Red States Love Their Food Stamps

[Kutnupe14]

Aaron Carroll of Indiana University tells us that in 2010, residents of the 10 states Gallup ranks as “most conservative” received 21.2 percent of their income in government transfers, while the number for the 10 most liberal states was only 17.1 percent.

Food Stamp Use is Highest in Red States: The Truth Republicans Do Not Want You to Know

The Top 10 States that Rely on Food Stamps
10 States That Rely The Most On Food Stamps: USDA


Did the people in these states vote to keep their entitlements? It would seem that if these people, who are part of the "47%," got out and voted to keep their entitlements, then the president would have easily carried a good number of the "Red" states that went against him.
Apparently, the logic of people voting to keep their welfare isn't entirely based on fact.
What's the deal?

 

[LPMan59]

i have seen this sort of thing a lot. Lots of people don't consider themselves on the dole even though they take Medicaid and food stamps.

I work with one such person. Her kid is on INMED and her bf has been trying to get on disability for about 2 years- refusing to do anything but smoke weed and be on INMED. But my god will she rail against Medicaid patients and how they scam the system.

Reminds me of the "Keep the government out of my Medicare!" signs at Tea Party rallies.

 

[netsecurity]

Picking on the Southern states is sort of racist.

 

[Stschil]

A lot more trailer parks in the Midwest.

 

[Kutnupe14]

Picking on the Southern states is sort of racist.

I'm southern, I can talk about my own. Though, I'm not following the logic; nor am I interjecting race (kinda wondering where that even came from).

 

[netsecurity]

Wait a second, food stamp usage is "consistently higher" in red states because there are MORE RED STATES than blue states. I'm seeing plenty of blue states that have high food stamp usage in that map, and plenty of red states, especially in the center, that have low food stamp usage.

The only area that skews the results is the big food stamp numbers in the South, where slavery used to exist, and a lot of poor, uneducated people still live. Perhaps they don't want to be on food stamps though, perhaps they want jobs instead!

 

[Kutnupe14]

Wait a second, food stamp usage is "consistently higher" in red states because there are MORE RED STATES than blue states. I'm seeing plenty of blue states that have high food stamp usage in that map, and plenty of red states, especially in the center, that have low food stamp usage.

The only area that skews the results is the big food stamp numbers in the South, where slavery used to exist, and a lot of poor, uneducated people still live. Perhaps they don't want to be on food stamps though, perhaps they want jobs instead!

2nd Link explains that the percentage is quite high in many of those southern states. Given how many people are on food stamps in those states, (upwards of 18%), it debunks the notion that people on such assistance voted to keep their entitlements. LPMan summed it up quite nicely.

 

[hookedonjeep]

Picking on the Southern states is sort of racist.

Sorry, I missed how that is racist..... Racism; by definition, is the belief that one race is superior to another race: ie, Hitler's belief that the Aryan (sp?) race is superior to all other races. I for one get tired of such a generic label applied to speech - words mean things!

Therefore - you sir, are incorrect. Picking on the southern states is indeed NOT racist in any way, shape, or form.

Also, in the future, if you are referring to biggoted statements, or merely statements that are not in good taste; please refer to them as such - not with a generic and incorrect label.

 

[jgreiner]

I see a TON of BLUE states with very high usage. Michigan, Oregon, Maine. And i see others like Illinois with a fair amount of it too.

 

[El T]

I agree with LPMan also. There are way too many individuals in my neck of the woods that are this exact same way, but looking at a county voting map might possibly provide counterpoint.

'Need more data.....more input!'

 

[HollidaySlim]

The only area that skews the results is the big food stamp numbers in the South, [STRIKE]where slavery used to exist[/STRIKE], and a lot of poor, uneducated people still live.

That is the real issue, this has ZERO to do with red / blue states, the article in the OP is nothing more than propaganda skewed to make some blogger feel good about himself.

 

[cordex]

This is a little dated, but it's an interactive county-by-county map showing food stamp usage.
Food Stamp Usage Across the Country - Interactive Map - NYTimes.com

 

[Kutnupe14]

I see a TON of BLUE states with very high usage. Michigan, Oregon, Maine. And i see others like Illinois with a fair amount of it too.

