We need a candidate in 2008 who understands the south [View All]

[Blue_Roses]

That's why Bill Clinton did so well here--not just because he was from the south--but because he understood the south. Many people from the south support Democratic policies and don't even know it. Like jobs and healthcare. I'm not saying that the candidate necessarily has to be from the south, but one that definitely understands it. We are sinking here...

The south has the highest poverty rates:

* The poverty rate for Arkansas (18.5 percent) — although not different from the rates for New Mexico, Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia and the District of Columbia — was higher than the rates for the other 45 states when comparing three-year average poverty rates for 2001 to 2003. Conversely, New Hampshire’s rate (6.0 percent) — though not different from the rate for Minnesota — was lower than those of the other 48 states and the District of Columbia.

the highest without healthcare:

The South was the only region to show an increase in its uninsured rate in 2003, up from 17.5 percent in 2002 to 18.0 percent. The health insurance coverage rates of people in the South and in the West (17.6 percent) were not different in 2003. The percentages for the Northeast and Midwest were 12.9 percent and 12.0 percent, respectively.

the lowest income:

Real median household income remained unchanged between 2002 and 2003 in three of the four census regions — Northeast ($46,742), Midwest ($44,732) and West ($46,820). The exception was the South, where income declined 1.5 percent. The South continued to have the lowest median household income of all four regions ($39,823). The difference between median household incomes in the Northeast and West was not statistically significant.

more here...
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/002484.html

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I've lived here all my life and never have I wanted to move to a blue state as much as I do now, but something tells me I need to stay and fight:banghead: