Why do the poorest states in the union vote Republican?

[earllogjam]

I've always wondered why states like West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Alabama, some of the poorest states in America consistently vote for Republican presidential candidates. It is ironic that the Republicans they vote for often have policies that favor only the richest Americans.

 

[B_Austin Blue]

Maybe the poorest populations also have the lowest voter turnout? That's my guess.

 

[D_Chaumbrelayne_Copprehead]

There's been stuff written about this ... basically saying that politicians appeal to the socially conservative values these voters have, and they ... as some have said ... vote against their self-interest, economically, to support a strong defense and traditional social values.

 

[D_Chocho_Lippz]

What, so poor people have to vote for the group that gives them something?

Please...

This post is almost sickening to me.

 

[Biggin']

because places like chicago have been voting for these dolts for 50 years and all its gotten them is crime. mobs, and the highest murder rate in the country.

its the difference of philosophy. do for yourself and change the world, or have the govt tell you how it will be done - it only gives way to resentment.

 

[D_Portelay Porquesword]

It's fucked up no matter where you go, what you do or which candidate you choose to vote for.

People are looking for hope merchants. If one can successfully sell hope to these people. It wouldn't matter if the candidate rode naked through the streets on a horse.

 

[D_Fiona_Farvel]

In my experience, it is tied to religion and a belief that candidates that have a strong relationship to good are best.

Also, it isn't really a Republican thing. I wrote about Mississippi politics earlier, somewhere, and stated the Democrats are just as christy and conservative as the Republicans--there really isn't a liberal base.

As an example, Democrat Ronnie Musgrove of Mississippi: Ronnie Musgrove - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

While not the type of Democrat the North is used to, he is the norm for places like Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee

 

[phonehome]

Some would say that these people are also the most delusional.

A few examples:

Iheritance taxes: They are mostly against "the death tax" even though they may never inherit anything more than say 100 grand at a time in there lives, even if they do it will almost certainly be within the multimillion dollar limits/exclusions that exist in current law. But they are all for Paris Hilton and Ivanaca Trump being able to inherit however many billion tax free because they have this fantasy that some day that might be them. It won't be but that is what they think.

Capitol gains taxes: They don't own a single share of stock, maybe not the house they live in, so they will never ever get a "capitol gain" but yes that tax should get lowered too, the fact that guys on Wall street have rigged the system so that all there income comes in the way of capitol gains and pay an effective rate maybe half of what they do, again the mindset is someday that could be them.

Joe the plumber: The business that we works for IS NOT FOR SALE, even if it was it is doubtful he has, will ever have or could raise/borrow the money required to buy it, but in his altered reality he thinks he is going to buy it and that it will be making more than 250K a year so he is worried about his tax rate going up. On the odd chance that he did it buy it, the business in question doesn't make more than 250K per year anyway.

As pointed out by Bill Maher last Friday night prior to this campaign John McCain and Cindy were hardly an every Sunday Church goers, rareley went in either DC or Arizona actually.

He cheated on his first wife multiple times, was still married to her when he "started seeing" Cindy, she didn't seem to have a problem with sleeping with a married man but yet they are both "good christians"

 

[Biggin']

It's fucked up no matter where you go, what you do or which candidate you choose to vote for.

People are looking for hope merchants. If one can successfully sell hope to these people. It wouldn't matter if the candidate rode naked through the streets on a horse.

BINGO.

youre being sucked in to what you think is right when its not, especially when the MSM is in the tank for him.

4 years in the senate (2 spent running for pres.)
palin has more executive exp.

 

[D_Portelay Porquesword]

BINGO.

sometimes the easiest answers are less deliberated upon and actually accepted as is.

 

[Biggin']

id rather have someone who isnt a bible thumping churchgoer than someone who went to a black supremicist church for 20 years (AND WAS "DUPED") and is opposed to gay marriage.

 

[D_Portelay Porquesword]

id rather have someone who isnt a bible thumping churchgoer than someone who went to a black supremicist church for 20 years (AND WAS "DUPED") and is opposed to gay marriage.

