by Andy » Nov 12, 2004 @ 11:26pm
I lived in the deep south for several years: I feel I'm well within my rights to make generalizations around my observations. Sure, they could all be wrong. And generalities can be wrong.
I'm not sure why you think they can't be.
Regarding the federal aid distribution: federal aid doesn't indicate a drag on the economy (and I don't think the south is a drag on the economy to begin with). Lots of the federal aid is roads, education and other things that aren't a drag to the economy in general.
Most of the top states are rural/agricultural states with very small populations and lots of land. I'm guessing agricultural subsidied are counted as federal aid; which vastly skews the results. In other words, there's a lot of data behind these numbers, and I sincerely doubt it's primarily what you think it is.
Regarding the bachelors / capita rankings:
1. West Virginia
2. Arkansas *
3. Wyoming
4. Oklahoma (arguably southern)
5. Mississippi *
6. Tennessee *
7. Kentucky *
8. Nevada
9. Louisana *
10. North Carolina *
I put the states I'd consider southern in bold. "At most 5"? There's at least 6 ex-confederate states there alone; West Virginia was part of the confederacy for a time too, if memory serves: so maybe 7. OK was a largely confederate territory as well. Slightly more than 5 -- ahh, the benefits of book learnin'.
Regarding the power consumption ratings:
Do you think that maybe running an air conditioner half the year has something to do with the higher energy consumption?
You're a programmer, and unless the employment scene around there has done a complete 180, you know how scarce tech jobs are in the south. Monster.com has about 40 legit software-related jobs in the entire state of AL. RI alone almost has as many entries.
I don't think the south is the bastion of technology you make it out to be -- hell, I don't even think most proud southerners would try to make that claim.
Very entertaining:
10 lowest ACT averages by state 2003-2004:
1.) Washington DC (17.8)
2.) Mississippi (18.8)
3.) South Carolina (19.3)
4.) Louisiana (19.8)
5.) Georgia (20.0)
6.) New Mexico (20.1)
7.) Texas (20.2)
7.) Alabama (20.2)
9.) Colorado (20.3)
9.) Illinois (20.3)
9.) Kentucky (20.3)
9.) North Carolina (20.3)
note: I eyeballed this, so there might be an error or two.
source:
I don't even have to make this stuff up: check my source. I think EVERY SINGLE southern state is below national average on the ACT. Even the states that are mostly urban shitholes do better than the south for the most part.
Economically, the south has been stunted by lack of AC for years. So, not surprisingly, it's relativly backwards economically. If you can find some cost-adjusted per capita income data for the US by state, I'd love to see it. I'm already fairly sure what it'll show.
Love the South?
