Urban Legends and Folklore: IQ and Voter Preference in 2004 Presidential Election

Urban Legends and Folklore ^

[MikefromOhio]

Urban Legends and Folklore IQ and Voter Preference in 2004 Presidential Election

Netlore Archive: In which the results of the 2004 U.S. presidential election are correlated with purported average IQ of voters in each state

Description: Net hoax Circulating since: Nov. 2004 (this version) Status: False Analysis: See below

IQ and Voter Preference State Average IQ 2004 1 Connecticut 113 Kerry 2 Massachusetts 111 Kerry 3 New Jersey 111 Kerry 4 New York 109 Kerry 5 Rhode Island 107 Kerry 6 Hawaii 106 Kerry 7 Maryland 105 Kerry 8 New Hampshire 105 Kerry 9 Illinois 104 Kerry 10 Delaware 103 Kerry 11 Minnesota 102 Kerry 12 Vermont 102 Kerry 13 Washington 102 Kerry 14 California 101 Kerry 15 Pennsylvania 101 Kerry 16 Maine 100 Kerry 17 Virginia 100 Bush 18 Wisconsin 100 Kerry 19 Colorado 99 Bush 20 Iowa 99 Bush 21 Michigan 99 Kerry 22 Nevada 99 Bush 23 Ohio 99 Bush 24 Oregon 99 Kerry 25 Alaska 98 Bush 26 Florida 98 Bush 27 Missouri 98 Bush 28 Kansas 96 Bush 29 Nebraska 95 Bush 30 Arizona 94 Bush 31 Indiana 94 Bush 32 Tennessee 94 Bush 33 North Carolina 93 Bush 34 West Virginia 93 Bush 35 Arkansas 92 Bush 36 Georgia 92 Bush 37 Kentucky 92 Bush 38 New Mexico 92 Bush 39 North Dakota 92 Bush 40 Texas 92 Bush 41 Alabama 90 Bush 42 Louisiana 90 Bush 43 Montana 90 Bush 44 Oklahoma 90 Bush 45 South Dakota 90 Bush 46 South Carolina 89 Bush 47 Wyoming 89 Bush 48 Idaho 87 Bush 49 Utah 87 Bush 50 Mississippi 85 Bush

Comments: The data charted above, which began circulating on the Internet shortly after the U.S. presidential election of 2004, would appear to confirm an elitist supposition held by some on the left — namely that Bush supporters are dumber than Kerry supporters.

There's just one problem: the numbers in the "Average IQ" column were fabricated. No such data exists.

As it happens, the same figures were bandied about earlier this year in reference to 2000's Bush/Gore election, and discredited in short order. Then, as now, it was claimed that the numbers purporting to represent average IQ by state came from a book entitled "IQ and the Wealth of Nations." However, one of its authors, Richard Lynn, stated that the book contains no such data.

It also bears pointing out that three states switched their electoral preference from one party to the other between 2000 and 2004, with no corresponding change in the alleged IQ of the populace.

Lastly, the hoax is reminiscent of a widely circulated email dating from 2001 which claimed, on the basis of phony documentation, that G.W. Bush has the lowest IQ of any modern president.

[ovrtaxt]

Yep. And I live in Tampa- born and raised here. The area to the north of the city, New Port Richey and points north, seem to be a Masshole magnet. Long Island Yankee fans are also in great abundance there.

[arasina]

HEY! WHO'S THE FREAKIN' GENIUS, HERE? I know for sure it ain't you! SO SHUT THE HELL UP, YA DUMB BASTID!

brohamie, I'd use your line, word for word, but I'm too dumb to remember it. I did have a pretty good win record for "High Q" though.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Hmm...

Sounds like a you're a card shark.

Good thing I have my poker face on.

(Strips off "gridiron" face. Puts on "poker" face.)

[Lady Jag]

Don't hang your hat on those stats. The smartest people in those blue states voted for Bush.

[Slings and Arrows]

My deepest sympathy. Maybe you can scare them off...