Everyone has flaws. Don't go throwing stones, it may hit someone that may actually do us some good in ways we least expect. Ummm...who was that again? LOL

 

[deleted3782]

Texas is quite rich, and reliably Republican. Georgia and North Carolina are also red states...though they could go blue today. Arizona is quite rich as well.

I don't think there is a correlation between wealth and red/blue status. It has more to do with religious values and culture (for example, coastal states versus fly-over country), IMHO.

 

[stratedude]

Probably because there is more to winning an election than BUYING VOTES.

The poor that vote republican aren't sell-outs to their country.

 

[Biggin']

look at the blue / red map. it has to do with the influx of immigrants and politicians promising them things. cali, ny. fl....

people want to come and earn, and keep what they earn.

not to mention the rich ivory tower liberals who live in these areas who try to tell us littler folk how we shouls live.

one party is buying votes by promising them the american dream....."ill make illegals legal....i'll give them welfare ans social security......."



then, "ill give you the right to vote.......if you vote for me".

PUKE.

 

[Hockeytiger]

I've always wondered why states like West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Alabama, some of the poorest states in America consistently vote for Republican presidential candidates. It is ironic that the Republicans they vote for often have policies that favor only the richest Americans.

Actually, that really isn't true. West Virginia, arguably one of the poorest states, if not the poorest, traditionally votes Democratic, including Presidential elections. Arkansas and Mississippi have elected only two Republican governors in the last 40 years. Kentucky, another relatively poor state has elected only one Republican governor in the last 40 years. I believe Alabama has elected only three Republican governors in the last 40 years.

If you change it from Republicans to conservative, I then agree. Contrary to popular belief there are a fair number of conservative Democrats and Socially progressive Republicans. However, the national parties actively prevent such people from running for office so both groups are grossly underrepresented, nationally. Southerners frequently elect conservative democrats and New Englanders sometimes elect socially liberal Republicans to state, but rarely Federal office.

Now to get to the meat of your question, why do poorer states vote for conservatives (and conversely IMO why do rich states like NY and MA vote for liberals)? It is more of a question of culture as opposed to economics. Voters ask themselves, does this person reflect my values (which includes economic values)? The states you listed are mostly bible belt states and thus, they tend to vote for people who reflect those values. Rarely do Democratic national candidates reflect those values. And conversely, rarely do Republican national candidates reflect the values of New Englanders. That's why they vote Democratic, at least nationally, even though they are much richer.

 

[lucky8]

This book will explain it all...

What's the Matter with Kansas? - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There are 2 main types of Republicans, social and fiscal. The vast majority of these voters are social convervatives who would rather restrict people's freedoms than vote for their own best interests.

 

[faceking]

I've always wondered why states like West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Alabama, some of the poorest states in America consistently vote for Republican presidential candidates. It is ironic that the Republicans they vote for often have policies that favor only the richest Americans.

um, how is it any different than inner city poor folk, that seminally vote Democrat, yet not much has changed , nor will.

[edit: look at the poorest and most crime ridden cities in the country... New Orleans, Detroit, DC, New Haven, Newark... almost always have a Dem mayor, so go figure [shrugs shoulders])

 

[vince]

From the Civil War up until 1964 those states generally voted Democratic. They called it the Solid South.

The Republican party was the party of Lincoln and the industrialized north. The Democratic party in the south was (generally) seen as the party protecting states rights and segregation. But after the Civil Rights acts of the mid-sixties, Republicans developed what they called the "Southern Strategy. Barry Goldwater, who had voted against the Civil rights Act, was able to turn most of the deep south Republican. Carter and Clinton, being favourite sons, carried southern states, but generally they vote Republican.

In addition to opposing civil and voting rights, the Republicans later on cultivated the religious and evangelical voters in the Reagan years.

A lot of voting use to be and maybe still is habital. My sister's husband is in a dilemma this year, because no one in his family has voted Republican since the Civil war. Yet he is an extremely racist guy. When I talked to him a month ago, he said he might have to sit this one out!

 

[Florida Boy]

They are gullible.