The Current Events, News, and Politics Thread
07-16-2018, 09:22 AM
Boost Pope
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^ I find it very seriously interesting that when you take a plot such as that, and overlay it on a plot which shows some measure of economic prosperity (eg: GDP per county), you find that they align.
Why is it that major cities with strong economies tend to be blue, while poorer counties tend to be red? It's the same no matter where you look; the northeast, the west coast, New England, even Texas.
Why is it that major cities with strong economies tend to be blue, while poorer counties tend to be red? It's the same no matter where you look; the northeast, the west coast, New England, even Texas.
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07-16-2018, 09:43 AM
Boost Pope
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I appreciate the sentiment, but it doesn't really answer why regions which have higher-than-average levels of employment and higher-than-averages wages tend to skew blue. Quite the opposite, really.
Seattle, Silicon Valley, Hollywood, San Diego, Dallas, Houston, Boston, Denver, the list goes on. I'm sure there may be an outlier or two, but thus far every city in the US I've checked which has continuously ranked highly in GDP and education for any length of time, and is the home of significant industry and commerce, also tends to be in a blue area of that map.
Seattle, Silicon Valley, Hollywood, San Diego, Dallas, Houston, Boston, Denver, the list goes on. I'm sure there may be an outlier or two, but thus far every city in the US I've checked which has continuously ranked highly in GDP and education for any length of time, and is the home of significant industry and commerce, also tends to be in a blue area of that map.
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07-16-2018, 10:13 AM
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Major cities, on the whole, tend to have higher levels of productivity and their populace tend to have higher levels of educational attainment, than in rural areas. This presents an interesting conundrum. On the one hand, higher levels of education tend to positively correlate with voting democratic, whereas on the other higher levels of income tend to positively correlate with voting republican.
To be certain, economic prosperity is unequally distributed in places like Chicago and NYC. For every one person you have working in a nice office and pulling down an easy six-figure salary, you have several working restaurant jobs or living in the fringes of the city on welfare or unemployment.
I can see why a person whose experience is mostly suburban would view a large city as a slum-haven of welfare. That's certainly what you see on TV. But having grown up in a small town on the gulf coast of Florida, I can tell you that they have just as many people who are unemployed or employed at low-wage jobs. The big difference is that they don't have the major economic centers which produce those higher-wage jobs and large amounts of business-tax revenue. So if you live in the sticks, you get all the bad, without the good, from an economic standpoint.
And, yet, those more rural areas tend to be red.
Look into some towns in those red areas, and I'll bet you that for at least 75%, the largest employer in each one (either by employee count or by economic activity) is something like the local hospital or the local school system. There will be exceptions of course, like towns which were lucky enough to score a Toyota plant or which still have a strong mining industry, but I'm talking about overall trends.
Unrelated:
Last edited by Joe Perez; 07-16-2018 at 11:07 AM.
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07-16-2018, 10:52 AM
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I come from a small town that was 100 miles away from the nearest decent sized city but we moved closer to a larger city when I was a teenager and so can confirm what Joe said is correct.
One thing he mentioned but not really focus upon is that in small towns further than 50 miles from a major metro area the wages are SIGNIFICANTLY lower than metro areas and small towns within driving distance of major metro areas.
A significant number of people living in smaller towns closer than 50 miles to a metro area drive 40 or 50 miles each way to work in the metro area so this gives the wage (and cost of living) boost to those communities that towns further away do not get.
My cousins still live in the small town I grew up in and none of them have made more than $10 per hour at any time in their lives.
It is due to the lack of high tech (and higher paying) jobs in small towns.
Companies which require employees that have specific skills either work with local education facilities to get the necessary training or move to larger areas where people with the required skill sets are already available.
If a company needs a number of skill sets it becomes more important for them to be located near a metro area in order to have the larger pool of skilled employees.
There are lots of exceptions to what I mentioned but they are exceptions and not the norm.
