Star Spangled Staggers

US politics from outside the beltway

The chart Mitt Romney has to explain if he thinks "culture" makes Israel richer than Palestine

Your move, Mittens.

By Alex Hern Published 02 August 2012 15:18

Mitt Romney in Israel. Photograph: Getty Images

As of 2010, the average Democratic state received $1.24 in benefits for every dollar of federal taxes paid, while the average Republican state received $1.49. If culture affects economics... does that mean that liberalism is better than conservativism? Your move, Mitt.

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10 comments

Tue, 2012-08-07 19:26 — Sebastian. (not verified)

Israel is a liberal democracy. it's citizens include Arab Moslems who serve as MP's, judges, journalist's, TV editors, CEO's of Israeli companies, Doctors and senior military personnel.
Gaza and the west Bank are ruled by islamofascists for whom being Gay is a criminal offense the penalty of which is crucifixion. Women are stoned to death. Music is banned. No religion other than Islam is allowable.
So which culture is superior. Israeli democracy or Islamist barbarism.

Mon, 2012-08-06 10:02 — hugh markey (not verified)

We're just so relieved that Mitt has not claimed 'aliens' had anything to do with it.

Mon, 2012-08-06 15:24 — John Cheese (not verified)

The new term is "undocumented workers"....Ha!

Sun, 2012-08-05 17:20 — John Cheese (not verified)

Crisis mode & Barky's done...

Sat, 2012-08-04 12:52 — Bluthner (not verified)

Of course they mostly all get back more than they paid in! The rest is borrowed. Surely you worked that out.

So what it means is the Red states are spending more borrowed money than the Blue states. Which is completely consistent with what Republicans always do, as opposed to what they like to SAY they do.

Fri, 2012-08-03 05:23 — aaaronsmith (not verified)

There's a lot of mistakes in the posted material.

Maybe the original data was good, but this info was organized by a self taught statistician.

Anyway, work w those numbers for a while and see if you get numbers bigger than 100% - for 100% of the states.

Why do the numbers on the map seem to be the mathematical inverse of the description in the title? Does this imply the numbers MUST be in error?

The map/comment may be correct, but I'm going to treat it like a stupid lie until someone present data that can be understood.

Fri, 2012-08-03 05:12 — aaaronsmith (not verified)

A good example of proof - then print.

If I read the figures correctly (and admittedly they aren't complete) they imply, on the average, every state gets back more than it pays.

I think a little more thought given to the presentation would have been more informative.

Fri, 2012-08-03 01:28 — John Cheese (not verified)

I know the map/chart is inaccurate, California is not shown sinking into the ocean...

Thu, 2012-08-02 16:07 — Lucidus (not verified)

How about adding in agricultural subsidies as well?
Many Republican-voting rural American states would dwindle without them.

Wed, 2012-08-08 21:22 — PresidentD (not verified)

Actually Lucidis, 80% of the Dept. of Agriculture's budget now goes to food stamps. Another brillant legacy of our genius President. Probably worth an entire wall in Obama's Presidential Library.