Red vs Blue - Which states are more reliant on the Federal Gummint?

The above chart answers the question.  It is a nice chart, right?
"So, what the heck is it?  And how do I read it?  And why do I care?"
Ah, I'm glad you asked - let me explain.

It is a chart representing the Awesomess that is the United States of America, and it basically shows how liberal vs conservative co-relates with who gives and who gets (to the Federal Gummint, that is).  For the purposes of this chart, Aaron Carroll chose the top 10 conservative and liberal states (the chart of the states is available here)

The Green circle in the middle  is the Average across the entire country, i.e., revenue neutrality

• The further to the right of the green circle you get, the more conservative the states get - defined as an increasing ratio of conservative to liberal voters. Basically think, Red States. Conversely, going to the left means the states are more liberal, i.e., Blue States
• The further above the green circle you get, the more you are on the receiving end from the other states.  i.e., The total amount of money you pay into the Union is less than the amount the Union gives you (taxes, highway funds, blah, blah, blah).  Basically think Sucking on the Gummint Teat. Conversely, going below the green circle means you send more than you receive, i.e., You are paying for the states that are sucking on the gummint teat.

And, as you probably suspected by now, the Red circle is the "average" of the conservative states, and the Blue circle is the "average" of the liberal states.
Got it?   
Basically, Right is Conservative, Left is Liberal. Up is money sucking, Down is money contributing.

So, notice anything interesting?  Hmmm?
Yeah, yeah, the Reds are to the right of the Green, and the Blues are to the left.  Well d'uh, thats how we defined it right?  As in, conservative is to the right and liberal is to the left? (See? Funny? "Right" and "Left"?) No points there, go to the back of the class..

D'you see how most of the red dots are above the Green circle?  And most of the blue ones are below the Green circle?
So all those pesky left-winger liberal states actually donate more money to the union than they get back.
And all those strong sturdy self-reliant conservative "tea-party" states?  Hmmm, looks like they suck in more than they hand out.

Who would-a thunk it?  Hypocrisy?  Never!!!

On that note though, lets hear it for Nebraska, Utah, and Wyoming - the three conservative states below the Green circle.  They actually practice what they preach - perhaps a model for the rest of the red-states to aspire to, y'know?


Hat Tip:  Aaron Carrol (of the Incidental Economist) and Paul Krugman (of, well, Nobel Prize fame I guess)