https://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2009/07/23/just-a-crummy-bunch-of-towns/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usThu, 11 Jun 2026 18:14:28 -0400<![CDATA[Joel Klotkin, writing in the journal of the American Enterprise Institute discusses the relative outlooks of the Blue and Red State models, terms he uses as shorthand not only to describe a cultural divide, but also an economic outlook. Klotkin argues that the core ethos of the Blue State economic model is the notion that future economic growth will come largely from knowledge-based or &#8220;creative&#8221; industries.  From that comes a vision in which the stereotypical Blue State man, gliding to work in a pollution free environment from which noisome Red State activities have been driven out, inhabits campus-like idea workplaces kept clean and absolutely safe by hordes of public employees.  The Blue State economic model sees itself as the engine of economic growth, on which the Red State Model has been leeching to pay for its outmoded and sentimental attachment to things like the Armed Forces, church picnics and NASCAR races, when what is needed is more government services, cap and trade and better music. As he puts it:]]>Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:01:55 -0400<![CDATA[Richard Fernandez]]>https://pjmedia.com/richard-fernandez/2009/07/23/just-a-crummy-bunch-of-towns-n188861