One thing he mentioned but not really focus upon is that in small towns further than 50 miles from a major metro area the wages are SIGNIFICANTLY lower than metro areas and small towns within driving distance of major metro areas.
A significant number of people living in smaller towns closer than 50 miles to a metro area drive 40 or 50 miles each way to work in the metro area so this gives the wage (and cost of living) boost to those communities that towns further away do not get.
My cousins still live in the small town I grew up in and none of them have made more than $10 per hour at any time in their lives.
It is due to the lack of high tech (and higher paying) jobs in small towns.
Companies which require employees that have specific skills either work with local education facilities to get the necessary training or move to larger areas where people with the required skill sets are already available.
If a company needs a number of skill sets it becomes more important for them to be located near a metro area in order to have the larger pool of skilled employees.
There are lots of exceptions to what I mentioned but they are exceptions and not the norm.
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07-16-2018, 11:59 AM
Both wages and the cost of living is substantially higher in urban areas, but since homeless people don't pay the cost of living...
It's a hell of a lot harder to get by when you're panhandling in the middle of a soybean field...
Left-leaning people are those most susceptible to peer pressure; it's the peer pressure which generates the left-ness. There are far fewer peers in Wyoming...
Similarly, left-leaning people aren't self confident enough to be left-leaning by themselves - ever seen a riot at the convenience store located at the corner of two country roads?
Edit: There are plenty of right-leaning people earning a ****-ton of income in left-leaning areas (i.e. - cities), but they earn enough money that they don't have to put up with living in left-leaning areas (probably an astounding percent of the red people living in red areas live within 25 miles of a blue area.)
It's a hell of a lot harder to get by when you're panhandling in the middle of a soybean field...
Left-leaning people are those most susceptible to peer pressure; it's the peer pressure which generates the left-ness. There are far fewer peers in Wyoming...
Similarly, left-leaning people aren't self confident enough to be left-leaning by themselves - ever seen a riot at the convenience store located at the corner of two country roads?
Edit: There are plenty of right-leaning people earning a ****-ton of income in left-leaning areas (i.e. - cities), but they earn enough money that they don't have to put up with living in left-leaning areas (probably an astounding percent of the red people living in red areas live within 25 miles of a blue area.)
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07-16-2018, 12:30 PM
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Most persons criminally incarcerated lean Democrat, too, but they can't vote in most states.
I bet most people with bad credit lean Democrat (see financially insecure in chart below). I bet more renters lean Democrat and more homeowners lean Republican.
I bet most people with bad credit lean Democrat (see financially insecure in chart below). I bet more renters lean Democrat and more homeowners lean Republican.
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07-16-2018, 12:47 PM
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Good thing JoeP just works with journalists...
https://nordic.businessinsider.com/j...verage-2017-5/
https://nordic.businessinsider.com/j...verage-2017-5/
Journalists' brains apparently show a lower level of executive functioning, which means a below average ability to regulate their emotions, suppress biases, solve complex problems, switch between tasks, and show creative and flexible thinking.
This is according to a new study led by neuroscientist and leadership coach Dr Tara Swart, who selected 40 journalists from newspaper, magazine, broadcast, and online platforms to analyse.
The research was conducted over seven months, where the participants took part in simple tests relating to their lifestyle, health, and behaviour.
It was launched in association with the London Press Club, and the main objective was to determine how journalists are wired to be able to thrive under stress.
Each subject completed a blood test, wore a heart-rate monitor for three days, kept a food and drink diary for a week, and completed a brain profile questionnaire.
The results showed that journalists' brains were operating at a lower level than the average population, particularly due to dehydration and their tendency to self-medicate with alcohol, caffeine, and high-sugar foods.
This is according to a new study led by neuroscientist and leadership coach Dr Tara Swart, who selected 40 journalists from newspaper, magazine, broadcast, and online platforms to analyse.
The research was conducted over seven months, where the participants took part in simple tests relating to their lifestyle, health, and behaviour.
It was launched in association with the London Press Club, and the main objective was to determine how journalists are wired to be able to thrive under stress.
