About this Educational Attainment and Voting Nonsense
September 7th, 2008 . by glendeanWilliam often links to websites like this one that “prove” GOP voters are more stupid than Democratic voters. Let me explain the thinking behind their “science”, how their arguments contradict traditional liberal politics, and finally how their conclusions are flawed.
Here is an excerpt from William’s favorite article.
Of the 17 states (including DC) with an above average percentage of citizens with advanced degrees, 13 (76.5%) voted for Kerry. Of the 34 states with a below average percentage of citizens with advanced degrees, 27 (79.4%) voted for Bush.
Talk about some seriously bad logic. I’ll get back to that later, but if you are unable to see the flawed thinking in the above excerpt, then my friend you have problems.
Think about what they are saying here. For years and years we have been told by the representatives of the downtrodden, the least of these, that the Republicans are for the rich man (most educated, better opportunities) and the Democrats are for the poor man (least educated, less opportunity), that the Democrats are for the black man, and all minorities for that matter (least educated), and the Republicans are just a bunch of country club honkies (more educated). Obviously this new argument is a direct contradiction to the old class warfare argument, that is unless all of the rich people in this country are proven to be the least educated. If anybody has any data to confirm that, I’d like to see it.
Now lets get back to their reasoning and how seriously flawed it is. A good example to “prove” the Republican part of their argument is Mississippi. I chose Mississippi, because I grew up in Alabama, where the state motto was “Thank God for Mississippi”. According to their chart, Mississippi ranks 51st on the list of most to least educated states. 59% of Mississippians voted for Bush in 2004. Almost 40% voted for Kerry. According to the census bureau, Mississippi is 60% white and 37% black. 16% of white children in Mississippi live in poor families, while a whopping 47% of black children live in poverty. A Harvard study (nationwide study) in 2004 concluded that while 75% of white children graduated High School in 2001, only 50% of black students did so. How many black people in Mississippi do you all think voted for Bush in 2004? How many whites?
On the flip side, do you think Michigan would ever go Democrat if Detroit, with a High School graduation rate of 25%, was not a part of that state? How about Pennsylvania minus Philadelphia, or Illinois minus Chicago?
Obviously the white liberals in the northeast, the ones so smug they smell their own farts, are more educated than the rest of the country, and the whiteys in West Virginia are good examples for their argument. But even in places like West Virginia, Republicans have only recently started winning. Many white country folk still believe the Republicans are only for the rich. Are not both Senators and the governor of West Virginia Democrats?
Sometimes I am stunned at how stupid some of these people like William are. He forms a conclusion, a conclusion based on his own bigotry, hatred, and predjudice, and then finds “facts” to support that hate-filled conclusion. Of course his facts aren’t really facts, but merely a bunch of utter nonsense he cut and pasted from some left wing kook site. Unbelieveable! Well not really, I guess.
the Republicans are just a bunch of country club honkies (more educated).
Flawed thinking… the wealth base of GOP contributions are a small fraction of actual GOP voters. Contributions are far less widely spread and largely come from upper class white christian conservatives and corporate interests. You’ll see Obama with huge numbers of small donations compared with McCain who has less donors but with greater amounts. You’ll also see 4 times as many female donors for Obama in the $250 -$1000 range.
He forms a conclusion, a conclusion based on his own bigotry, hatred, and predjudice, and then finds “facts” to support that hate-filled conclusion.
Yea? Hate filled bigotry? Check out this comment from a conservative on my blog:
Republicans in their Rovian strategy are masters at manipulating the ignorant masses with appeals to their religion, moral values and easily repeated slogans… the latest being: “drill baby drill” This is how the GOP elite win elections. The ignorant have no idea what is being taken from them, and I’d say by all indications, Mr. Glen Dean might be in that category. He has bought into this bullshit - hook, line and sinker.
You refuted absolutely nothing in my post. You just uttered a bunch of BS, speaking out of your anus. Then you pasted a comment from a single individual, as anecdotal “evidence” of some sort. It’s as if you are completely incapable of standard run of the mill logic.
That is completely false. Obama is a tool of George Soros. But assuming that it is true, it once again contradicts the argument that you continually make in regards to who votes for the GOP and who votes for the Jackasses. You argue one thing to make one point, then argue something different to make another point. You can’t even stay on the same page with yourself.
That is completely false. Obama is a tool of George Soros.
Wrong again, meat breath. Obama received double the percentage of contributions of $200 of less compared to McCain, and only one third the number of contributions of over $4600 compared with McCain. The rich white christians are supporting the GOP… very few others. Glen, the top 1% is attempting to manipulate you and you’re falling in line like a good authoritarian.
You’ve seen the lack of diversity at the RNC. These facts speak for themselves.
William, that’s where you’re wrong. People are put off by liberals who want to install their ‘brave new left-world’ sans religion and moral values and instead, install liberal values in their place. Those leftist values are in total opposition to the values of the majority of Americans.
Crispin Sartwell explains to you why liberals will lose, again, a presidential election…
anecdotal “evidence” of some sort.
Is it anecdotal evidence that the minority representation in GOP delegates is at it’s lowest point in 40 yrs and the percentage of blacks is ONE-TENTH the national demographic?
It’s obvious.
William, we don’t sit around and count how many black people, and brown people, and white people are in the room. Why do yall? Do you do that in your classes at MTSU? Maybe the fact that there are not a lot of black guitarists proves that the guitar is a racist instrument.
People are put off by liberals who want to install their ‘brave new left-world’ sans religion and moral values
You mean moral values like torture, war, abuse of power, politicizing the justice system, ignoring gov’t oversight, freedom of information and lying to the American public ? Yes , we know the values you stand for. It’s called a theocratic authoritarian regime. We can see what it has done to America for 8 yrs. Thanks.