I put together a map and a graph earlier, plotting voting patterns of the 2004 U.S. presidential election vs. divorce rates for that same year. I got the divorce rates here.





The blue states have an average divorce rate roughly three-fourths of the rate in the red states. If we're more generous to the red states and take Nevada (realm of ill-conceived impromptu weddings) and Arkansas out of the average, we end up with an average rate of 4.124. Still significantly higher than the rate in the blue states.

"Not so fast," you say. "There isn't any data for California, and that would surely throw off the blue states!" Well, the divorce rate for California in 1994 was 4.3 and since then divorce rates have been going down nationwide. The inclusion of California might give the blue states a bit of a jolt, but not enough to throw off the trend completely.

So...why are divorce rates higher in red states, supposedly the home of "family values" and respect for the institution of marriage?

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles So...why are divorce rates higher in red states, supposedly the home of "family values" and respect for the institution of marriage?

One factor may be that those "family values" types are more prone to getting married faster. After all, if they genuinely believe in not getting down and dirty until you tied the knot, then I can understand why they might get married faster, whereas a more "liberal" couple might be willing to stay unmarried for a long time and, in some cases, indefinitely. It may even be the case that a significantly higher portion of the population is married - so a more enlightening statistic might be divorce rate per 1000 marriages rather than per 1000 people.

Even so, I suspect that the red states would come out in the lead there as well. A considerable portion of that may be the pressure that such people feel to marry, from their family/friends or even from their gonads if they're a true believer. After all, it does seem intuitive that a marriage more hastily entered into would be more prone to ending in divorce.

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles So...why are divorce rates higher in red states, supposedly the home of "family values" and respect for the institution of marriage?

Because "family values" are in fact utter bullshit - it's just that those certains states are too backwards to come to terms with it.

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A possible influence could be...

There are far more red states than blue, thus, the red states have more chances to have higher than average divorce rates than blue states would..

I suggest a change to your study...

Match each blue state with a red state based on the points each state is given by the electoral college. Then once, you have you matches, average the divorce rates again, and see what you get..

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who f**kin gives?

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Originally posted by Q5echo who f**kin gives?

Smart people who watch societal trends.

It's interesting to me that the major issue in 2004 was "preserving the sanctity of marriage" - yet the red states where that was a rallying cry have failed to preserve it even relative to the blue states they so detest on that account. What is the most interesting thing of all in those statistics though, may be that the divorce rate in Massachusetts was the lowest measured. After all, isn't Massachusetts supposed to be public enemy number one in the war on marriage?

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nice charts

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soulful/latin/deep house + jazz

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Originally posted by Krypton A possible influence could be... There are far more red states than blue, thus, the red states have more chances to have higher than average divorce rates than blue states would.. I suggest a change to your study... Match each blue state with a red state based on the points each state is given by the electoral college. Then once, you have you matches, average the divorce rates again, and see what you get..

actually, im pretty sure the federal reserve have something to do with it

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN actually, im pretty sure the federal reserve have something to do with it

haha I lol'ed

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN actually, im pretty sure the federal reserve have something to do with it

Do a study on divorce rates when the Fed rate is high, and when the Fed rate is low. You might find something interesting; the Fed might be influencing social trends!!

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Originally posted by Lesbianosaur Smart people who watch societal trends.

right.

lets be frank here, as far as i can see you've taken these stats at face value and nothing more. which leads me to believe you care enough only to mock those trends. am i right?

anyway who cares what i think. sorry i bummed this thread.

EDIT> what kind of a difference in rates are we talking about here? after taking Nevada and Arkansas out the difference half a percent?

i don't know, taking the stats at face value IMO leaves very little in the way of any real scientific analysis but just enough mock i guess. flame on.

what are the marriage rates of the States? anybody know? anybody care?

>LINK to marriage rates<

is the difference between the two kinds of states in divorce rate that signifigant?

if those same blue states were behind those same red states in marriage rates would it matter?

if those same red states were signifigantly ahead of those same blue states in marriage rates would it affect the divorce rate? would it affect the total analysis?

Last edited by Q5echo on Dec-23-2007 at 23:19

quote:

Originally posted by Arbiter One factor may be that those "family values" types are more prone to getting married faster. After all, if they genuinely believe in not getting down and dirty until you tied the knot, then I can understand why they might get married faster, whereas a more "liberal" couple might be willing to stay unmarried for a long time and, in some cases, indefinitely. It may even be the case that a significantly higher portion of the population is married - so a more enlightening statistic might be divorce rate per 1000 marriages rather than per 1000 people. Even so, I suspect that the red states would come out in the lead there as well. A considerable portion of that may be the pressure that such people feel to marry, from their family/friends or even from their gonads if they're a true believer. After all, it does seem intuitive that a marriage more hastily entered into would be more prone to ending in divorce.

ironic considering the red states pride themselves in keeping a high standard for moral values.

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Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On OOKA-OOKA ME NACHOS ME PRESS KEYS ON COMPUTER GOOD