Are Democrats Really Smarter?

[PC Dave]

Of the ten states with the highest average IQ's, ranging from CT (113) down through MA (111), NJ (111), NY (109), RI (107), HI (106), MD (105), NH (105), IL (104) and DE (103), all but NH voted for Gore. Of the ten states with the lowest average IQ's, including AL, LA, MT, OK, SD (all 90), SC, WY (both 89), ID, UT (both 87), and MS (85), all voted for Bush.*

I'm not thrilled to learn that the state I live in is tied for second dumbest in the nation. No wonder it's a leader in securities fraud.

*"IQ and the Wealth of Nations" by R. Lynn and T. Vanhanen, quoted in the 5/15 issue of the Economist.

EDIT - The Economist admitted in the next issue that they'd been hoaxed - the studies don't exist. I guess this makes sense; appearances aside, it's unlikely that the average person from CT is 30% more intelligent than the average Mississipean. As Emily Litella would say, Nevermind.

[DieselHead]

I wouldn't necessarily say that Democrats are smarter, actually, I know some very intelligent Republicans. I'd group Republicans into two groups though. There are some Republicans who believe in the betterment of society but through "conservative" means- limited regulation, governmental enforcement of "morals" and citizenship responsibilities, and federalism. There are also Republicans who, for lack of education, and general compassion, care only for policies that further themselves. These are Republicans who don't think big and who could care less about doing good for society. They are generally uneducated and don't think about the big picture, and are thus suceptible to the kind of Republican rhetoric that pats them on the back and makes lofty promises. Though I would never vote for Bush, I consider myself a progressive conservative.

Alex

Originally posted by DieselHead
I wouldn't necessarily say that Democrats are smarter, actually, I know some very intelligent Republicans. I'd group Republicans into two groups though. There are some Republicans who believe in the betterment of society but through "conservative" means- limited regulation, governmental enforcement of "morals" and citizenship responsibilities, and federalism. There are also Republicans who, for lack of education, and general compassion, care only for policies that further themselves. These are Republicans who don't think big and who could care less about doing good for society. They are generally uneducated and don't think about the big picture, and are thus suceptible to the kind of Republican rhetoric that pats them on the back and makes lofty promises. Though I would never vote for Bush, I consider myself a progressive conservative.

Alex

I can agree with most of what you state regarding Republican beliefs. However, the exception is the legislation of morality. It is no more up to the government to decide what is and is not moral for the citizenship, than it is up to the liberals to decide who is more deserving of another's income.

[PC Dave]

Originally posted by Botnst
Heck yeah they're smarter.

What do they do with all that massive brain power?

B

Umm, raise taxes? Surrender to the French? Increase regulation on productive members of society? Was that a trick question?

[DieselHead]

I can agree with most of what you state regarding Republican beliefs. However, the exception is the legislation of morality. It is no more up to the government to decide what is and is not moral for the citizenship, than it is up to the liberals to decide who is more deserving of another's income.

I guess I agree with that. I retract my use of the word "morality." Rather, progressive Republicans, those who believe in the utilization of big government (witness Welfare reform and administrative reform in Wisconsin, Colorado, and Maine) to enforce good behavior. I am one of those conservatives. I don't believe in the free-for-all liberal spending of the 1960's and 1970's, but I strongly believe in a balanced budget and a progressive tax structure which I think is necessary for sound public policy. I also believe in public policy that, on balance, pays more attention to practical outcomes, not ideology. I also believe in government intervention in the private sector. Health insurance is out of control, as are auto emissions and efficiency regulations, as is our energy policy; these areas, to name a few, are areas where I would not solely trust the private sector to do what's good for the general public. I have no particular opinions on big government though. I think that while our administrative state is large and costly, it ensures that maximum stability and it ensures that government can accomplish as little as possible. I think when all is summed up, I'm a conservative, but not a Republican.

[koop]

Huh, I'm surprised Utah was near the bottom. I thought they had a pretty educated population and a growing tech industry. Must be all the inbreed poligamist out in the sticks.

[Fuzzball]

I really shouldn't do this, but I will.....

I think it's real easy for someone to site numbers like that, but I don't know that I believe them. Who did they test? what age group, under what circumstances? Are they all registered voters? Are they even eligible to vote? Are they school children?

If they are not likely voters, then the statistic has zero relevance.

With that said,

DieselHead, you call yourself a Conservative but you say you would never vote for Bush, so that begs the question, who is the alternative?

Surely a Conservative would never vote for Kerry nor for Nader, so who are you left with?