"Hey, I go by the gun shop on my way to protest the abortion clinic! Y'all need anything?"

[onyx]

My husband is a psychiatrist.
His criteria in people has everything to do with
their treatment of other people, especially strangers.
For that reason and others, he chose to retire and live
out his life in the poorest state (Mississippi) which is
also the most charitable giving state in this nation.

Those who have the least, give the most.
I happen to agree with him.

BTW, on this "thang" note that Mississippi is rated # 50.

[muir_redwoods]

I refuse to believe that there is a measurable difference in IQ on a state-by-state basis. Any US State has a high enough population to yield a normal distribution of IQ. Anyone who thinks that my state of Connecticut has an average IQ 28 points higher than the average IQ in Mississippi is dragging down the IQ in his state.

Not measurably though.

[MissouriConservative]

Here is the real IQ list by states and who they voted for

STATE

Avg. IQ	2004
New Hampshire	104	Kerry
Massachusetts	103	Kerry
Oregon	103	Kerry
Wisconsin	103	Kerry
Colorado	102	Bush
Connecticut	102	Kerry
Illinois	102	Kerry
Iowa	102	Bush
Kansas	102	Bush
Minnesota	102	Kerry
Montana	102	Bush
Nebraska	102	Bush
North Dakota	102	Bush
Oklahoma	102	Bush
Vermont	102	Kerry
Washington	102	Kerry
Alaska	101	Bush
Maryland	101	Kerry
Michigan	101	Kerry
Missouri	101	Bush
New York	101	Kerry
Ohio	101	Bush
Utah	101	Bush
Wyoming	101	Bush
Arizona	100	Bush
California	100	Kerry
Idaho	100	Bush
Maine	100	Kerry
Nevada	100	Bush
New Jersey	100	Kerry
Pennsylvania	100	Kerry
Rhode Island	100	Kerry
South Dakota	100	Bush
Virginia	100	Bush
West Virginia	100	Bush
Delaware	99	Kerry
Hawaii	99	Kerry
Indiana	99	Bush
Arkansas	98	Bush
Florida	98	Bush
Alabama	97	Bush
Georgia	97	Bush
Kentucky	97	Bush
Louisiana	97	Bush
North Carolina	97	Bush
Tennessee	97	Bush
Texas	97	Bush
New Mexico	96	Bush
District of Columbia	95	Kerry
Mississippi	94	Bush
South Carolina	94	Bush

[MissouriConservative]

Forgot the link....sorry

http://www.sq.4mg.com/IQpolitics.htm

[ovrtaxt]

And as I'm driving by, I'll have Hava Nagila cranked up to "11".

That should surely scare them!

And yes, that's an old Slings and Arrows joke that I still remember.

[FreedomCalls]

That's not true, but this is:

White Total Fertility Rate	Bush %
USA	1.83	50.9%
Utah	2.45	71.1%
Alaska	2.28	61.8%
Idaho	2.20	68.5%
Kansas	2.06	62.2%
South Dakota	2.02	59.9%
Nebraska	2.02	66.0%
Oklahoma	2.01	65.6%
Wyoming	1.99	69.0%
Indiana	1.94	60.0%
Arkansas	1.94	54.3%
Texas	1.93	61.2%
Arizona	1.92	54.9%
Mississippi	1.92	59.6%
New Mexico	1.90	49.8%
Georgia	1.90	58.1%
Iowa	1.89	50.1%
Missouri	1.89	53.4%
Ohio	1.89	51.0%
Louisiana	1.88	56.7%
Michigan	1.88	47.8%
Montana	1.87	59.1%
Colorado	1.86	52.0%
Nevada	1.85	50.5%
Kentucky	1.85	59.5%
North Carolina	1.84	56.1%
Alabama	1.84	62.5%
Minnesota	1.83	47.6%
New Jersey	1.83	46.4%
Tennessee	1.83	56.8%
Virginia	1.82	54.0%
Maryland	1.81	43.3%
Illinois	1.80	44.6%
South Carolina	1.80	58.0%
Florida	1.78	52.1%
North Dakota	1.78	62.9%
West Virginia	1.78	56.0%
Wisconsin	1.78	49.4%
Oregon	1.76	47.6%
Connecticut	1.75	44.0%
Washington	1.72	45.6%
Pennsylvania	1.72	48.6%
New York	1.72	40.5%
Delaware	1.71	45.8%
New Hampshire	1.69	49.0%
California	1.65	44.5%
Maine	1.65	44.6%
Vermont	1.63	38.9%
Massachusetts	1.60	37.0%
Hawaii	1.59	45.3%
Rhode Island	1.50	38.9%
District of Columbia	1.11	9.3%