Each subject completed a blood test, wore a heart-rate monitor for three days, kept a food and drink diary for a week, and completed a brain profile questionnaire.
The results showed that journalists' brains were operating at a lower level than the average population, particularly due to dehydration and their tendency to self-medicate with alcohol, caffeine, and high-sugar foods.
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07-16-2018, 12:51 PM
Boost Czar
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lol:
see also: uranium.
President Obama was overheard on an open mic giving outgoing Russian President Medevev a candid political assessment of his ability to deal with relations between the U.S. and Russia, saying he would have more flexibility after the election. Bill Plante reports.
see also: uranium.
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07-16-2018, 02:27 PM
Boost Czar
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#nevertrump
also in headlines:
After an over three-year delay on a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, government watchdog group Judicial Watch finally received pertinent documents from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) processed by the Obama administration. The documents reveal that migrant minors allowed into the U.S. under Obama's tenure included admitted drug smugglers, murderers, MS-13 members, and prostitutes.
According to Judaical Watch, "Reports include 1,000 significant incident reports, revealing UAC 'refugees' admitting to murder for drug cartels, prostitution, and sexual predation."
The report breaks down the incident reports in four categories:
"The Obama administration presided over a humanitarian and public safety nightmare in its handling of 'unaccompanied alien children,'" said Tom Fitton, the president of Judicial Watch. "The incident reports also support the Trump administration’s contention that the UAC crisis, which continues, includes murderers, rapists, drug smugglers and human traffickers being routinely allowed into the United States."
...
The watchdog group listed nine examples of processed alien children "admitting to murder, belonging to MS-13, threatening others with rape, admitting to drug smuggling, molesting other UACs and seriously assaulting other UACs or staff" including:
According to Judaical Watch, "Reports include 1,000 significant incident reports, revealing UAC 'refugees' admitting to murder for drug cartels, prostitution, and sexual predation."
The report breaks down the incident reports in four categories:
- UACs admitting to murder, belonging to MS-13, threatening others with rape, admitting to drug smuggling, molesting other UACs and seriously assaulting other UACs or staff;
- UACs who were raped and/or molested en route to the United States or in the United States;
- U.S. Government contractors and employees allegedly assaulting or having sexual relationships with UACs; and
- Other incidents, crimes, abuse and self-harm.
...
The watchdog group listed nine examples of processed alien children "admitting to murder, belonging to MS-13, threatening others with rape, admitting to drug smuggling, molesting other UACs and seriously assaulting other UACs or staff" including:
- A male UAC at a BCFS shelter in Fairfield, CA admitted that he was “forced to kill” while working for the Gulf Cartel in Mexico
- A male UAC being cared for at the Heartland International RC Facility reported that he had been an MS-13 gang member for a year before coming to the U.S.
- A male UAC cared for at the Heartland ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) facility reported to staff that he had been “made to” kill three people by a drug cartel.
- A male UAC housed at the KidsPeace shelter (apparently a reference to the KidsPeace facility in Bethlehem, PA) reportedly told another male UAC there: “I am a rapist. I am going to rape you.”
- A UAC at Morrison Paso (Morrison Child and Family Services Center – Paso Secure in Portland, OR) informed a Youth Care Worker (YCW) there that “all of the kids here at Paso are snorting white pills” and that “some residents had brought [the pills] into the facility” and “all the residents are snorting the white pills and at all the times of the day”
- A male UAC in the care of Heartland ICRC reported that he was an MS-13 gang member who had been selling drugs. He told social workers that “the reason the gang members made the kids use drugs was to get them addicted.”
- A female UAC at the Sandy Pines (Jupiter, FL) facility attacked a staff member with a chair after being told to stop inappropriate sexual behavior toward another female UAC. After being restrained, she threatened to stab an unidentified person with a knife she kept in her room. The report concludes by saying, “UAC will continue to work on identifying and implementing coping skills to manage her mood.”
