Guess who voted for this....no, go ahead, I'll wait here....

[SpankMe]

51. Anecdotal is different from long term, durable experience

My family has heritage in NM as well as business interests in both the service sector and the medical sector there. I spend several weeks a year there, mostly in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces and the Alamogordo area. And I drive between all those places, so I see lots of different people and observe lots of different circumstances in all the little towns I stop at. I have connections with people in NM government, mostly the legislature and people in the city offices in Albuquerque.

I know the vibe. I have a LOT of contact with the Indian pueblos there, and - trust me - financial distress is one of their defining conditions. These aren't anecdotes. This is observation based on cultural and economic immersion.

I'm not saying the data from Moneywise isn't accurate, I'm saying it doesn't comport with my observations - which are a lot heartier than mere anecdotal experience. If Moneywise had selected different personal finance metrics to describe "financial distress", then different states could come out on top and bottom.

If Republicans find that any of my posts provide them with comfort or benefit, they can take that post and stuff it straight up their ass. My intent isn't to give them fuel, but to offer a potentially contrary opinion for my fellow liberals to read or ignore as they see fit.