Series: Would You Switch Political Affiliations?

I will be posing a series of questions as a case for some Democrats to switch political parties. While some folks who subscribe to the Democratic platform are great people, fair-minded, and reasonable, the platform itself may not be conducive to the needs of many who align themselves with it. My hope is to at least get folks to consider adopting another platform.

Here we go.

[HR][/HR]

To Reduce Violent Crime

Republicans contend that the most violent cities in the United States are Democratic strongholds. There is overwhelming evidence to support their argument. Detroit, MI, for example, is considered the most violent city in America. I have even seen lists where 29 of 30 Democratic cities were top places for violence.

The one thing that the Republicans can make the case against Democrats on is that responsible gun ownership has a strong correlation with decreased violent crime. Detroit itself has seen decreased numbers in murder and robbery when the police became overwhelmed and advised residents to arm themselves. While the city has a very long way to go in decreasing violent crime, a small tweak yields results.

If you are a Democrat, would you consider switching political affiliations to help reduce violent crime?

I'm asking this question because residents can already arm themselves under Democratic leadership, but the amount of restrictions makes it very difficult. A different political platform, would make self-defense more accessible.

 

I am a Democrat who believes very strongly in the 2nd Amendment. I have several family members who are gun owners, and they are Democrats too. I am not yet ready to switch my political affiliation. There are a few issues that I agree with the Republicans on---just not ready to join them yet.

 

People seldom switch party affiliation over one issue, unless it's the one and only issue that they care about. I don't think very many (or any) people are going to follow this logic train to jump from Democrat to Republican.

 

I will make the case using a series of issues. It will include taxes, competition against illegal immigration, incompatible social issues, trade-agreements, responsiveness to voting blocs, barriers to entrepreneurship, etcetera.

 

I look forward to your posts.

 

I find people are unlikely to listen to a fundamentalist no matter how well they express there arguments.

Quite frankly, if you support the Republican Party come hell or high water and would not change your position regardless of what happens in the world, you have no hope of switching people.

If you take an open mind yourself, you will inevitably be led to more open minded people where the world is your oyster.

Eitherway I enjoyed reading your post regarding reducing crimes, ie having a family / individual arms race is the best way to avoid violence, perhaps, its also the best way to ensure that when violence does occur the result are catastrophic as opposed to minor.




Anyhow continue on.....

 

I am one disgusted with both major parties and now call the Reform Party home. Both or one or the other major party would have to start putting America first instead of their party for me to switch to either one of them.

 

I like this post because it gives me a chance to expand on why the Democratic platform is not a good one to curb violence.

At face value, the general Democratic stance for firearm restrictions makes sense. With fewer guns, should be less gun-violence, right? Wrong because violent criminals are not taken seriously under Democratic leadership. Their own platform does not believe in the death penalty nor does it believe in punishing violent criminals harshly enough to mitigate their damage. If a mass shooter kills two people and injures five others, he could potentially get out in time to kill more people and commit even more crimes. Many violent offenders in Democratic cities are repeat offenders. Under Republican leadership, violent crimes are dealt with far more harshly and the death penalty is supported. Republican cities are generally safer because of self-defense and the most violent criminals are usually taken out of circulation for good.

Please also note that there exists no individual arms race except between criminal organizations in Democratic strongholds. Nothing in decades has been done to remove violent elements while the remaining populace goes unarmed. If the Democrats could get gun-violence down in their own cities, they would be able to make a decent case for gun restrictions. Lastly, the unchecked violence is catastrophic.

 

72% of Americans say U.S. morals in decline

45% describe state of moral values as "poor"

–Gallup (June, 2015)
​

While I won’t try and sway anyone one way or another on a particular moral/social issue, I will display this chart for those who wish to see which party mostly reflects some of their own moral/social beliefs.