Democrats are literally aborting themselves out of existence!

[FreedomCalls]

Link for the above:

http://www.isteve.com/babygap.htm

[MikefromOhio]

its an urban legend

any poll subscribing to say this is the average IQ of whatever state is a hoax or is at the very least suspect

[Lady Jag]

A number of agencies and individuals would beg to disagree about IQ estimation being an Urban Legend. Their methodology may be criticized but man efforts are honest.   2004-2005 Smartest State Award

[Lady Jag]

#1 Ranking is "Smartest"

 

2004-2005 Smartest State Award
ALPHA ORDER						RANK ORDER
RANK	STATE	SMART RATING	2003-2004 RANK	CHANGE		RANK	STATE	SMART RATING	2003-2004 RANK	CHANGE
44	Alabama	(11.28)	46	2		1	Massachusetts	18.43	1	0
45	Alaska	(12.00)	23	-22		2	Connecticut	15.78	3	1
48	Arizona	(17.05)	45	-3		3	Vermont	14.77	2	-1
36	Arkansas	(4.12)	38	2		4	New Jersey	14.42	5	1
43	California	(7.61)	44	1		5	Wisconsin	9.62	8	3
21	Colorado	0.44	35	14		6	New York	9.07	10	4
2	Connecticut	15.78	3	1		7	Minnesota	7.96	12	5
27	Delaware	(0.72)	19	-8		8	Iowa	7.80	8	0
39	Florida	(6.63)	40	1		9	Pennsylvania	7.57	7	-2
38	Georgia	(5.78)	36	-2		10	Montana	6.97	4	-6
42	Hawaii	(6.93)	43	1		11	Maine	6.43	6	-5
29	Idaho	(2.37)	30	1		12	Virginia	5.91	17	5
24	Illinois	(0.32)	27	3		13	Nebraska	4.94	11	-2
17	Indiana	2.44	13	-4		14	New Hampshire	3.72	26	12
8	Iowa	7.80	8	0		15	Kansas	3.54	15	0
15	Kansas	3.54	15	0		16	Wyoming	3.51	14	-2
37	Kentucky	(5.19)	37	0		17	Indiana	2.44	13	-4
46	Louisiana	(12.83)	47	1		18	Maryland	2.29	18	0
11	Maine	6.43	6	-5		19	North Dakota	1.27	24	5
18	Maryland	2.29	18	0		20	Ohio	0.51	22	2
1	Massachusetts	18.43	1	0		21	Colorado	0.44	35	14
31	Michigan	(2.68)	20	-11		22	South Dakota	0.13	31	9
7	Minnesota	7.96	12	5		23	Rhode Island	0.07	16	-7
47	Mississippi	(15.30)	48	1		24	Illinois	(0.32)	27	3
26	Missouri	(0.50)	28	2		25	North Carolina	(0.40)	21	-4
10	Montana	6.97	4	-6		26	Missouri	(0.50)	28	2
13	Nebraska	4.94	11	-2		27	Delaware	(0.72)	19	-8
49	Nevada	(17.33)	49	0		28	Utah	(0.85)	25	-3
14	New Hampshire	3.72	26	12		29	Idaho	(2.37)	30	1
4	New Jersey	14.42	5	1		30	Washington	(2.40)	33	3
50	New Mexico	(18.09)	50	0		31	Michigan	(2.68)	20	-11
6	New York	9.07	10	4		32	South Carolina	(3.27)	41	9
25	North Carolina	(0.40)	21	-4		33	Texas	(3.31)	34	1
19	North Dakota	1.27	24	5		33	West Virginia	(3.31)	29	-4
20	Ohio	0.51	22	2		35	Oregon	(3.38)	32	-3
40	Oklahoma	(6.90)	39	-1		36	Arkansas	(4.12)	38	2
35	Oregon	(3.38)	32	-3		37	Kentucky	(5.19)	37	0
9	Pennsylvania	7.57	7	-2		38	Georgia	(5.78)	36	-2
23	Rhode Island	0.07	16	-7		39	Florida	(6.63)	40	1
32	South Carolina	(3.27)	41	9		40	Oklahoma	(6.90)	39	-1
22	South Dakota	0.13	31	9		41	Tennessee	(6.91)	42	1
41	Tennessee	(6.91)	42	1		42	Hawaii	(6.93)	43	1
33	Texas	(3.31)	34	1		43	California	(7.61)	44	1
28	Utah	(0.85)	25	-3		44	Alabama	(11.28)	46	2
3	Vermont	14.77	2	-1		45	Alaska	(12.00)	23	-22
12	Virginia	5.91	17	5		46	Louisiana	(12.83)	47	1
30	Washington	(2.40)	33	3		47	Mississippi	(15.30)	48	1
33	West Virginia	(3.31)	29	-4		48	Arizona	(17.05)	45	-3
5	Wisconsin	9.62	8	3		49	Nevada	(17.33)	49	0
16	Wyoming	3.51	14	-2		50	New Mexico	(18.09)	50	0

