We know Blue states are doing a lot to make things better for people. An artificial intelligence bot knows it, too.
Read about my experiment with AI as I use it to compare accomplishments in select blue & red The differences are stark.
I asked Bard, Google's AI tool, to list examples of what Democrats and Republicans are doing to move their states forward. I chose Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan for Democrats, and Iowa, Texas and Florida for Republicans.
Two identical and non-partisan questions yielded some interesting results.
First, I asked “what are Democrats doing to move their states forward.” Here’s the response from Bard:
Democrats in Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois are working to move their states forward in a number of ways. Here are some examples:
Investing in education: Democrats are committed to making sure that all children have access to a quality education, regardless of their zip code. In Minnesota, Democrats have increased funding for public schools and made college more affordable. In Michigan, Democrats have expanded early childhood education and made it easier for students to transfer credits between colleges. And in Illinois, Democrats have invested in school infrastructure and made it easier for teachers to get the support they need.
Protecting the environment: Democrats believe that climate change is a real threat and that we need to take action to protect our environment. In Minnesota, Democrats have passed a law to phase out carbon emissions from power plants. In Michigan, Democrats have made investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. And in Illinois, Democrats have set a goal of making the state carbon neutral by 2050.
Expanding access to healthcare: Democrats believe that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. In Minnesota, Democrats have expanded Medicaid and made it easier for people to get affordable health insurance. In Michigan, Democrats have made it easier for people to buy health insurance on the ACA marketplace. And in Illinois, Democrats have expanded access to mental health care and made it easier for people to get free or low-cost prescription drugs.
Making sure everyone has a fair shot: Democrats believe that everyone deserves a fair shot at success, regardless of their background. In Minnesota, Democrats have raised the minimum wage and made it easier for people to unionize. In Michigan, Democrats have expanded access to affordable childcare and made it easier for people to get training for good-paying jobs. And in Illinois, Democrats have made it easier for people to vote and made sure that everyone pays their fair share of taxes.
These are just a few examples of the ways that Democrats are working to move Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois forward. Democrats are committed to building a better future for all of their constituents, and they are working hard to make that happen.”
I followed up and asked Bard for specific legislative examples. Here’s the response:
Minnesota Invests in Education Act: This law increased funding for public schools by $1.5 billion over the next two years. It also made college more affordable by expanding the state's tuition-free program for community college and technical college students.
Minnesota Climate Action Plan: This plan sets a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% below 2005 levels by 2050. It also invests in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Minnesota Health Care Access Fund Act: This law expanded access to health insurance by providing subsidies to low-income individuals and families. It also made it easier for people with pre-existing conditions to get health insurance.
Minnesota Working Families Flexibility Act: This law made it easier for workers to have flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting and compressed workweeks. It also increased the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025.
Michigan Reconnect Program: This program provides free tuition for adults who have not completed high school or their GED. It also offers financial assistance for child care, transportation, and other expenses.
Michigan Protect Our Great Lakes Act: This law prohibits the discharge of harmful pollutants into the Great Lakes. It also invests in programs to clean up pollution and restore the lakes.
Michigan Healthy Kids Plan: This plan expanded access to health insurance for children by providing subsidies to low-income families. It also made it easier for children with special needs to get the care they need.
Michigan Voting Rights Act: This law makes it easier for people to vote by expanding early voting and same-day registration. It also requires employers to give employees time off to vote.
Illinois Early Childhood Education Expansion Act: This law expanded access to early childhood education by providing funding for new pre-kindergarten programs. It also made it easier for parents to access affordable child care.
Illinois Clean Energy Jobs Act: This law invests in renewable energy and energy efficiency. It also creates new jobs in the clean energy sector.
Illinois Healthcare Affordability and Transparency Act: This law makes it easier for people to understand their health insurance options and negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs. It also expands access to Medicaid.
Illinois Fair Elections Act: This law makes it easier for people to vote by expanding early voting and same-day registration. It also requires public financing for state elections.