General platform stance (X=opposes, Y=supports)
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65"]Democratic Party[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66"]Republican Party[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]X Abortion restrictions[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67"]Y Abortion restrictions[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl69"]X Capital punishment[/TD]
[TD="class: xl68"]Y Capital punishment[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]Y Legalization of same-sex marriages[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67"]X Legalization of same-sex marriages[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl70, width: 170"]Y Assisted suicide[/TD]
[TD="class: xl71, width: 170"]X Assisted suicide[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]



Morally Acceptable or Morally Wrong, by Party ID
% to have found morally acceptable

[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl68, align: center"]Democrats
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl68, align: center"]Independents[/TD]
[TD="class: xl68, width: 117, align: center"]Republicans[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 108"]Having a baby outside of marriage
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 135, align: center"]59[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 108, align: center"]60[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 117, align: center"]39[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 108"]Homosexual relations[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 135, align: center"]55[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 108, align: center"]52[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 117, align: center"]30[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 108"]Abortion[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 135, align: center"]51[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 108, align: center"]44[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 117, align: center"]25[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 108"]Death penalty[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 135, align: center"]57[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 108, align: center"]65[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 117, align: center"]80[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 108"]Sex between an unmarried man and woman[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 135, align: center"]64[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 108, align: center"]66[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 117, align: center"]46[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 108"]Stem cell research using human embryos[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 135, align: center"]72[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 108, align: center"]63[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 117, align: center"]48[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 108"]Should marriages between same-sex couples be recognized by law as valid?[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 135, align: center"]52[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 108, align: center"]47[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 117, align: center"]22[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

If any of the 72% of Americans who believe morals are on the decline and social values are very important to them, they should consider the Republican party.

I was able to convince several people IRL. I can be pretty convincing I think.

 

Well I'm impressed then.

 

You keep confusing with causality with correlation.

Just because a democrat city has lots of violence / gun violence and a republican city has a utopian level of peace and harmony does not mean that Republican gun policy is more effective then democrat gun policy.

All it does is show, that in utopian cities more people vote for the republicans and in (*)(*)(*)(*) cities more people vote for the democrats.

There is nothing you have posted to suggest (although I am sure you can google some bull(*)(*)(*)(*) studies/stats) that good strong gun regulation would not make a republican city even more utopian or improve a (*)(*)(*)(*)ty democrat city. Alternatively, the opposite argument could also be true.


I am surprised that you managed to convert some people. IMO people converted by close minded zealots who pick a side and then use the issues to justify their decision (ie putting the cart before the horse) usually do not carry much weight with fair minded individuals who like to make a considered decision.

In any event a vote is a vote and good luck on your conversion.

Also with respect any politician who finds homosexuality or sex before marriage morally unacceptable is a (insert word for very limited person here).

 

WalletHub has a list of states ranking them by average state and local taxes, percent difference from national average, and adjusted rank based on the cost of living. I have added which party the state leans politically to get a better visual on how political parties rank. Overall, red states impose lower taxes than blue states or mixed states.

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 467"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]Rank
[/TD]
[TD="width: 164, bgcolor: transparent"]State

[/TD]
[TD="width: 127, bgcolor: transparent"]Where the state leans/is politically
[/TD]
[TD="width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]Avg. State & Local Taxes
[/TD]
[TD="width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]% Difference from National Avg.
[/TD]
[TD="width: 104, bgcolor: transparent"]Adj. Rank (based on Cost of Living Index)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Alaska
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$2,993
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-47%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]5
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]2
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Delaware
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$3,177
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-44%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]3
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Montana
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$3,639
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-36%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]2
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]4
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Wyoming
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$3,926
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-30%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]3
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]5
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Nevada
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$4,107
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-27%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]7
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]6
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Tennessee
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$4,183
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-26%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]4
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]7
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Idaho
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$4,466
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-21%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]6
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]8
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]South Carolina
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$4,532
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-20%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]8
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]9
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]California
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$4,664
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-17%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]30
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]10
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Florida
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$4,776
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-15%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]11
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]11
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Oregon
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Mixed
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]$4,854
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]-14%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]32
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]12
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Alabama
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$4,963
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-12%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]9
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]13
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Colorado
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Mixed
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]$4,971
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]-12%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]12
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]14
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Utah
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,040
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-11%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]10
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]15
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Arizona
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,138
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-9%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]15
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]16
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]South Dakota
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,151
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-9%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]18
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]17
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]New Hampshire
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,245
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-7%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]31
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]18
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]District of Columbia
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,287
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-6%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]46
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]19
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Louisiana
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,391
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-5%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]14
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]20
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Hawaii
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,441
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-4%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]49
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]21
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]North Dakota
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,447
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-4%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]22
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]22
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]West Virginia
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,457
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-3%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]19
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]23
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]North Carolina
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,585
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-1%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]20
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]24
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Georgia
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,600
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-1%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]17
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]25
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Oklahoma
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,603
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-1%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]13
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]26
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]New Mexico
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,607
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]-1%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]16
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]27
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Vermont
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,642
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]0%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]40
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]28
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Virginia
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,745
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]2%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]25
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]29
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Texas
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$5,891
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]4%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]21
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]30
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Missouri
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Mixed
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]$5,972
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]6%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]24
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]31
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Massachusetts
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$6,039
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]7%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]45
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]32
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Maine
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$6,047
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]7%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]39
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]33
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Minnesota
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$6,140
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]9%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]33
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]34
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Washington
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$6,210
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]10%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]36
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]35
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Indiana
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$6,245
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]11%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]26
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]36
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Maryland
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$6,265
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]11%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]44
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]37
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Kentucky
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Mixed
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]$6,304
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]12%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]27
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]38
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Mississippi
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$6,360
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]13%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]23
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]39
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Pennsylvania
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$6,436
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]14%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]38
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]40
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Arkansas
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$6,451
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]14%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]28
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]41
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Kansas
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$6,488
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]15%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]29
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]42
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]New Jersey
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$6,552
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]16%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]47
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]43
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Iowa
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Mixed
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]$6,730
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]19%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]34
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]44
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Ohio
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Mixed
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]$6,834
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]21%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]37
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]45
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Michigan
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$6,902
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]22%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]35
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]46
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]New York
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Mixed
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]$7,062
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]25%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]50
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]47
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Connecticut
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$7,115
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]26%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]51
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]48
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Rhode Island
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$7,159
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]27%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]48
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]49
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Wisconsin
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Republican
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$7,159
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]27%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]42
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]50
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Nebraska
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]Mixed
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]$7,298
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]29%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #CC99FF"]41
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]51
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Illinois
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Democratic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]$7,719
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]37%
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]43
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Notes:

