You assess the fact as dumb.
Only a dummy would do that.
“That’s one of the dumbest liberal statements ever said on FR.”
I’m cautious of such articles, especially when they appear in a notoriously leftist publication. The conclusions look like they gloss over the higher concentration of large military bases in red states. There is also the movement of population upon retirement, which migrates southward (red) along with SS and Medicare dollars. Publications like the Atlantic want to pretend wealthy liberals are supporting lazy hillbillies while much of the per capita disparity results from fleeing citizens and patriotic youngsters.