Ok, no one is reading the second link, so I'll post the rankings

1. Mississippi 20.7
2. Oregon 20.1
3. Tennessee 19.8
4. New Mexico 19.8
5. Michigan 19.7
6. Louisiana 19.2
7. Kentucky 18.8
8. West Virginia 18.7
9. Maine 18.6
10. South Carolina 18.2

 

[NathanJefferson]

That is the real issue, this has ZERO to do with red / blue states, the article in the OP is nothing more than propaganda skewed to make some blogger feel good about himself.

Winner!

Why not show a total amount of food stamps in each state too? I'm guessing even though California has a lower % than a lot of southern states they still get a lot more $$. (and they have tons of other programs that aren't included in this chart...)

Not to mention even in those dark red states on you map more people still voted for Obama than are getting foodstamps so you argument really doesn't have any real meaning to me other than to show that we need to help out people everywhere stand on their own two feet.

 

[Bunnykid68]

Winner!

Why not show a total amount of food stamps in each state too? I'm guessing even though California has a lower % than a lot of southern states they still get a lot more $$. (and they have tons of other programs that aren't included in this chart...)

Not to mention even in those dark red states on you map more people still voted for Obama than are getting foodstamps so you argument really doesn't have any real meaning to me other than to show that we need to help out people everywhere stand on their own two feet.

Yep, kinda left out the whole population part of the equation didn't they?

 

[NathanJefferson]

Ok, no one is reading the second link, so I'll post the rankings

1. Mississippi 20.7 Voted for Obama = 44%
2. Oregon 20.1 Voted for Obama = 54%
3. Tennessee 19.8 Voted for Obama = 39%
4. New Mexico 19.8
5. Michigan 19.7
6. Louisiana 19.2 Voted for Obama = 41%
7. Kentucky 18.8 Voted for Obama = 38%
8. West Virginia 18.7 = 36%
9. Maine 18.6
10. South Carolina 18.2 = 44%

So Romney won 6 of the 10 highest %, that's not a big landslide...

 

[Kutnupe14]

Winner!

Why not show a total amount of food stamps in each state too? I'm guessing even though California has a lower % than a lot of southern states they still get a lot more $$. (and they have tons of other programs that aren't included in this chart...)

Not to mention even in those dark red states on you map more people still voted for Obama than are getting foodstamps so you argument really doesn't have any real meaning to me other than to show that we need to help out people everywhere stand on their own two feet.

I'm in agreement, but when you have a population of a state that's 15%+ in their dependence on food stamps, it is part of the culture. If such is so ingrained, then where are the votes to keep that culture going?
As stated before, it's because people don't see themselves as a moocher, it's the other guys in the other states. I would bet that more than a fair portion of said "moochers," voted GOP, and typically do so.

 

[netsecurity]

This is also ignoring that the percentage of people on the food stamps in EVERY state could have voted 100% for Obama, and the state could still be red.

Previous posts about this making the blogger feel good about socialism are accurate. It is propaganda and nothing more. "Food stamps stimulate the economy more than lowered taxes" is the justification. Ask the UK, Spain, Greece, Ireland, etc. what happens when the people on welfare keep growing. It may "stimulate" the economy technically short-term, but it is UNSUSTAINABLE. When you are 16T in debt, you don't keep borrowing money so that you can give away money to people who don't work--you give them jobs so that they can become tax payers, raise the GDP and everyone, including the government, can gain wealth. That is reality.

 

[NathanJefferson]

I'm in agreement, but when you have a population of a state that's 15%+ in their dependence on food stamps, it is part of the culture. If such is so ingrained, then where are the votes to keep that culture going?
As stated before, it's because people don't see themselves as a moocher, it's the other guys in the other states. I would bet that more than a fair portion of said "moochers," voted GOP, and typically do so.

Coming from BFE Indiana (I'm sure I'm very alone on this board!) and seeing the multi generational families that continue to pop out kids and bring in new trailers for their growth, I would have to agree. At least to a point.

The real issue is going to come to a head when we can't afford to pay, or at least can't afford to increase while inflation runs rampant. Nothing will happen until it 110% HAS TO. The can will be kicked until we trip on it and bust our face on the concrete.

 

[Phil502]

I'd like to see the data on how much in taxes Republican and Libertarian voters pay vs Democratic voters.