 

METHODOLOGY--This second Smartest State designation is awarded based on 21 factors chosen from Morgan Quitno’s annual reference book, Education State Rankings, 2004-2005.  To calculate the Smartest State rankings, the 21 factors were divided into two groups: those that are “negative” for which a high ranking would be considered bad for a state, and those that are “positive” for which a high ranking would be considered good. Rates for each of the 21 factors were processed through a formula that measures how a state compares to the national average for a given category. The positive and negative nature of each factor was taken into account as part of the formula. Once these computations were made, the factors then were assigned equal weights. These weighted scores then were added together to determine a state’s final score (“Smart Rating” on the table above.) This way, states are assessed based on how they stack up against the national average. The end result is that the farther below the national average a state’s education ranking is, the lower (and less smart) it ranks. The farther above the national average, the higher (and smarter) a state ranks. This same methodology is used for our annual Healthiest State, Safest and Most Dangerous State and Safest/Dangerous City Awards.

The table above shows how each state scored in Morgan Quitno’s third annual Smartest State Award.

 

 

 

 

 

[Slings and Arrows]

Take a look at the factors used to calculate those scores - they might as well have used "% of popular vote for Kerry" as their metric.

[TexasCajun]

Just what does this say about those elitist Blue States that they get whooped by a bunch of ignorant redneck Christians from the Red States?

Oh! They let us win so President Bush and the R'ahs can really screw things up and set up a Hillary run in 2008.

(And they call us ignorant! Geezz!)

[TexasCajun]

Hey Mike. You're still in Iraq?

What's the talk on the street about the upcoming elections?

What's up with all this talk about postponing the election over there?

Is that from the people fearful of voting or the different sects postering themselves?

[Lady Jag]

You have to look at what weighted the study. But all studies are weighted and open to critisicm. I agree that this one is leftist, but sadly, many are. Nonethless, nearly half the people in Mass. voted Republican and I'm standing by the belief that those were the higher IQ voters.     8º}

[Slings and Arrows]

Nonethless, nearly half the people in Mass. voted Republican and I'm standing by the belief that those were the higher IQ voters. 8º}

I concur.