- A male UAC at a Baptist Child and Family Services (BCFS) shelter in Baytown, TX said he’d worked as a human smuggler, charging $6,000-$8,000 per person he crossed into the United States
- A female UAC at the BCFS shelter in Lackland AFB was alleged by other UACs to be the daughter of a coyote (human smuggler) and reportedly was passing information to her father via telephone from the shelter
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07-16-2018, 05:57 PM
Both wages and the cost of living is substantially higher in urban areas, but since homeless people don't pay the cost of living...
It's a hell of a lot harder to get by when you're panhandling in the middle of a soybean field...
Left-leaning people are those most susceptible to peer pressure; it's the peer pressure which generates the left-ness. There are far fewer peers in Wyoming...
Similarly, left-leaning people aren't self confident enough to be left-leaning by themselves - ever seen a riot at the convenience store located at the corner of two country roads?
Edit: There are plenty of right-leaning people earning a ****-ton of income in left-leaning areas (i.e. - cities), but they earn enough money that they don't have to put up with living in left-leaning areas (probably an astounding percent of the red people living in red areas live within 25 miles of a blue area.)
It's a hell of a lot harder to get by when you're panhandling in the middle of a soybean field...
Left-leaning people are those most susceptible to peer pressure; it's the peer pressure which generates the left-ness. There are far fewer peers in Wyoming...
Similarly, left-leaning people aren't self confident enough to be left-leaning by themselves - ever seen a riot at the convenience store located at the corner of two country roads?
Edit: There are plenty of right-leaning people earning a ****-ton of income in left-leaning areas (i.e. - cities), but they earn enough money that they don't have to put up with living in left-leaning areas (probably an astounding percent of the red people living in red areas live within 25 miles of a blue area.)
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07-16-2018, 08:47 PM
Boost Pope
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One thing he mentioned but not really focus upon is that in small towns further than 50 miles from a major metro area the wages are SIGNIFICANTLY lower than metro areas and small towns within driving distance of major metro areas.
A significant number of people living in smaller towns closer than 50 miles to a metro area drive 40 or 50 miles each way to work in the metro area so this gives the wage (and cost of living) boost to those communities that towns further away do not get.
A significant number of people living in smaller towns closer than 50 miles to a metro area drive 40 or 50 miles each way to work in the metro area so this gives the wage (and cost of living) boost to those communities that towns further away do not get.
If you were to fire up Zillow and do a plot of the property values in cities and towns surrounding NYC, there is a very sharp dropoff at the points where Metro North / Long Island Railroad / NJ Transit service ends. (These are the three major commuter railroads which people ride into the city every day.)
The difference is staggering. You can go as far north as Poughkeepsie, the extreme north terminus of the Hudson Line route, which is about a 90 minute train ride each way, and a nice detached single-family house is still in the $400-$600k range. Drive 30 minutes further north along the river, and that same house is $150k, plus easy access to Meth dealers.
This difference is further reflected in, how shall we say this... the intellectual quality of the townsfolk.
Edit: There are plenty of right-leaning people earning a ****-ton of income in left-leaning areas (i.e. - cities), but they earn enough money that they don't have to put up with living in left-leaning areas (probably an astounding percent of the red people living in red areas live within 25 miles of a blue area.)
Pretty much all of my employees live way out in the 'burbs, and commute 45-60 minutes each way via either car or train.
By comparison, those of us at the top of the management hierarchy (myself, the VP of Technology, the News Director, the GM, etc) all live within the city limits.
I can understand wanting to flee to the 'burbs if you have kids and dogs and stuff, but in terms of quality-of-life, there's nothing like having an ultra-short commute and access to all of the amenities of city life, even if it does come with an increased tax burden. I wouldn't trade my 9 minute drive / 20 minute jog to work for a big house with a huge garage an hour away.
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07-16-2018, 09:20 PM
Perhaps some people on this board who hate their jobs (and/or their lives in general) will chime in and tell us how their commutes factor in to all that.
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