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In reply to the discussion: Religious belief interferes with people's understanding of evolution (NPR) [View all]RainDog
(28,784 posts)56. Also the states that receive federal taxes vs those who pay them
this is a paradox - well, only if you think that selfishness is the only motivator... but it's called a paradox.
Red states, on average, are also lower-income states. Because of the progressive federal income tax, states with higher incomes pay vastly higher federal taxes. These payments are unlikely to be matched by federal spending directed back into those states.
In Rich State, Poor State, Red State, Blue State, a 2007 paper for the Quarterly Journal of Political Science, four researchersAndrew Gelman of Columbia, Boris Shor of the University of Chicago, Joseph Bafumi of Dartmouth, and David Park of George Washington Universityexplain that while richer voters are more likely to be Republican than poorer voters, this tendency is weaker in blue states. Take two equally wealthy people. One lives in a blue state and the other lives in a red state. The data show that the voter living in the richer blue state is more likely to be a Democrat than the one in the poorer red state, although both are more likely to be Republican than a poor resident of either state. Income plays a greater role in determining voter preference in red states than in blue ones. So while voters in red states are more motivated by their financial interests (or perceived financial interests), issues outside of income are more powerful motivators for blue voters. This pattern could help explain why some states vote Democratic despite their wealth and some states vote Republican despite their poverty.
http://reason.com/archives/2011/07/14/the-redblue-paradox
the paradox may also be that those states with religious beliefs that are not consistent with science also appear to worry that they may pay taxes to help out someone else.
something has gone seriously wrong with those beliefs, imo. even if you want to argue that you want charity to help others - that's saying you only want to help those who affiliate with your group.
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Religious belief interferes with people's understanding of evolution (NPR) [View all]
RainDog
Jan 2012
OP
The OP notes there are many people with religious belief that understand and accept evolution
RainDog
Jan 2012
#9
it also appears to interfere with a govt that cares about the poor and the middle class
RainDog
Jan 2012
#6
Yep. A big reason our country is in so much trouble is because of religion-bred ignorance/delusion
Arugula Latte
Jan 2012
#89
Boy, it really drops sharply when you get to the Christian denominations, doesn't it?
WhoIsNumberNone
Jan 2012
#14
I would - Catholics and liturgical Christians - i.e. Episcopalians, Lutherans, etc.
RainDog
Jan 2012
#17
yes, but implicit in the argument that religious believers have been psychologically abused...
mike_c
Jan 2012
#50
I have zero use for religion in any form, but even less for the ones that intentionally deceive.
Moostache
Jan 2012
#86
I lived 25 years in Wheaton, IL, the first question you were asked was what church did you go to?
riderinthestorm
Jan 2012
#101
i know you weren't asking me, but i am a christian and i believe in evolution
arely staircase
Jan 2012
#110