10 States That Rank Lowest on a Brain Health Index

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His_wife18 of DC 6:12AM October 22, 2009

Donnn of CO I find it hard to believe that you spewed so much hate and intolerance with what you have written. I would extend to you a challenge to find out just how many God fearing people are well educated.

As for Republicans not currently liking our current president, it has nothing to do with racist hate. They simply don't like what Obama is doing.

Andrew of UT 5:08PM October 07, 2009

So they looked at all the "outside" factors which allegedly contribute to braininess, but did they look at how people score on the national tests, or how many people belong to institutes for research, or how many authors or artists come from these states. Assuming that people in the south are lazy and people in the northeast are brainier is way off base. How about how people solve their environmental problems such as long cold winters vs dry hot summers. How many people are sitting at their keyboards most of the day learning new things and checking out current trends all over the country? OK, they aren't reading books or daily newspapers but they are the ones writing and contributing to Wikipedia. I really think this was a joke. And who's to say moving more slowly is really a sign of braininess. Maybe the slower movers got tired of the stress like stroke and heart attack you get in these fast paced, competitive places and learned that the best way in life is to take it easy.

Maybe D.C. comes up so high because all those politicians have enough money to eat seafood (expensive these days) and indulge in literature. But those of us in the poorer states are working all day, making a living.

I always said that I would rather my children grow up with social intelligence than academic intelligence. I believed that my gifted son would gravitate toward what he loved and did best. That turned out to be languages and he did well in other countries because he knew how to relate to people, not because he understands the rules of grammar.

And by the way I am not in either list. I grew up in New York (where if you watch the TV show with the Cash Cab driver who asks people all kinds of questions you will be amazed at how much people actually know about a wide range of subjects--from both popular culture and classical history) I now live in California and even though I may not spend a lot of time reading, I sure do have a lot of audio books to accompany me on car trips or walks.

Geez...this is like being punked. I think it's pure garbage.

Linda Em of CA 2:08PM October 07, 2009

Is it really no coincidence that these are red states? It is proof that very stupid people vote. I also would bet these would be considered very religous states also. There is a correllation there as religion stifles intellectualism.

I am bringing up politics because it is representative of the education level of the people who reside in these states. The GOP is now a southern, whites only party. I have often thought that the reason why the GOP and it's base hate PBO so much is because he is African American & liberal, the 2 most hated traits of a person on the republican party, however I also think it is because PBO is so smart. Anti-intellectualism, intolerance, and racial fear mongering are in the DNA of conservatives and it has tobe indicative of the education of it's citizens in these states. Bush, a inarticulate, ignorant reactionist, is like a god in that part of the country. Palin, would be voted president today if these states had their way. Now it goes without saying that Palin is without doubt, one of the most ignorant politicians that America has seen on the national stage in a long time.

Furthermore, I believe that the GOP knows this. That is why they do nothing on complex issues. It is not hard to incite unthinking, people with little to no education about world matters, talk of 'death panels' works for them, Joe the Plumbers works, Is it no wonder that the majority of Fox News viewers reside on southern states. Simple messages for simple people.

This is a dangerous thing as people in these states obviously vote, I hope the trend changes. But it still looks like the North still has some Reconstruction to do with the Old Confederacy.

Donnn of CO 6:56AM August 21, 2009