The red states and government welfare

Via Ezra Klein and the Fourth Branch comes two maps worth remembering when you hear  concerns expressed about the size and scope of the federal government.

The first shows states (in red) that receive more than a dollar back for every dollar paid in taxes.  Blue states are those that receive less than a dollar back for every one paid to the government.

 

The Fourth Branch thought the map looked suspiciously like another recent map; the electoral map from the 2008 presidential election.

There is a very strong correlation, then, between a state voting for Republicans and receiving more in federal spending than its residents pay to the federal government in taxes (the rust belt and Texas being notable exceptions). In essence, those in blue states are subsidizing those in red states. Both red and blue states appear to be acting politically in opposition to their economic interests. Blue states are voting for candidates who are likely to continue the policies of red state subsidization while red states are voting for candidates who profess a desire to reduce federal spending (and presumably red state subsidization). (Link)

Comments

[TFT]

http://www.fuckthesouth.com/

crude but funny, and on topic!

[Jay McDonough]

I liked that. Really well written.

[red]

As a blue man in a red state, it's always good to have an arrow like this in your quiver.