We have all heard the invocation “There are no Red States or Blue States. There are only the United States.” This is a fine sentiment. It is, however, aspirational, and not fully realized in current political practice.

Trump.45 doesn’t believe it, as he has spent the last 5 years shouting from the rooftops in Word and Deed proving repeatedly. He is not right on the merits, but he has soiled the Crystal Waters of Hope for One Nation Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for All (1954 version).*

A full exploration is deferred for another time, when fewer than 1 million Americans are falling sick and 8000 are dying each week, laid low by one novel submicroscopic microbe.

The Question of the Day is Can COVID-19 Distinguish Red from Blue for attack purposes?

Here is one path to the answer from the magnificent NYT Corona Tracking Database, a National Treasure of Information. Permit a repetitious re-scold: it is outrageous that in the most technologically advanced and powerful Nation on earth, we have to depend on private organizations to accurately supply critical Public Health Data, while our official (taxpayer funded) Government Agencies are crippled and sidelined by ignorant, malicious dead enders and partisan hacks. Can you hear me Atlas, Azar, Navarro, Kudlow, Caputo & Crew?

Back on Track. Here is a chart of the 20 Worst Hit (Performing) States in America for the Last 7 days (as of November 14) listed in order by per capita rates for New COVID-19 Diagnosed Cases.

A few observations spring readily to mind on brief reflection.

Red versus Blue: Covid Bad Moon Rising

Creedence: Bad Moon Rising

In the 10 Worst Off US states (based on 2016 Presidential voting), 8 of 10 are Red. In the second 10 Worst Off wave, there are only 7 of 10 Reds. Overall, 15 out of 20 of the Worst Off US states are Red. Can a Virus with No Eyes somehow see?

Facts is Facts, whatever Trump toddles on about. 75% of the worst Covid problems are Red States raging. Not New York, or Socialist Mayors, or violent Antifa, or Defund the Police Progressives, or Mexican Rapists. Solid Red Trump Country Climes, Baby, and Proud of It (in 2016 anyway).

This is Today’s Data, not  statistics from Labor Day, or Memorial Day, or ancient history (like March and April).

This result is not due to the Reds being larger, more populous states. Only 7 of the badly affected states are in the US Top 25 States by population. So 13 of these don’t belong on the list at all if total population is a primary factor. In fact 3 of the 5 Blue States might have some population related component, compared to just 4 of 13 for Reds. This ratio is not Red favorable, either.

What about most recent severity rate of the Pandemic? Well Reds hold all the first six (worst) places. First Blue clocks in at Pole Position 7. Blue repeat for Slot #8, and Red again all the way to Position #13. So the severity winner is Solid Red as a Group.

And severity matters as first place twins North and South Dakota (#1 and #2) have new case illness rates 2 ½ times higher than the states at #19 and #20. Big Gap of Malady there, Folks.

Now a smart reader might wonder about the underlying ratio of Red to Blue states. In fact, of 51 jurisdictions with electoral votes in 2016 (50 sates and DC), Trump won 30, or 59%. But Red 2020 Covid Badness is 75%. So, Trump Following is Bad for Your Covid Health Experience (27% worse from baseline).

As for Apparent Seeing-Eye Covid, how about the Give Me Liberty, No Lockdowns Ever, Open Our Schools, No Masks Required Here state contingents? Of the original 7 (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, Wyoming, and Utah), what do you know?

Every one but Arkansas is on the current Worst Hit List, and all six of them (North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Utah) are each Top 10 Losers. Imagine that? Science matters. Public Health knowledge matters. Willful ignorance and Political Bluffing aren’t virus protective. Even a Blind Microbe with No Legs found you all out and cleans up on your gullible Red residents with unerring precision and appetite. As we speak.

And next week will be worse still. And the week after that too. Another Blessed Gift from Dear Leader Trump.

Pretty much anyway you slice it, Living Red is Bad News if you Want to Avoid Covid. You might  want to rethink that No Mask, Gather in Large Groups, Fauci is a Liar ethic. Right now, Trump is spouting nonsense, and God is letting Nature Run its Own Course. There is Science based Help, if you’ll take it.

The Virus may or may not see, but it is definitively deaf to Political Speech and Empty Talk Promises.

The Evidence suggests that Corona is Not Color Blind even without conventional eyes to perceive. Maybe it is just Psychic?

Anyway, Living in Enthusiastic Red States seems to be a cognizable Covid Risk Factor. Ain’t that a Bitch?

One last point. 2020 Election results are in, and we have a change. Five formerly Red States shed their Red Hats and switched Blue. On the 20 Worst Affected list are Wisconsin and Michigan, both populous states. Their November 2020 switch won’t cure their immediate health problems, but suggests citizens were tired of Trump and in part His Covid Policies. They also are two states with Red Legislatures but recent Blue Governors since Trump took office. They might drop off the list sooner than some others. We’ll have to see.

The 2020 Red/Blue Balance has shifted as Biden flipped 5 states and Trump gained none. The ratio is now 26:25 in favor of Blue; Red is 49%. Even after these two Worst List defections Reds still lead 13-7 going into 2021 or 65%. That is 33% worse than 2020 state Electoral baseline.

Things are not going better for Pure Reds post-Election; they are even a bit worse off. Covid really does seem to have implanted a Red Zone Tracking Device even a Blind Bug can follow.

In case you’d like to examine the same data for Total US Covid-19 Cases for States from Day one, here are the charts. Feel free to analyze them. I’m afraid the end results are not much different. By all accounts, Corona is not Colorblind, and Prefers Red. Red Fans and Trump Trainers might want to put those Red MAGA Hats in storage somewhere. For your own good health’s sake, or those you love. Just saying.

*Personally, I Prefer the Original 1892 Pledge of Allegiance version. God is important to me, and I want the State Pledge to stay out of it. I don’t need their imprimatur for my religious beliefs. Nothing happened in 1954 that had anything to do with our Founding fathers, the Constitution, or God.

The original version is simpler, more accurate, and more elegantly phrased. This is my flag, not the flag of some distant country.

“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”