THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS and
the 2000 PRESIDENTAL ELECTION RESULTS
Correlation discovered
between the Seven Deadly Sins and the vote for George W. Bush (Republican) in
the 2000 Presidential Election.
The Seven Deadly Sins are gluttony,
envy, wrath, greed, sloth, lust, and pride. Statistics from the US Census and other government and
private resources were used to represent the various sins in this exercise. For example, the statistic of Òmurders
per 100,000 peopleÓ is used to statistically represent wrath. The top 15 states (highest 30%) in each
category were chosen and then the 2000 Election results were linked to find
whether those states voted for George W. Bush (Republican) or Al Gore
(Democrat.) The sources for each
category are hyperlinked and listed below. These were the findings.
GLUTTONY is an overwhelming desire to consume more than that
which one requires.
Measurement: Obesity ranking
Result: 12 of the top 15 gluttonous states voted for BUSH
ENVY is the desire for otherÕs traits, status, abilities
or situation.
Measurement: Acts of larceny/theft
per 100,000
Result: 10 of the top 15 envious states voted for BUSH
WRATH/ANGER is manifested in the individual who spurns love and
opts instead for fury.
Measurement: Murder rate per 100,000
Result: 12 of top 15 states with the highest murder rate voted for BUSH
GREED is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring
the realm of the spiritual.
Measurement: Energy consumption per
person
Result: 14 of top 15 states with highest energy consumption per person
voted for BUSH
SLOTH is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.
Measurement: Unemployment Rate
Result: 10 of top 15 states with the highest unemployment rate voted for BUSH
LUST is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the
body.
Unfortunately, state rankings
based on the adult /porn industry were not available, so I took four separate
statistics that I felt could be related to lustfulness in some way. Not the most ideal set of measurements,
but unfortunately the best I could come up with and find.
Measurement A: Divorce rate
Result: 14 of top 15 states with highest divorce rate voted for BUSH
Measurement B: Teen birth
rate
Result: 13 of top 15 states with highest teen pregnancy rate voted for BUSH
Measurement C: STD
contractions per 100,000
Result: 9 of top 15 states with highest STD contraction rate voted for BUSH
Measurement D: Forcible rape per
100,000*
*Considered a crime of
violence and not sex by many psychologists, this could perhaps fall under the
category of wrath.
Result: 10 of top 15 states with highest forcible rape rate voted for BUSH
PRIDE is excessive belief in oneÕs own abilities, that
interferes with the individualÕs recognition of the grace of God.
Note: As one of the seven
deadly sins, excessive pride can lead to arrogance or disdainful conduct and
treatment of others. There
really was no statistic I could think of to rank the states in terms of
PRIDE. However, it's quite obvious
that pride has a sure foothold in America, so that vote will have to be split.
Overall score: 11.5 of the top 15 ÒSeven
Deadly SinÓ states voted for BUSH
and he took the honors in every category that was measured.
Finally, it should be noted
that in my statistical searches I found various rankings on education and the
ÒsmartestÓ states. The results
were equally interesting.
Measurement: ÒSmartestÓ state rankings
Result: 12 of the top 15 states with the lowest educational rating voted for
BUSH
Note: I did many comparisons
on educational rankings using census information and in all cases the majority
of the most educated states voted for Gore, while the majority of the least
educated states voted for BUSH.
Of course, this whole
exercise is rather whimsicle, even if the findings are somewhat ironic. Everyone is guilty of most if not
all the seven deadly sins at some point , or perhaps even on a regular
basis. Still, I found it very
interesting that in an election that was basically split 50/50, nearly 80
percent of the most ÒsinfulÓ states voted for the conservative George W. Bush
(Republican.)
TK
©2004 Mythopolis.com
Sources:
2000 Presidential Elections Results
http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/2000presgeresults.htm
ÒSeven Deadly SinsÓ Historical Context
http://theosophy.org/tlodocs/SevenDeadlySins-1.htm
Online links to the statistics used:
Obesity - http://my.webmd.com/content/article/92/101809.htm
Larceny/Theft - http://www.census.gov/prod/3/98pubs/smadb-97.pdf
Murder - http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/state08.prn
Energy Consumption - http://www.census.gov/statab/ranks/rank30.html
Unemployment - http://www.census.gov/statab/ranks/rank25.html
Divorce – http://www.state.ok.us/osfdocs/budget/table25.pdf
Teen Birth Rate - http://www.prevention.state.mt.us/resources/healthranks.htm
STD Contractions - http://www.prevention.state.mt.us/resources/healthranks.htm
Forcible Rape - http://www.census.gov/prod/3/98pubs/smadb-97.pdf
Education - http://www.census.gov/statab/ranks/rank19.html
Smartest State Rankings - http://www.morganquitno.com/edrank.htm