The red states' revenge is coming: "Blue State Exodus"

Joel Kotkin, Forbes 11/3:

Net migration, both before and after the Great Recession, according to analysis by the Praxis Strategy Group, has continued to be strongest to the predominately red states of the South and Intermountain West.

This seems true even for those seeking high-end jobs. Between 2006 and 2008, the metropolitan areas that enjoyed the fastest percentage shift toward educated and professional workers and industries included nominally "unhip" places like Indianapolis, Charlotte, N.C., Memphis, Tenn., Salt Lake City, Jacksonville, Fla., Tampa, Fla., and Kansas City, Mo.

The overall migration numbers are even more revealing. As was the case for much of the past decade, the biggest gainers continue to include cities such as San Antonio, Dallas and Houston. Rather than being oases for migrants, some oft-cited magnets such as New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago have all suffered considerable loss of population to other regions over the past year.

Why? Pay close attention, Blue Staters:

The problem here is more than just too-large government; it lies in how states spend their money. Massive public spending increases over the past decade in California, New Jersey, Illinois and New York have gone overwhelmingly into the pockets and pensions of public employees. It certainly has not flowed into such basic infrastructure as roads, bridges and ports that are needed to keep key industries competitive. [empahsis added]

Comments

[Ted Craig]

Unfortunately, Red Staters tend to turn the Blue States into new versions of the places they left. Look at New Hampshire, Oregon, etc.

[Brock]

New York has net loss of population, but it's worse than that. Most of the 1.5 million people who have moved out since 2001 are high earners leaving for low-tax states, and they're being partially replaced by 1.1 million inward low-earners showing up for the socialist benefits. This is pretty much the definition of "unsustainable."

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/tax_refugees_staging_escape_from_qb4pItQ71UXIc0i6cd3UpK

[Bob Vila]

"Red Staters" did not turn Oregon into what it is today. Liberal Californians did.

[michael]

Except for three semesters, I have lived in Los Angeles or San Diego my entire life. I don't enjoy any other part of the country enough to move willingly, but the job market makes it very hard to stay. When I get my B.A. in May there is a 90% chance I'll be living in a different state (or country, for that matter.)

[MarkJ]

Here's a motto for New York:

"New York: It's the other California."

[kyle8]

Well Micheal, please do not move to Texas, We have had quite enough "immigrants" of all types, and the ones who come from other states are a lot worse than the illegals, because they immediately start trying to change us into the type of socialist cesspool they just left.

[Ted Craig]

Sorry I confused my color-coding. I meant blue to red. And Kyle's point reenforces my (corrected) statement.