• 7 Republican states are in the top 10 for lowest tax rates and only two in the bottom.
• 3 Democratic states are in the top 10 for lowest tax rates and four are in the bottom.
• No mixed states were in the top 10 for lowest tax rates while four were in the bottom.
• Red, blue, and mixed states were looked up from here.

[HR][/HR]
References:
Best and worst states to be a taxpayer: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-to-be-a-taxpayer/2416/
Red and Blue states: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_states_and_blue_states,
http://unemploymentdata.com/general/unemployment-rate-by-state/

 

Economic Growth

• By the final quarter of 2013, 9 of 10 of the fastest growing U.S. states were controlled by Republican governors.
• Some of the reasons claimed for growth include population growth, use of abundant raw materials, lower taxes, and lighter regulations.
• Six of 10 worst-performing states were run by Democrats (MarketWatch, 2014).

Unemployment Rate

• 9 states affiliated with a Republican legislature made it in the top 25th percentile for low unemployment; 2 for Democrats, and 2 for Mixed.
• 9 states affiliated with a Democratic legislature made it in the highest 12th percentile for high unemployment rates and only 1 for Republicans.
• The top unemployment rate for the red states was 9.4% versus 11.6% for the blue unemployment rate.
• Unemploymentdata has the average unemployment rate of Republican states at 7% and for Democrats 8%.

The following table depicts where unemployment is lowest and highest for the listed race. The Republicans had two states where White and Black persons had the lowest unemployment rates. The Democrats held the next two lowest unemployment rates for Asians and Hispanics. The highest unemployment rates went to four Democratic states. In one state, Hispanics fared the worst with a 20% unemployment rate. Black persons had a +16% unemployment rate in two Democratic states.

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 353"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]Race

[/TD]
[TD="width: 170, bgcolor: transparent"]Where
unemployment
was lowest

[/TD]
[TD="width: 229, bgcolor: transparent"]Where unemployment was highest

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]White
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]North Dakota (1.9%)

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Nevada (7.2%)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Black
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Virginia (8.2%)
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Nevada (16.8%) & Michigan (16.7%)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Hispanic
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]DC (3.0%)
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Rhode Island (20.3%)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Asian
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Washington(2.5%)
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]California (5.9%)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
epi.org

References:
States run by Republican governors boast highest economic growth rates: http://blogs.marketwatch.com/capito...overnors-boast-highest-economic-growth-rates/
Quarter GDP by State, 2005-2013: http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/gdp_state/2014/qgsp0814.htm
Unemployment rate by state: http://unemploymentdata.com/general/unemployment-rate-by-state/
Unemployment rate by race: http://www.epi.org/publication/virginia-boasts-smallest-gaps-in-unemployment-rates-by-race/