Top 10 Most Corrupt States in U.S.

soundforbjt

Lifer
Feb 15, 2002
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6,041
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The researchers studied more than 25,000 convictions of public officials for violation of federal corruption laws between 1976 and 2008 as well as patterns in state spending to develop a corruption index that estimates the most and least corrupt states in the union. Based on this method, the the most corrupt states are:
1. Mississippi
2. Louisiana
3. Tennessee
4. Illinois
5. Pennsylvania
6. Alabama
7. Alaska
8. South Dakota
9. Kentucky
10. Florida

Look at all the red states...:whiste:

http://fortune.com/2014/06/10/most-corrupt-states-in-america/?xid=ob_rss
 

Sonikku

Lifer
Jun 23, 2005
15,882
4,882
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The researchers studied more than 25,000 convictions of public officials for violation of federal corruption laws between 1976 and 2008 as well as patterns in state spending to develop a corruption index that estimates the most and least corrupt states in the union. Based on this method, the the most corrupt states are:

Put another way, all this means is red states hold their law breaking politicians accountable. Blue ones do not. :)
 

bshole

Diamond Member
Mar 12, 2013
8,315
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Like it is any surprise that conservative states are corrupt. How is this even newsworthy? We have all known this for years.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
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those stats require conviction.

in truly corrupt states like Jersey, officials just get away with it.
 

D-Man

Platinum Member
Oct 18, 1999
2,991
0
71
Like it is any surprise that conservative states are corrupt. How is this even newsworthy? We have all known this for years.

It could be newsworthy if you remember our President came from the #4 on the list. So he must be guilty right? You have all know this for years.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,344
32,895
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Welcome to Florence, AZ. See seven governors!






Florence is the site of the what was Arizona's main prison. With the explosion of the prison industrial complex (corruption right there) the joke has been somewhat diluted.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,344
32,895
136
Conviction rate isn't really a good indicator of corruption. So many forms of official corruption have been legalized that a government can be utterly corrupt with no violation of law.
 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
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Considering that Mississippi gets about half of it's income from the federal government, it doesn't surprise me.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
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I'm suspect of any list about corruption that doesn't include Illinois or New Jersey.
 

PokerGuy

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
13,650
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Predictably, OP jumps to conclusions not supported by any evidence.

There's no breakdown of what party the convicted politician represents, so in theory you could have only 15% of public officials in IL be repubs, but have them be the ones convicted of corruption. Based on the OP's logic, since IL is a blue state it represents blue corruption instead of red. Complete stupidity.

Second, the study looks at convictions for corruption, there's no study of the actual underlying amount of corruption, just in convictions. If a state was very strict on corruption of public officials and frequently prosecuted them and got convictions, that state would be classified as "corrupt" based on this methodology, even though the actual corruption would be much lower than other states.

Fatally flawed assumptions based on fatally flawed study.
 

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
30,708
45,811
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Heh, I read the thread title and before clicking thought, 'watch Mississippi and Louisiana be right at the top.'

Absolutely zero surprise here!

Just another reason to say the hell away from those lousy states, as if being overrun with hyper religious assholes wasn't enough. Funny how the most religious also seems to be the most corrupt. The worst LEOs I've ever dealt with were all in Mississippi, and don't get me stated on their politicians.
 

soundforbjt

Lifer
Feb 15, 2002
17,788
6,041
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Predictably, OP jumps to conclusions not supported by any evidence.

There's no breakdown of what party the convicted politician represents, so in theory you could have only 15% of public officials in IL be repubs, but have them be the ones convicted of corruption. Based on the OP's logic, since IL is a blue state it represents blue corruption instead of red. Complete stupidity.

Second, the study looks at convictions for corruption, there's no study of the actual underlying amount of corruption, just in convictions. If a state was very strict on corruption of public officials and frequently prosecuted them and got convictions, that state would be classified as "corrupt" based on this methodology, even though the actual corruption would be much lower than other states.

Fatally flawed assumptions based on fatally flawed study.

Where did I claim IL is a red state? Reading comprehension fail.
 

PokerGuy

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
13,650
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Where did I claim IL is a red state? Reading comprehension fail.

Yes, reading comprehension fail indeed. Nowhere did I say you claimed IL was a red state. Read my post again, and this time, try to actually comprehend what you're reading. I was giving a hypothetical example to illustrate a point. I realize that probably zooms right over your head, but others will understand.

To simplify for herp-a-derps like you and newell, you're drawing conclusions not supported by the study at all.
 

soundforbjt

Lifer
Feb 15, 2002
17,788
6,041
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Yes, reading comprehension fail indeed. Nowhere did I say you claimed IL was a red state. Read my post again, and this time, try to actually comprehend what you're reading. I was giving a hypothetical example to illustrate a point. I realize that probably zooms right over your head, but others will understand.

To simplify for herp-a-derps like you and newell, you're drawing conclusions not supported by the study at all.

My conclusion from the article is that Red States have more convictions for corruption than Blue States regardless of who the perp's party affiliation is/was.
And also notice, most is in the South, where the "good old boy" network thrives.
 
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PokerGuy

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
13,650
201
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My conclusion from the article is that Red States have more convictions for corruption than Blue States regardless of who the perp's party affiliation is/was.

Yet your OP "Look at all the red states...:whiste:" clearly tries to make a point about there being so many "red states" in there. Unfortunately, from the study you can't even tell if it's a good thing or a bad thing, they're using the wrong metric to measure corruption (convictions). Sailing on the failboat as usual :D
 

soundforbjt

Lifer
Feb 15, 2002
17,788
6,041
136
Yet your OP "Look at all the red states...:whiste:" clearly tries to make a point about there being so many "red states" in there. Unfortunately, from the study you can't even tell if it's a good thing or a bad thing, they're using the wrong metric to measure corruption (convictions). Sailing on the failboat as usual :D

So what's your measure for corruption then, professor?