ilyagerner: From Nate Silver: A new CNN poll finds that 55 percent of voters have a negative view of the Republican Party, tied for their second-highest unfavorable score since CNN began asking this question in 1992. […] The news for Democrats is not any better. Some 49 percent of voters now hold a negative view of the party, according to the poll. […] The combined unfavorable score for both parties — 104 percent — is also a record, and represents the first time that the figure has been above 100. Silver suggests “A credible independent bid for the presidency is always a long-shot, but might be more viable under these conditions,” but I don’t see why that would be. Who cares about the combined unfavorable score for both parties? If anything, that’s a sign of increased partisan polarization, which would make it more difficult for an independent candidate to make headway. An interesting trendline would be the percentage of Americans who simultaneously hold an unfavorable view of the Democrats and an unfavorable view of the Republicans, which is not a number that could not add up to over 100%.

ilyagerner:

From Nate Silver:

A new CNN poll finds that 55 percent of voters have a negative view of the Republican Party, tied for their second-highest unfavorable score since CNN began asking this question in 1992. […]

The news for Democrats is not any better. Some 49 percent of voters now hold a negative view of the party, according to the poll. […] The combined unfavorable score for both parties — 104 percent — is also a record, and represents the first time that the figure has been above 100.

Silver suggests “A credible independent bid for the presidency is always a long-shot, but might be more viable under these conditions,” but I don’t see why that would be. Who cares about the combined unfavorable score for both parties? If anything, that’s a sign of increased partisan polarization, which would make it more difficult for an independent candidate to make headway. An interesting trendline would be the percentage of Americans who simultaneously hold an unfavorable view of the Democrats and an unfavorable view of the Republicans, which is not a number that could not add up to over 100%.

Intrigued by Monday’s global drinking habits chart in The Economist, I made a US comparison. There are more colorful versions out there but mine is more fine grained. The data isn’t perfect.  Essentially, the NIAAA tabulates alcohol sales for each state and then divided it by census population numbers, including any person 14 or older. The reliance on sales figures probably explains Nevada’s strong #2 showing. But what’s up with New Hampshire?  -ilyagerner If New Hampshire (4.22 gallons/16 liters) were a country, it would stand astride the world, trailing only the Czech Republic and Moldova - which is tops in the world thanks to moonshine consumption - in ethanolic goodness.  No surprise that Utah finds itself at the bottom of this list. Its modest sales - 1.34 gallons/5 liters - are similar to nations like Liberia (5.06 liters), Jamaica (5.0 liters), and Lesotho (5.55 liters) in which disposable income is too precious to be spent on alcohol. Among wealthier nations, only the Arab states and Singapore are more teetotaling than Utah.

Intrigued by Monday’s global drinking habits chart in The Economist, I made a US comparison. There are more colorful versions out there but mine is more fine grained.

The data isn’t perfect.  Essentially, the NIAAA tabulates alcohol sales for each state and then divided it by census population numbers, including any person 14 or older. The reliance on sales figures probably explains Nevada’s strong #2 showing. But what’s up with New Hampshire? 

-ilyagerner

If New Hampshire (4.22 gallons/16 liters) were a country, it would stand astride the world, trailing only the Czech Republic and Moldova - which is tops in the world thanks to moonshine consumption - in ethanolic goodness. 

No surprise that Utah finds itself at the bottom of this list. Its modest sales - 1.34 gallons/5 liters - are similar to nations like Liberia (5.06 liters), Jamaica (5.0 liters), and Lesotho (5.55 liters) in which disposable income is too precious to be spent on alcohol. Among wealthier nations, only the Arab states and Singapore are more teetotaling than Utah.