Comments on: Deep Blue, Metropolis, Big Sky, Greater Dixie http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/11/deep_blue_metro.html The Law, the Universe, and Everything Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:55:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Frank http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/11/deep_blue_metro.html/comment-page-1#comment-56415 Frank Mon, 13 Nov 2006 21:26:39 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/11/deep-blue-metropolis-big-sky-greater-dixie.html#comment-56415 Well, I put my distancing comment in about the analysis as opposed to the data for precisely that reason. Cox's Marx/Dawkins view of religion in the red states is totally superfluous to the points that emerge from the economic data. As for "what is going on:" Perhaps people think that it's shameful that 46 million Americans lack health insurance. Perhaps, as that number grows, it's no longer a matter of national pride, but of personal survival. Perhaps the people in the states with the highest war casualities were upset when it appeared that the estate tax cut was a higher priority than, say, body armor (and fully armored humvees) for the troops. Perhaps they'd also like to see more generous funding for veterans and VA hospitals. Well, I put my distancing comment in about the analysis as opposed to the data for precisely that reason. Cox’s Marx/Dawkins view of religion in the red states is totally superfluous to the points that emerge from the economic data.

As for “what is going on:” Perhaps people think that it’s shameful that 46 million Americans lack health insurance. Perhaps, as that number grows, it’s no longer a matter of national pride, but of personal survival. Perhaps the people in the states with the highest war casualities were upset when it appeared that the estate tax cut was a higher priority than, say, body armor (and fully armored humvees) for the troops. Perhaps they’d also like to see more generous funding for veterans and VA hospitals.

]]> By: Nate Oman http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/11/deep_blue_metro.html/comment-page-1#comment-56414 Nate Oman Mon, 13 Nov 2006 20:11:31 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/11/deep-blue-metropolis-big-sky-greater-dixie.html#comment-56414 Frank: I thought that the data plots were interesting, but I agree with you that Cox's analysis is not especially inspiring. I think that he is right to point out that more is going on here than differing attitudes toward moral issues, but it is not clear that he has any particular grasp of what is going on. Indeed, by the time he starts relying on Wolcott's <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2006/11/wolcott200611" rel="nofollow">execrable Vanity Fair piece</a> arguing that Lutheran Scoutmasters are serial tortures and murderers just below the skin, his analysis starts looking like partisan hackery with scatter plots. Frank: I thought that the data plots were interesting, but I agree with you that Cox’s analysis is not especially inspiring. I think that he is right to point out that more is going on here than differing attitudes toward moral issues, but it is not clear that he has any particular grasp of what is going on. Indeed, by the time he starts relying on Wolcott’s execrable Vanity Fair piece arguing that Lutheran Scoutmasters are serial tortures and murderers just below the skin, his analysis starts looking like partisan hackery with scatter plots.

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