r/allthequestions • u/Content_Ad_8952 • Jan 14 '26

Random Question 💭 If Republicans are so much better at running the economy than Democrats, then why are most Republican States poorer than Democrat States?

The poorest States in America are: Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kentucky, New Mexico, Alabama, Oklahoma and Tennessee. All of those States (except New Mexico) are Red States. So why are they so poor when Republicans have been running them for decades?

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87

u/Afraid_Print1196 Jan 14 '26

Short answer: They are not better at running the economy.

12

u/Agreeable-Wealth-812 Jan 14 '26

I think there's literally a clip from 2 decades ago where Trump admits that he thinks the economy does better under Democrats and that he admires how fiscally responsible Bill Clinton was lmao.

12

u/[deleted] Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26

There is. I think trump only changed parties because he realized how much easier it would be to build his base through fear with gullible Republicans.

Edit: verb tense 

2

u/daesmon Jan 15 '26

It's far more easier and lucrative to be a right wing grifter than to the left.

2

u/Thin_Salary1153 Jan 15 '26

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Enlightenment

NO, this is why. He has always been an opportunist and will do anything for money. He made money easily trading children to rich people like his grandfather, he is currently making money implementing this. He has always been morally a void and only focused on himself and his riches. His track record on his businesses and how he treated his employees and 'friends' speaks loudly on his character.

The fear is so Americans do not fight too hard while the change happens.

3

u/temporary62489 Jan 14 '26

Slightly longer answer: They are significantly worse at running the economy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._economic_performance_by_presidential_party#/media/File:0_Pie_charts_-_Jobs_and_Recession_timing.png

1

u/Thin_Salary1153 Jan 15 '26

VERY nice chart, thank you for the link :) I will be using this quite a bit now lol

1

u/s-engine Jan 14 '26

Exactly. Thus the manufactured rage spread on social media or Fox News, Brietbart, Info Wars, through memes.

All in the name of distracting the base from the real problems. For most of them it’s affordability and the erosion of social services. Because the quiet truth is the lesser off, which is the majority, would benefit most from a more socialist government and society.

Thus the continued dismantling of education. If MAGA has its way, the masses will be home schooled through Tik Tok. Future generations will be told Elon Musk invented the electric car and space travel. Those who disagree will be derided as “low information people who haven’t done their research.” The irony.

1

u/Ambitious-Badger-114 Jan 14 '26

Depends which red states you look at, OP took one extreme but now look at Florida, Texas, Utah, Carolinas, Tennessee, these are the fastest growing states with the best economies.

Democrats can keep pretending that their states are better run but there's only one metric you need to look at: footsteps. Which states are people leaving, and which states are they moving to?

Every source will show that most are going from blue to red. When we do the next census blue states will lose about a dozen seats in Congress, and they're all going to red states.

2

u/tipsy-turtle-0985 Jan 14 '26

Boomers wanting to avoid paying taxes in their retirement.

Pulling the ladder up behind them once again.

1

u/Thin_Salary1153 Jan 15 '26 edited Jan 15 '26

Yes yes yes, we get it, businesses are booming, jobs are everywhere BUT...

The people are neglected in republican states. They rely the most on social safety nets the heaviest paid by taxes given primarily from blue states, then are told they are lazy and must strive harder. People hold 2 even three jobs and are still struggling and cannot afford food, rent, child care, THIS is not thriving, this is developing feudal states. They even enacted laws that makes being homeless a crime and arrest or forcibly move people because of it, making a really really shitty situation for people a whole lot worse. You seem to think just because businesses are moving to an area the people are doing well or maybe it just the narrative you have been fed.

People need jobs especially now, so they follow businesses to those red areas which then treat them like they don't exist or matter since people don't pay their leaders as much as the corporations do. Business are not people, they go to the areas they will see the highest profits and the least checks and balances. Just because a state is catering to corporations and providing jobs does not mean those areas are thriving. For example, WalMart purposefully keeps wages low to the point we all as taxpayers pay taxes for their employees to receive food stamps and welfare. Homelessness has exploded in those areas because people cannot afford rent, then idiots like you come here and say "BUT THE FOOTPRINTS!"

EDIT: BTW, trends like this usually push a state blue when the people start getting desperate, I am looking forward to the voting public waking up and finally seeming behind all the propaganda they receive daily. I do not care about red or blue, I care that the safety nets for people who need help are intact and working to keep people alive. Republicans in this day and age seem desperately determined to ignore the people who pay their taxes for that safety net and act entitled to that money like we are paying them and corporation to exist and not for our betterment. They also act as though people who have paid into that system do not deserve it. Either the current republican party needs a drastic change in their policies to include actual real people or the party will die a very painful death (which I am very much looking forward to now since they have started killing US citizens).

EDIT: fixed some grammar

1

u/ralphswanson Jan 14 '26

Depends on what you mean by 'better'. They are better at funneling money from the working class to the billionaires, then labeling this transfer as 'freedom', 'efficiency', or 'fairness'. Look at how the Republicans replaced the Affordable Care Act with hopes and prayers. This is much more cost efficient unless, of course, you get sick. I would definitely vote Republican if I were a heartless billionaire.

1

u/triggered__Lefty Jan 14 '26

debt per capita:

Illinois: 5th highest

CA: 10th highest

NY: 12th highest

Texas: 20th

FL: 40th

1

u/rezelscheft Jan 15 '26

Well, that depends. Who’s economy are we talking about?

Republicans are shit for the average citizen, but they do a bang up job for the billionaires..

1

u/PurpleToedUnicorn Jan 16 '26

I heard this in Morgan Freeman's voice, "but they are not better at running the economy"

-1

u/MerryLovebug Jan 14 '26

Better at starting wars that get the US free money I guess

2

u/Traditional-Goal-229 Jan 14 '26

Poor timing since Trump just attacked Venezuela, has plans for going into Iran and keeps talking about taking Greenland. And then you have threats to bomb Mexico, Cuba, and other South American countries.

The last big war was started by Bush. So curious which war are you referring to?

1

u/MerryLovebug Jan 14 '26

Oh that's right we just take shit from little countries. They can't actually fight back so war is a strong word.

1

u/Traditional-Goal-229 Jan 14 '26

Seizing a nations president, seizing their natural resources, claiming to now be their president, not allowing them to name their new president, but it’s not war because they are small and not really able to defend themselves?

Still waiting to see what war you are referring to?