Just wondering, as I'm not seeing another viable candidate for a Conservative to vote for, just as I'm not seeing anyone but Kerry for a Liberal. Maybe I'm missing something.

[KirkVining]

Originally posted by PC Dave
Of the ten states with the highest average IQ's, ranging from CT (113) down through MA (111), NJ (111), NY (109), RI (107), HI (106), MD (105), NH (105), IL (104) and DE (103), all but NH voted for Gore. Of the ten states with the lowest average IQ's, including AL, LA, MT, OK, SD (all 90), SC, WY (both 89), ID, UT (both 87), and MS (85), all voted for Bush.*

I'm not thrilled to learn that the state I live in is tied for second dumbest in the nation. No wonder it's a leader in securities fraud.

*"IQ and the Wealth of Nations" by R. Lynn and T. Vanhanen, quoted in the 5/15 issue of the Economist.

I don't know if this is good evidence of who is smater than whom, it could be argued that republicans have done an excellant job at honing their message to the point it works so well in the states where lower IQs are prevalent that vast majorities in those states now vote for them. That could be an argument they are smarter because they are so successful with this strategy.

[Snibble]

Originally posted by PC Dave
Of the ten states with the highest average IQ's, ranging from CT (113) down through MA (111), NJ (111), NY (109), RI (107), HI (106), MD (105), NH (105), IL (104) and DE (103), all but NH voted for Gore. Of the ten states with the lowest average IQ's, including AL, LA, MT, OK, SD (all 90), SC, WY (both 89), ID, UT (both 87), and MS (85), all voted for Bush.*

I'm not thrilled to learn that the state I live in is tied for second dumbest in the nation. No wonder it's a leader in securities fraud.

*"IQ and the Wealth of Nations" by R. Lynn and T. Vanhanen, quoted in the 5/15 issue of the Economist.

WTF??? 85 is the avg in MS??? Isn't that close to legally "retarded" ?

[240Demon]

I am a democrat, and I can't say that democrats or republicans are smarter either way. One thing is, as discussed earlier, the uneducated conservatives (George W.) are so counterproductive in society that I believe all in all Democrats are the much more realistic and rational bunch. I would say, though, that I am a conservative democrat, definately not a bleeding heart liberal.

[Fuzzball]

Originally posted by 240Demon
the uneducated conservatives (George W.)

Um......would you put your education up against his Ivy League education, or do you believe that they put their reputations on the line and give those degrees away??????

Say what you want about GW...he earned his education just like anyone else going to Yale...just like Clinton earned his education just like anyone else that went to Moscow.

Fuzzball posted: Say what you want about GW...he earned his education just like anyone else going to Yale...just like Clinton earned his education just like anyone else that went to Moscow.

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Bush got into Yale becaue his father got into Yale, and he got into Yale because his father got into Yale. By any reasonable standard, he was a quite unspectacular student. He has often, himself, made light of his underwhelming academic career.

As for Clinton--He was a Rhodes Scholar, which is known world wide as a prestigious academic organization. I have no idea what your Moscow reference was--I assume the usual right wing B.S. trying to smear when short on facts.

No doubt Clinton engaged in boorish, adolescent behaviors, but he is a whole heap smarter thatn G.W. Bush.

Joe B.

[KirkVining]

Originally posted by Fuzzball
Um......would you put your education up against his Ivy League education, or do you believe that they put their reputations on the line and give those degrees away??????

Say what you want about GW...he earned his education just like anyone else going to Yale...just like Clinton earned his education just like anyone else that went to Moscow.

Clinton went to Moscow? Did he fly a black helicopter? Are you so berift of arguments in the presnt that you have to live in the past?

[koop]

Originally posted by Fuzzball


Say what you want about GW...he earned his education just like anyone else going to Yale...just like Clinton earned his education just like anyone else that went to Moscow.

Yeah, like Elvis earned that black belt

[DieselHead]

Like him or not, Clinton is a brilliant guy. Bush is NOT necessarily a dumb guy. Actually, it's very dangerous to say that he's not smart. Rather than saying he's not smart, I will say that he's not curious.

Fuzzball, I understand what you're saying but be careful, Bush is NOT a conservative. I believe in conservative approaches to social policy (Clinton, with his pledge to reform welfare, was a moderately social conservative) but I believe in social policy and government spending on social policy. Kerry is not as liberal as one might think. As someone who has conservative leanings, above all I believe in a balanced budget and I think there's a better chance of that under Kerry than under Bush. Also, as a pro-government conservative, I believe in government reform, not just tax cuts.