# Blue states have better schools **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 28, 2013, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387 "2013-08-28T11:48:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/101 "2013-08-30T21:54:11Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > You should really let it go. I clarified what I meant, and I gave you the post number for the clarification, which everyone in this thread has seen, so you should accept the clarified version and stop trying to get me clarify the original version again. When people who say something wrong admit they were, that should be accepted. When they try to weasel out, it shouldn’t be. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/102 "2013-08-30T21:56:36Z")
People who try to distract the discussion with pedantry usually do so because they have nothing of substance to say. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/103 "2013-08-30T22:19:10Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Uh hu. So - is it “my Democrat cousin” or “my Democratic cousin”? The more you use the former, the less I would think of you because it’s an attributive noun that tends to reduce a person to just one of their characteristics. However, more people of all stripes _occasionally_ use the former, whereas a vanishing few people say “the Democrat Party” except out of habit or malice. Just like an occasional grammar or spelling lapse does not make you a “poor speller” or “bad at grammar”, using “Democrat Senators” or “Democrat cousin” once in awhile does not make you a bad person who is dismissive of other peoples feelings and preferences, but to do so on purpose _despite_ the knowledge that other’s do not like it is akin to being habitually lax on spelling then when called on it say “eh, y so srs? You know what I mean!” ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/104 "2013-08-30T22:29:38Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > The more you use the former, the less I would think of you because it’s an attributive noun that tends to reduce a person to just one of their characteristics. Except “my Democratic cousin” in a conversation may mean that in his family, he allows his kids to have a vote in how the house is run. “My Democrat cousin”, fairly unambiguously, would imply party affiliation. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/105 "2013-08-30T23:11:10Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Except “my Democratic cousin” in a conversation may mean that in his family, he allows his kids to have a vote in how the house is run. “My Democrat cousin”, fairly unambiguously, would imply party affiliation. Language is funny. There are people who would prefer to be called “black” rather than “negro” or “African American” despite the fact that the other two terms are more accurate. Come to think of it, African American is more accurate than “black” despite the fact that in _theory_ it _could_ be confused with a white immigrant from South Africa, but rarely if ever is, just like your phrase _could_ cause confusion between two cousins, one of whom belongs to a party and the other practices family voting, but in reality rarely if ever is. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/106 "2013-08-30T23:20:43Z")
“Better schools” is just a (racist) euphemism for “fewer black kids”. > [@Airbeck](#): > > Would you want it called the Republic Party? Its a childish playground insult type of thing. You should want to be above that I would think. Ahhh, but it gets the Democrats so riled up. If it’s really just a “childish playground insult type of thing” can’t you look past it? I personally try to never refer to the DP at all (I wouldn’t want to use the word “Party” and make it sound like they’re having fun, so I try just stick with “Democrats”). ETA: I call that being “value-neutral AP-style” ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/107 "2013-08-30T23:50:00Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Ahhh, but it gets the Democrats so riled up. If it’s really just a “childish playground insult type of thing” can’t you look past it? That’s the fun part. They make it too easy. If Democrats didn’t react with Pavlovian consistency to “Democrat Party”, it would not be used. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/108 "2013-08-31T00:14:42Z")
If you are intentionally using the term in a pejorative fashion then that is rather childish and jerkish. Call people on their stupid shit like denigrating Southerners and don’t do the same thing. Take the high road and be the better man. Or not - up to you. I genuinely think that most of the usage is unintentional but that’s just my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/109 "2013-08-31T00:46:50Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > If you are intentionally using the term in a pejorative fashion then that is rather childish and jerkish. Call people on their stupid shit like denigrating Southerners and don’t do the same thing. There is a difference. Denigrating Southerners is objectively negative. Calling it “Democrat Party” isn’t - there is nothing inherently insulting or pejorative in it. It’s only the stupid reflexive sensitivity that Democrats have to it that makes it negative. So they create the negativity themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/110 "2013-08-31T01:21:37Z")
