The Hartmann Report: Why are Red State Citizens Poorer, Less Educated, & Sicker than Blue State Citizens? [View all]
The Hartmann Report - Why are Red State Citizens Poorer, Less Educated, & Sicker than Blue State Citizens?
Republicans worship cheap labor and having a steady and reliable supply of cheap labor requires widespread poverty
Thom Hartmann
Oct 04, 2024
One of the enduring mysteries of America is why the citizens of Red states are generally poorer, less educated, and sicker than the citizens of Blue states. To that question, I step up as your hierophant with an answer to this deep mystery that you may not have previously considered.
First, that generalization is broadly true:
Blue states account for about 71 percent of Americas GDP, whereas Red states only produce 29 percent of our income and wealth.
The median family income in Blue states is $74,243. In Red states its $63,553. Individual states highlight the disparity: New Jerseys median income is $89,703, while Mississippis is $49,111.
Counties that voted for Biden in 2020 are more diverse, being 35 percent nonwhite compared to 16 percent nonwhite populations in counties that voted for Trump.
Counties that voted for Biden in 2020 are better educated, with 36 percent of their population having some college education compared to Trumps counties at 25 percent.
Residents of Blue states live 2.2 years longer, on average, than residents of Red states.
/snip
Nothing I didn't already assume, but it's good to see it laid out succinctly.