Photo by Mojahid Mottakin on Unsplash
Now the Republican states of Iowa, Texas and Florida. I asked Bard the identical question- what are Republicans doing to move their state forward?” Bard responded,
Republicans in Iowa, Texas, and Florida are working to move their states forward in a number of ways. Here are some examples:
Cutting taxes: Republicans believe that lower taxes will stimulate economic growth. In Iowa, Republicans have cut taxes for businesses and individuals. In Texas, Republicans have cut taxes for businesses and individuals, and they have also eliminated the state's income tax. And in Florida, Republicans have cut taxes for businesses and individuals, and they have also increased the standard deduction.
Deregulating businesses: Republicans believe that less regulation will help businesses grow and create jobs. In Iowa, Republicans have repealed a number of environmental regulations. In Texas, Republicans have repealed a number of environmental regulations, and they have also made it easier for businesses to unionize. And in Florida, Republicans have repealed a number of environmental regulations, and they have also made it easier for businesses to sue employees who file workplace discrimination complaints.
Restricting abortion access: Republicans believe that abortion is wrong, and they are working to restrict access to abortion in their states. In Iowa, Republicans have passed a law that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. In Texas, Republicans have passed a law that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, and they have also made it easier for private citizens to sue abortion providers. And in Florida, Republicans are considering a law that would ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Restricting voting rights: Republicans believe that voter fraud is a major problem, and they are working to restrict voting rights in their states. In Iowa, Republicans have passed a law that requires voters to show a photo ID at the polls. In Texas, Republicans have passed a law that makes it harder for people to register to vote, and they have also made it harder for people to vote by mail. And in Florida, Republicans are considering a law that would make it harder for people to register to vote, and they have also made it harder for people to vote by mail.
These are just some examples of the ways that Republicans are working to move Iowa, Texas, and Florida forward. Republicans believe that their policies will create a better future for their states, and they are working hard to make that happen.
It is important to note that there are a variety of perspectives on the policies that Republicans are pursuing in these states. Some people believe that these policies will benefit the economy and create jobs, while others believe that they will harm the economy and hurt the most vulnerable people in society. It is also important to note that these policies are often controversial, and they have been met with legal challenges.”
Wow! Even AI knows to add a disclaimer when talking about GOP efforts to move the country forward!
As before, I followed up to ask about specific legislative accomplishments in those three red states. Here’s the response:
Corporate Tax Cut: In 2018, Republicans passed a law that cut the corporate tax rate from 6.5% to 4%. This is one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the country.
Individual Income Tax Cut: Republicans also passed a law that cut the individual income tax rate from 8.98% to 4%. This is also one of the lowest individual income tax rates in the country.
Right-to-Work Law: Republicans passed a right-to-work law in 2017. This law makes it illegal for unions to require employees to join or pay dues to the union.
Income Tax Elimination: In 2019, Republicans eliminated the state's income tax. This is the first state in the country to do so.
Business Tax Cuts: Republicans have also passed a number of business tax cuts in recent years. These tax cuts have made Texas a very attractive place for businesses to relocate or expand.
Heartbeat Bill: In 2021, Republicans passed a law that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. This law is one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country.
Corporate Tax Cut: In 2019, Republicans passed a law that cut the corporate tax rate from 5.5% to 4.5%. This is one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the country.
Individual Income Tax Cut: Republicans also passed a law that cut the individual income tax rate from 4.07% to 3.27%. This is also one of the lowest individual income tax rates in the country.
Voter Suppression Laws: Republicans have passed a number of voter suppression laws in recent years. These laws make it harder for people to register to vote and vote by mail.
These are just some of the specific legislative advantages that Republicans have in Iowa, Texas, and Florida. These advantages have helped Republicans to enact their agenda and move their states in the direction they want to go.
This is all you need to see the different values of the two parties. Tell this story and Democrats will win in a landslide.
Can you address the potential perception that those who program Bard to populate data on behalf of Google, may carry predilections in favor of a Blue agenda, placing more weight on those accomplishments? I don't claim to know, but much of the disclaimer following the Red accomplishments could also be said of the Blue accomplishments depending on your perspective.