The likely reasons behind these troubling trends are things rarely discussed in “the narrative”–concerns like high costs, taxes and regulations making it tough on industries that employ the middle class. One clear culprit: out of control state spending. State spending in New York is second per capita in the nation (anomalous Alaska is first); California stands fourth and New Jersey seventh. Illinois is down the list but coming up fast. Over the past decade, while its population grew by only 7%, Illinois’ spending grew by an inflation-adjusted 39%.
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.
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Parasites seek new host.
tetriskid on November 3, 2009 at 6:04 PM
Locusts changing fields.
thomasaur on November 3, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Oh crap, more blue votes coming south.
Monica on November 3, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Oregon used to be a mecca for Californians and Washington state refugees. Now the left coast continues to head inland for MidWest sensibilities and job opportunities.
You couldn’t pry me from the OK-TX region.
itzWicks on November 3, 2009 at 6:08 PM
I don’t think so.
If I read it right.. the “youth” are picking the cities and after you “Peak” at the highest you can make in a city you move out of the city.
Allah did a double take on what he posted. You have to read the whole thing.
upinak on November 3, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Newly arrived lefty in (insert western state here): “Whoa! Nice place, low taxes, good climate for business. But you know what’s missing? A legislature full of Democrats!!!”
fiatboomer on November 3, 2009 at 6:15 PM
I did read the whole thing, that’s where my quote above about the south and mountain west came from. After re-reading it, I still get the same thing.
Monica on November 3, 2009 at 6:17 PM
These stories are always depressing. I don’t want the big government, high tax nanny staters coming to Texas and ruining this state like they ruined the blue state they came from.
clearbluesky on November 3, 2009 at 6:18 PM
They will. Colorado and most of the Mountain West has been mostly ruined by Californians.
tetriskid on November 3, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Another thing is that once the young people get married and start families, the hip urban lifestyle looks less and less attractive. Public Schools corrupt, incompetent and so drenched in sexual abuse as to make the Catholic Priest scandal look like an episode of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood are another massive factor in family flight.
Parents don’t want their kids to have to climb over drunks, walk past bars, prostitutes, and gang bangers, to get to school, only to see the JV prostitutes and gang bangers in school.
Add on the massive government imposed penalties for living in NYC, and it just makes sense to bail.
But they don’t get it.
If you look at the ballot for NYC mayor, there are Repulicans, Conservatives, and Libertarians. Then there are Democrats, Working Families Party (ACORN), Socialists, Independent, Green, New Voice, Socialist Working Party, Rent is too Damn High party (I love the name but Rent Control is the Prob). You kinda see the problem.
Iblis on November 3, 2009 at 6:25 PM
Yep that’s right New York is so damn red it has 2 Socialist parties, cause one just couldn’t hold it all.
And that’s another thing. I’m tired of the socialist states being called Blue and the conservative states Red. Its another media propaganda tactic to make conservatives look like the bad guys. ANd its the total opposite of reality.
Iblis on November 3, 2009 at 6:27 PM
+1000
You would think that getting laid off, having to sell their house at a loss, and being forced to move next door to us evil gun clinging redknecks would make them question their political orientation for at least one nanosecond.
Oh, wait, I forgot the sour economy can all be blamed on George W. Bush. Except TX is booming… and GWB was gov here before he was president… hmmm…. that theory may need some work.
bitsy on November 3, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Heh. For some reason, I seem to remember way back in the ’80s Coloradans(?) b*tching about Texans moving there.
bitsy on November 3, 2009 at 6:33 PM
No, they won’t question it at all. They’ll get busy trying to make it into the $hithole like they just came from.
BigWyo on November 3, 2009 at 6:34 PM
They are taxing businesses to death in California. If it’s not a tax, it’s a new fee or a fee that is tripled because the dirty legislative whores can’t stop spending our money.
Blake on November 3, 2009 at 6:34 PM
This is nothing new-Leftists from New York moved to Vermont decades ago and started its decline into a banana republic. It’s not quite so bad here in New Hampshire-the Massholes who have moved here have tilted the state to the Dems, but it’s not as certified looney left as Vermont is. Yet, anyway!
From personal experience, the majority of folks from Mass. I have met who have moved here have been decent folks. Which means that all that is left behind in the Bay State is the total Leftist drones. Scary stuff, that.
Del Dolemonte on November 3, 2009 at 6:34 PM
Soooo, conservatism is the right way to go? DUH
marklmail on November 3, 2009 at 6:36 PM
They are not escaping, they are invading.
OldEnglish on November 3, 2009 at 6:37 PM
So about the time you start having children it’s time to move to the burbs, or the boonies where the schools are nice and minority free. Don’t want your kid getting the crap beat out of him on the school bus, and they call us the racists.
DFCtomm on November 3, 2009 at 6:38 PM
Maybe different enviroments.
But I have noticed one thing here…. all the freaking out of staters.
I wish they would move back from where they came from.
upinak on November 3, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Umm did anyone say anything about race, even in the article? Wow, project much?
upinak on November 3, 2009 at 6:40 PM
What I heard when the Californians hit Montana was more like “Wow, close communities, low crime–but where’s the PORN in the video stores!! Are you denying me my right to rent PORN?!?!”
Axeman on November 3, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Many unsavory realities don’t get airtime. Have you heard anyone mention, other than conservatives, the cost illegals add to health care.
DFCtomm on November 3, 2009 at 6:49 PM
really they are trying legislation on everything concerning animals.. and trying to stop hunting. It isn’t working so well.
upinak on November 3, 2009 at 6:50 PM
LMFAO, wow… I mean wow!
Did you even read the article or are you really trying to project your leftie loon crap on here?
Go away and find another “meme” to scream about.
upinak on November 3, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Yep, and these idiots will never change their voting habits and will turn the rest of the country into moochers.
Daemonocracy on November 3, 2009 at 6:57 PM
Drat! I’ve been discovered. I did indeed read the article, and I noticed the part about single households. I have read other articles that have a more detailed description of the demographic, and I don’t think it’s a leap to say white flight is a contributor. Businesses fleeing high tax rates is probably larger, but that angle has been done to death.
DFCtomm on November 3, 2009 at 6:59 PM
The crappy thing about this, of course, is that when the voters leave for greener pastures they take their awful voting habits right along with them.
Which an obvious enough observation that most of the other commenters beat me to it.
BadgerHawk on November 3, 2009 at 7:01 PM
If you see any of us Californians coming over the hill into your state, just shoot us on the spot. It’ll save you trouble in the long run, and it”ll put us out of our abject misery.
Mary in LA on November 3, 2009 at 7:05 PM
Look, yankees; my back yard is almost full of bodies. STOP COMING HERE.
noblejones on November 3, 2009 at 7:13 PM
I’ve been in Illinois for 30 years, I’m 35 years old now. We live in the hole known as Cook County, where all the suburbs are trying to leave and let Chicago fund itself.
My wife and I are trying to figure out how to leave this state. When we do, however, we won’t be the average Liberals fleeing the mess they’ve created. We’re conservatives looking to move to a conservative area.
visions on November 3, 2009 at 7:25 PM
And California responds by increasing your withholding by 10%, so now we all have to change our deductions so they can’t keep getting interest free loans from the taxpayers.
Conservatives WILL take back California!
NTWR on November 3, 2009 at 7:40 PM
Do you really think so? How are we going to get past the teachers’ union and the illegal-alien-enablers?
Mary in LA on November 3, 2009 at 7:42 PM
ROFL!
I love this.
Jenfidel on November 3, 2009 at 7:46 PM