Bush Voters Have Lower IQs

A table that breaks down states by income, average IQ, and whether they voted for Bush or Gore has been making the rounds. It appears to show, pretty dramatically, that the states with higher average incomes, and higher average IQs, voted for Gore. Whereas the lower income, lower IQ states went for Bush. The comment accompanying this table is usually 'Come to your own conclusions," or something like that. My first thought, on seeing this, was that it's awfully similar to the Lovenstein Institute IQ Report. But I suspect that the figures, in this case, might be correct... in the sense that they were produced by actual research, not just invented out of whole cloth. They appear to derive from a book published in 2002 titled IQ and the Wealth of Nations by Richard Lynn and Tatu Vanhanen. I haven't actually seen a copy of this book (and since it costs $81.95 I'm probably not going to either unless I find it at the library). But the real question here seems to be whether, even if 'actual' research produced these IQ figures, do they mean anything? I've always been skeptical about IQ tests, so I would say 'No, they don't.' And I'm saying this even though I'm a Democrat.

Update: The IQ figures do not come from IQ and the Wealth of Nations, as confirmed by Richard Lynn, the book's author, whom I emailed to inquire about this. Therefore, it seems right now that the figures have actually been pulled out of thin air. In other words, it's a hoax. But it looks like The American Assembler fell for it, among others.

Update 2: The person responsible for the hoax appears to be a guy named Robert Calvert who posted the data to a Mensa newsgroup back in 2002. Presumably he did make the data up, since I haven't been able to find any info anywhere that would corroborate it.

Politics

Posted on Tue May 04, 2004


Comments

Hey guys interesting weigh in on the debates.. Just a thought, the way the states broke down I was surprised to see California getting 44% for Bush, other "smarter states" came really close to falling for Bush too even though they failed. I don't think it's fair to make mass generalizations that say one state because it voted more for Bush or more for Kerry and has a better IQ proves that they are stupid voters. Suppose, all the smart people in say Florida voted for Bush and all the dumb ones voted for Kerry... Even though Bush won.. he could have also gotten all the intelligent ones in the process. I think this study is silly and we all are allowed to vote because we are in a country that believes in free choice, autonomy, and the God given right of freedom. If you call yourself a liberal you should study Liberal theory and neutrality before you check Democrat again on your voter card.

By the way, I'm not a hick Conservative, I'm from California I live 2 minutes from the beach in Malibu, CA. I want you to know that there are a lot of intelligent Conservatives out there, I have met personally. To just say we are stupid is silly. That is a very immature argument, if you want to pick on Conservatives at least try to do it logically instead of making these huge assumptions that states that voted for Bush are "dumb." I voted for Bush here in Cali, but my vote didn't show that there are smart Conservatives here. I would bet that there are more intelligent people in California and 44% of the vote went Bush this time. I think that is more than last time with Gore. I'm not attacking the validity of the study, since I believe that already to be proven fabricated, but I'm attacking the logic of it in the first place.

I know my IQ to be much higher than what they show as a stupid Conservative. Democrats run off the ticket usually of "We will protect the disadvantaged" this works great, unless you are talking about Conservatives who have lower IQ's huh? This study basically called half the country retarded. Anyways, I want everyone to know that there are Conservatives in more than just the Bible belt, we are active, we are changing things, and yes we have Iq's over 140.
Thanks,
-Shane
Posted by SHane  on  Mon Dec 20, 2004  at  06:21 AM
We must remember as conservatives, anything we do is justified, Jesus is on our side, he will save us(the republicans) and send the liberals to hell, just as he did on 9/11 and various other atrociticies carried out by the evils of the world. I must go now i'm installing changers and slot machines in the congregational hall, and finishing my letter to Jesus, er Geroge in reference to changing finantial law allowing credit card companies, and banks to charge a 33% jesus intrest on all accounts in which me and reverend falwell will receive half the proceeds, while the other half goes to special intrest groups to fund future (republicunt) presidential campaigns.

Yours as god
Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell
Posted by Pat Robertson  on  Tue Mar 15, 2005  at  01:47 PM
"85% of statistics are made up the spot." - Marcos

I agree. 10% of all people know THAT.
Posted by Rod  on  Tue Mar 15, 2005  at  02:30 PM
Too bad greed isn't being discussed
Posted by John Beamer  on  Tue Nov 15, 2005  at  05:05 PM
All of you Bush haters - How is this Obama thing working out for you now? Are you scared yt?
DOn't blame me. I voted McCain.
Posted by Steve  on  Sat Aug 08, 2009  at  06:59 PM
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