We Can't Beat the RED States... So let them have want they want

I have been a lifelong liberal democrat... help the poor, tax the rich and all that kind of stuff. But after enduring these last two elections, I am finally fed up with the RED States painting my liberal values as something immoral. The RED States don't want our values forced on them, and we don't want their values forced on us.

George Bush has campaigned for Less Federal Taxes, a Smaller Federal Government, and More State's Rights and Autonomy. The RED States have voted for this, and I in my BLUE State have conceded to finally let them have what they want. This will mean that each state gets to keep more of it's own money instead of giving it to the Federal Government to hand out as it sees fit.

The idea is that each state will have more of it's own money to fund programs that support the values of it's own population. For example, California has just voted to fund Stem Cell research. With more state money, there is no reason our BLUE States couldn't expand this to support health care, fuel conservation incentives, and other issues important to us. The RED States can't complain if we are spending our own money to support our own BLUE State values.

I would call this my rebirth as a State-Centric Democrat.

When I finally decided to look at the numbers regarding how much each state contributes in Federal Tax and how much they receive in Federal Spending, I found something very interesting...

I found that ALL the RED States combined receive about 90 Billion dollars MORE in Federal Spending Money than they paid in Federal Taxes each year. How is it possible the RED States can receive more than they pay? Where is the extra money coming from? Hint... it comes from the BLUE States. Federal Taxes paid by the BLUE States are being pumped into the economy of the RED States.

That's right, states like Alabama receive $1.69 from the Federal Government for every dollar they pay in Federal Tax. That's a pretty good business! But States like New York and California only receive about 80 cents for every dollar they pay, and poor New Jersey only gets back 57 cents. Money is skimmed off the top and is given to the RED States. The BLUE States also end up paying for things like the Iraq war, which ironically, is a war the RED States want and we don't. Why are we picking up the bill for everything?

My old democratic self would have said the RED States need the money and we have it. But if I said that, the RED States would call me a Leftist Liberal. So in my first day as a new State-Centric Democrat, I concede to let the RED States have what they voted for in George Bush. Less Federal Taxes, a Smaller Federal Government, and more State Autonomy which allows each state to keep more of it's own money. I mean, if they don't want our money, I'm not going to force it down their throats. With this extra state money, we can fund our own BLUE State values.

Here is my simple plan to grant the wishes of the RED States. We in the BLUE States will not block President Bush's plan for Increased State's Rights, Less Federal Tax, and Smaller Federal Government. Citizens of each RED State should review the Census data below. If your RED State is taking more money than it is paying, then call your congressmen with all the vigor you approached the November 2nd polls and tell them you voted for George Bush. Tell them it is Hypocritical of your RED State to take money from the Blue States. Tell them NO state should take more money from the Federal Government than it pays to the Federal Government.

In the end, the BLUE States can financially support their own population and values, and the RED States... well, we wish them the best of luck.

2003 Census Data
Alabama For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.69
Alaska For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.89
Arizona For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.23
Arkansas For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.47
California For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.78
Colorado For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.80
Connecticut For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.65
Delaware For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.82
Florida For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.00
Georgia For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.95
Hawaii For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.58
Idaho For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.32
Illinois For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.73
Indiana For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.96
Iowa For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.06
Kansas For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.13
Kentucky For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.52
Louisiana For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.47
Maine For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.36
Maryland For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.34
Massachusetts For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.78
Michigan For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.86
Minnesota For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.70
Mississippi For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.83
Missouri For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.31
Montana For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.60
Nebraska For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.06
Nevada For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.70
New Hampshire For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.64
New Jersey For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.57
New Mexico For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.99
New York For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.80
North Carolina For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.09
North Dakota For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.75
Ohio For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.02
Oklahoma For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.48
Oregon For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.00
Pennsylvania For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.08
Rhode Island For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.06
South Carolina For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.36
South Dakota For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.49
Tennessee For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.29
Texas For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.98
Utah For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.19
Vermont For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.14
Virginia For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.58
Washington For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.90
West Virginia For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.82
Wisconsin For every $1.00 paid, it gets $0.84
Wyoming For every $1.00 paid, it gets $1.13