There is a difference. Name calling after a person asks you to stop is still jerkish. Is your contention that it is not? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/111 "2013-08-31T01:27:49Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > There is a difference. Name calling after a person asks you to stop is still jerkish. Is your contention that it is not? I didn’t call a person any names. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/112 "2013-08-31T05:16:27Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I didn’t call a person any names. > **[Democrat Party (epithet)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(epithet))** > > Democrat Party is an epithet and pejorative for the Democratic Party of the United States, often used in a disparaging fashion by the party's opponents. While use of the term started out as non-hostile, it has grown in its negative use since the 1940s, in particular by members of the Republican Party—in party platforms, partisan speeches, and press releases—as well as by conservative commentators and third party politicians. > United Press International reported in August 1984 that the term Demo... > [@John\_Mace](#): > > They don’t? Has there been a poll? It’s not an issue to be polled. The Democratic Party is an officially incorporated entity. It has a whole hierarchy of administrative officers and so on. And in its official publications, online, on I’m sure every button label and sheet of stationery, it is the Democratic Party. The end. > [@puddleglum](#): > > I bet alot of southerners would not like you calling them ignorant racists and I could even provide reasons why those words are perjorative. If you said the Democratic Party was elitist, out of touch, hypocritical, etc., I would not agree with you but I would not dispute your right to hold that opinion. Calling the Democratic Party something other than what it is actually called officially and what it prefers as its own name, is in a different category in my opinion. > [@JXJohns](#): > > Regarding red or blue states, I think you have to one of the few who consider senate seats to be the determining factor in defining a state’s “color”. It is the most frequent opportunity for the entire state to register their red/blue preference. But the most salient point was that to be “consistently” red, they would have had to vote red _every_ time, not just most of the time. > [@Bone](#): > > If you are intentionally using the term in a pejorative fashion then that is rather childish and jerkish. Call people on their stupid shit like denigrating Southerners and don’t do the same thing. Take the high road and be the better man. **Bone** , I have to give you credit for being consistent. It would appear you were not being disingenuous when you opined that it was not used purposefully as an epithet. But now you are seeing what we Democrats have been aware of for quite a while: there are quite a few Republicans who like to do it to get our goats. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/113 "2013-08-31T05:32:37Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > [Democrat Party (epithet) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(epithet)) The Democrat Party is a person? > [@](#): > > But now you are seeing what we Democrats have been aware of for quite a while: there are quite a few Republicans who like to do it to get our goats. 1. I am not a Republican. 2. Your stupid Pavlovian reflex when hearing the words “Democrat Party” makes it so much fun. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/114 "2013-08-31T05:57:09Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > 1. I am not a Republican. But I bet you vote for Republican candidates. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/115 "2013-08-31T06:10:16Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Your stupid Pavlovian reflex when hearing the words “Democrat Party” makes it so much fun. You consider it fun to piss off certain people and elicit certain responses from them? You know that the internet has a term for people like that right? Were you a bully as a child? You seem to have that mindset. That its fun to do things for which the purpose is only to piss someone off. You have a warped sense of the concept of fun if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/116 "2013-08-31T06:12:36Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > But I bet you vote for Republican candidates. Wrong. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/117 "2013-08-31T06:31:42Z")
So you enjoy taunting Democrats, but don’t vote for Republicans. Okay, you don’t vote or vote for fringe parties. Congrats, you got me, and you’re a special snowflake. Happy now? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/118 "2013-08-31T06:35:02Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > 1. Your stupid Pavlovian reflex when hearing the words “Democrat Party” makes it so much fun. You’re insulting people as well as creating a hijack. This is a warning to stop both of those behaviors now. Everybody else also needs to drop the “Democrat” discussion. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/119 "2013-08-31T14:00:09Z")
Can we get back to how “better schools” = racist then? ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387/120 "2013-08-31T20:20:00Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Can we get back to how “better schools” = racist then? Your claim has already been rebutted, probably before you even stated it. If you read the whole thread, you will see that even when comparing white kids only, red states generally do worse on standardised tests than blue states. (For African American kids, there seems to be little correlation to what type of state they live in.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-have-better-schools/667387.md?page=7)