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The pattern persists

This morning we learned that CVS will stop selling cigarettes in October. In the course of the article in the Times, some statistics:

Some 18 percent of American adults smoke, down from 42 percent in 1965. In places like New York City, which has used a combination of steep taxes on cigarettes and bans on smoking in most places to discourage smokers, the decline is even greater, down to 14 percent.

via New York Times

So this got me thinking. “Gosh”, I thought, “I wonder if there's a disparity among the states so far as smoking goes, and I wonder if it fits the typical pattern of the South leading the pack in dumbness”. Well, okay, I confess, I didn't really put it that way, because once I posed the question I knew what the answer would be, but there are some surprises.

First of all, neither Alabama nor Mississippi lead the pack in dumbness, though, of course, they're close. Somewhat surprisingly, the winner is Kentucky, not usually at the top of the pack (though close to it, I'll concede) in dumbness.

Also, continuing a disturbing trend that first appeared in our discussion of schools teaching creationism, Indiana and Ohio repeat as Northern outliers in the ranks of the stupid.

Some surprises among the leaders. Utah is number one, presumably because the state is well stocked with Mormons. They have to believe a lot of absurd things, but they do have the benefit of a smoking ban. So, although they do lead the pack on this one, it's not because they're smarter, it's because they're brain dead, but in a good way in this one small respect.

It's no surprise that New England has four states in the top ten, with our fair state pulling in at number 10. (We really should be doing better)

There may be some way in which the red state crazies beat us in something we can all agree is a good way. I'll keep looking, but I don't really expect to find anything.

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