In our series on red states vs blue states, we’ve examined different economic variables.
- Part I: Economic growth
- Part II: Unemployment rates
- Part III: Employment growth
Today, let’s add another comparison.
Here’s a map looking at 2022 income growth by state. The three states most known for bad policy – New York, Illinois, and California – were among the handful of states that suffered a decline in personal income.
It’s also worth noting that most of the “weaker than average” states also are known for leaning left.
The Wall Street Journal has an editorial on the performance gap between red states and blue states. Here are some excerpts.
Personal income in California, Illinois and New York declined in 2022 for the first time since 2009… Personal income last year nationwide increased 2% in current dollars, which amounts to a real decline after inflation. …The opposite was true in the fastest-growing states, including Florida (4.7%), Arizona (4.9%), Texas (5%), Utah (5.5%), Colorado (5.8%), South Dakota (5.8%), Montana (6.1%), Idaho (6.5%), North Dakota (7%), and Delaware (8.8%). …The personal income declines in California, New York, Illinois and some other states would have been larger if not for the continued growth in Medicaid spending owing to the pandemic national emergency, which didn’t end until this spring. A federal food-stamp fillip also continued until March. …California, New York and Illinois used their allotments largely to cover pre-existing budget shortfalls, boost government worker pay, and bake into their budget new spending obligations. Those will become shortfalls once the pandemic money boom ends. Taxpayers, look out.
The last few sentences above are key.
When they get new money, either from tax increases or federal transfers, irresponsible politicians create long-run spending obligations.
And that creates the conditions for future tax increases, just as the WSJ warns.
Here’s one final item for today’s column. Back in July, the Wall Street Journal compared industry performance in red states and blue states.
Here’s a table comparing Texas and Florida vs. New York and California.
Game, set, and match.
The moral of the story is that big government doesn’t work well on the national level, it doesn’t work well on the state level, and it doesn’t work well on the local level.
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[…] Red States vs. Blue States, Part IV […]
To anonymous at 4:56: You give the one famous exception which everyone cites while ignoring many others (but, of course, even one exception means the right is not immutable). Here are some other restrictions on free speech (from online Britannica):
Despite the broad freedom of expression guaranteed by the First Amendment, there are some historically rooted exceptions. First, the government may generally restrict the time, place, or manner of speech, if the restrictions are unrelated to what the speech says and leave people with enough alternative ways of expressing their views. Thus, for instance, the government may restrict the use of loudspeakers in residential areas at night, limit all demonstrations that block traffic, or ban all picketing of people’s homes.
Second, a few narrow categories of speech are not protected from government restrictions. The main such categories are incitement, defamation, fraud, obscenity, child pornography, fighting words, and threats. As the Supreme Court held in Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), the government may forbid “incitement”—speech “directed at inciting or producing imminent lawless action” and “likely to incite or produce such action” (such as a speech to a mob urging it to attack a nearby building).
@phkershner I’m very aware of the definition of “immutable” and other than well-understood exceptions (like yelling “fire” in a crowded theatre), I’m an absolutist. The leftists who think otherwise will lead to the downfall of a great nation.
To anonymous at 12:46: I bet the citizens from MS would say the right to free speech is immutable and they’d be wrong (as are you if you think the same way). Nothing in the Constitution is immutable. But then, you probably don’t know the meaning of the word “immutable.”
To anonymous at 12:40: please tell me what was racist about my post. And if you’re going to blame the higher crime in red states on Democratic run cities, I guess the good stuff Dan points out in red states is also the result of Democratic run cities. With regard to poverty, you say there are cultural issues at play. So many words to say so little. Could you be a little more vague?
Louisiana’s top industries are oil & gas extraction/processing, chemical processing 1/3 of all industrial activity in state.
Anti-oil policies hit state hard
@phkershner – what a racist reply, but I would pick Mississippi over California, as the schools in MS are still teaching American History, as opposed to whatever grievance history is being taught in CA. Also, the highest poverty states are generally in the South – MS and LA being the leaders – but if you take a closer look you will find that there are cultural issues at play. The higher crime in red states is mostly due to high crime in Democrat-run cities (ie, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Jackson, Atlanta, Birmingham, etc.).
phkershner, My life will never hang on which group knows the first 3 presidents of the United States. However, it may hang on whether I maintain my right to free speech, and I’m pretty sure what the answer would be if I asked said citizens from CA & MS if that right is immutable.
Dan, you can show these maps ’til you’re blue (or red) in the face, but may I suggest you look at other maps? Check out maps of poverty in which you will see that the poorest states are largely red states. The same is true for maps of unhappiness, crime, and lack of education.
Here is a thought experiment for you: with a gun held to your head, a random citizen from California and a random citizen from Mississippi are asked to “Name the first three presidents of the United States.” Your life hangs on who gets it right. (Or gets more right than the other.) Which way are you betting? I think we all know the answer to that.
[…] Red States vs. Blue States, Part IV […]
again regretting my recent move to Georgia 😦