
3 Rhode Island
4 Maine
5 Pennsylvania
6 Massachusetts
7 Vermont
8 Kentucky
9 Michigan
10 Connecticut
Bottom 10 - Least dependent on government aid
41 South Dakota
42 Nebraska
43 Wyoming
44 Idaho
45 Georgia
46 Texas
47 Nevada
48 Virginia
49 Colorado
50 Utah
For the most part, the difference between the states in the middle (11-40) isn't a huge margin, but it does illustrate that on a per-capita basis, people who live in blue states are just as likely to depend on the government than those in red states.
Since the bubble burst there is less revenue to states.
Those with the most welfare programs haven't cut back so where else are they going to get their funding except for Uncle Sam ?
The tables are turning. Denial is thick among us. But the denial cannot go on indefinitely as we see from what state governments are trying to pass.
Of course, this doesn't negate the fact that blue states contribute more to the Federal government than red states do. It just says that per capita, blue states use the more services, per capita -- but they also pay more, per capita, than red states into the federal government to get those services. The net is still that red states get more services, for what they pay in, than blue states do.
A: "Look at this, blue states tend to pay more in taxes than they get in federal benefits!"
B: "But look here, blue states tend to receive more dollars per person in federal benefits."
A: "Did you completely miss the point? I'm comparing taxes paid to benefits received. Yes the blue states receive more dollars, but they more than make up for it in federal taxes paid. It is a net loss of dollars from blue states to the feds, while it is a net gain of dollars to the red states from the feds. And, thus, the federal government transfers money from (mostly) red states to (mostly) blue states."
Of course, this doesn't negate the fact that blue states contribute more to the Federal government than red states do. It just says that per capita, blue states use the more services, per capita -- but they also pay more, per capita, than red states into the federal government to get those services. The net is still that red states get more services, for what they pay in, than blue states do.
Again, this is largely due to the fact that most of the richest people and the highest salaries are in big cities of blue states. People earn more in blue states because there are more opportunities, but the cost of living is higher. Higher wages will result in more federal taxes coming out of that state.
Most blue states have larger populations too, so say the Government has a mile of Federal highway it has to maintain. In New Jersey, you would essentially have far more people "paying" for that mile of highway compared to the same mile of highway in Montana, so the Federal expense per capita to Montana is far higher.
Though it's not like Federal highways running through flyover red states don't benefit people in blue states. It's how produce makes it's way from California to the east coast. The biggest national parks are in red states. The majority of military bases are in red states too. This is largely because land in red states is far cheaper.
For several years a meme has been circulating among Liberals pointing out that blue states contribute more to the Federal government than red states do, with most red states taking in more Federal money than they give back. This of course is misleading, since most of the wealth in this country is concentrated in highly populated cities in blue states. It's also misleading because it's not an examination of what individuals take out of the system, but what the Government spends within various states across the board.
This article from USA Today compiled data showing which states had the highest per capita expenditures for every type of government-provided benefit and blue states top the list and red states made up most of the bottom 10. New Yorkers lead pack in government benefits - USATODAY.com
Top 10 - Most dependent on government aid
1 New York
2 West Virginia
3 Rhode Island
4 Maine
5 Pennsylvania
6 Massachusetts
7 Vermont
8 Kentucky
9 Michigan
10 Connecticut
Bottom 10 - Least dependent on government aid
41 South Dakota
42 Nebraska
43 Wyoming
44 Idaho
45 Georgia
46 Texas
47 Nevada
48 Virginia
49 Colorado
50 Utah
For the most part, the difference between the states in the middle (11-40) isn't a huge margin, but it does illustrate that on a per-capita basis, people who live in blue states are just as likely to depend on the government than those in red states.
Oh, but you know the liberals are going to find a way to punch holes in all this don't you. I haven't read the responses yet, just got home a few minutes ago.
The original argument is wrong. It's not which state is most "red" or "blue", I dispute that those distinctions even exist, but which states have the oldest and unhealthiest populations against which states have the youngest and healthiest populations.
It is the young supporting the old, and it has been that way since humans first formed groups.
Wyoming, on the other hand, has about 600K people. total.
And almost 99 thousands square miles. Larger than Utah. Yet, Wyoming has the least state debt of all states per capita. And New York, the most.
And Wyoming's revenue PER CAPITA is right about the middle.
And the federal government owns 42% of Wyoming.
Seriously, I don't think anyone has a point in Red states being "welfare" states. Quite the opposite, they seem to be well run and responsible with their own money.
A: "Look at this, blue states tend to pay more in taxes than they get in federal benefits!"
B: "But look here, blue states tend to receive more dollars per person in federal benefits."
A: "Did you completely miss the point? I'm comparing taxes paid to benefits received. Yes the blue states receive more dollars, but they more than make up for it in federal taxes paid. It is a net loss of dollars from blue states to the feds, while it is a net gain of dollars to the red states from the feds. And, thus, the federal government transfers money from (mostly) red states to (mostly) blue states."
Bottom line is if the blue states redirected taxes paid to the Feds for use within their states they would be self sufficient. They don't need support from the Feds, and so they subsidize the states which do.
It is the RED states which do not generate revenues, and so depend on Federal gov't largesse.
THEY ARE SUBSIDIZED BY BLUE STATES.
So much for people who scream states rights and small government!
Also if the "liberal" policies pursued by blue states is so damaging to wealth creation, why is it that the areas with the most buoyant economies, with the exception of Texas, tend to be blue states? Listening to the loony right NYC ought to be Detroit, instead of being the major global city that it is.
So if the GOP has all the answers Alabama and Mississippi ought to be among the nation's wealthiest states, instead of the ones with some of the greatest concentrations of poverty!
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