Liberal Flight to Florida: Can the Sunshine State Survive?

American Thinker ^ | 10/19/2018 | Antonio Chaves

[SeekAndFind]

As people flee their oppressive liberal states to Florida, will they turn their new home into exactly what they left behind?

In 2011, the publication 24/7 Wall St. compiled the following list of the ten states doing the "most" and the "least" to "spread the wealth."  A migration study compiled from 2016 to 2017 by the U.S. Census provides some thought-provoking data on these 20 states:

Table 1: 2017 Relocation Data on States that Differ in Spreading the Wealth

States doing the most in 2011	Migration per 1000
Alaska	-13.4
California	-3.5
Connecticut	-6.2
Hawaii	-6.2
Massachusetts	-3.4
Minnesota	1.4
New Jersey	-6.4
New York	-9.6
Pennsylvania	-2
Rhode Island	-3.6
average	-5.6

 

States doing the least in 2011	Migration per 1000
Alabama	0.8
Arizona	9.1
Arkansas	1.6
Florida	7.8
Idaho	14.6
Indiana	-0.1
Oklahoma	-2.7
South Carolina	9.9
Tennessee	6.1
Texas	2.8
average	5.0

 

If social spending improves the overall quality of life, why are so many Americans relocating away from the states on the left?

[SeekAndFind]

Employment data compiled in 2015 by 24/7 Wall St. provides a clue:

Table 2: 2015 Unemployment by Race in States that Differ in Spreading the Wealth*  

States doing the most in 2011	White unem.	Black unem.	Latino unem.
California	6.0%	11.0%	7.6%
Connecticut	4.5%	13.2%	11.3%
Massachusetts	4.4%	10.6%	11.0%
Minnesota	2.9%	14.1%	3.8%
New Jersey	5.2%	10.0%	7.6%
New York	4.5%	8.2%	6.7%
Pennsylvania	4.5%	10.5%	7.7%
Rhode Island	5.2%	12.2%	9.1%
average★	4.7%	11.2%	8.1%

 

States doing the least in 2011	White unem.	Black unem.	Latino unem.
Alabama	4.3%	10.6%	6.5%
Arizona	5.7%	9.1%	8.3%
Arkansas	4.3%	10.3%	6.7%
Florida	4.6%	9.0%	5.8%
Indiana	4.5%	7.0%	5.6%
Oklahoma	3.8%	8.8%	4.8%
South Carolina	4.1%	10.7%	6.2%
Tennessee	5.1%	7.5%	4.0%
Texas	4.1%	7.5%	4.9%
average★	4.5%	8.9%	5.8%

  

* To provide more realistic data on minority communities, the table excludes data from states where blacks make up less than 5% of the state population.

★Based on a one-tailed T-test, overall black and Latino unemployment is significantly higher in states on the left column (p = 0.01).  There is no significant difference for white unemployment between the states in the left and right columns (p = 0.30).

[Leep]

Did they flee another state or a foreign country?

[Red Badger]

How do they know it’s the ‘liberals’ that are fleeing?..................

[SeekAndFind]

Blue-collar jobs are more vulnerable to outsourcing, and data compiled by Forbes show why adults without college degrees are likely to struggle to find high-paying jobs in states on the left:

Table 3: 2017 Forbes Business Regulatory Environment Ranking on States that Differ in Spreading the Wealth  

States doing the most in 2011	Regulatory Environment
Alaska	29
California	47
Connecticut	42
Hawaii	46
Massachusetts	35
Minnesota	22
New Jersey	45
New York	27
Pennsylvania	36
Rhode Island	48
average rank	37.7

 

States doing the least in 2011	Regulatory Environment
Alabama	17
Arizona	25
Arkansas	23
Florida	5
Idaho	15
Indiana	1
Oklahoma	14
South Carolina	6
Tennessee	8
Texas	21
average rank	13.5

  

Note that half the states on the left rank among the "10 worst" for regulations, while nearly half of the states on the right are among the "10 best."

[ASOC]

In areas of Alaska unemployment is 90+%

The state is undergoing a net out-migration, there are no jobs.

It’s so bad, even Sara Palin is leaving!

[Responsibility2nd]

Good question.

If I was a taker - a leech on society - I would love to stay in a liberal state taking all the free s—t they hand out.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

I was in Colorado when it started to turn from Red to Purple. However, there's a big difference between places like Colorado and Florida.

Coloradans were very independent. More libertarian than conservative. So as the liberals moved in they just ignored them until it was too late to do anything.

I suspect that there is a large group of Floridians that is truly conservative and is more actively engaging with the incoming liberals. Hopefully they will change some minds, and if not, put in place laws to keep the liberals at bay.

Of course there're always the swamps. Loads of liberals can be lured into the swamps on eco-vacations that end with alligators and pythons having full stomachs.

[Notthereyet]

“As people flee their oppressive liberal states to Florida, will they turn their new home into exactly what they left behind?”
________________________________________

Unfortunately, I don’t think Florida as it is will survive. People who are sick with liberal ideas find they don’t want to live with the results and yet when they get to a healthy environment, find it’s not to their exact taste and proceed to infect it with their liberal ideas.

[Red Badger]

The conservatives would flee to keep their wealth. That’s what wealthy people do......................

[A_Former_Democrat]

It tends not to be liberals who flee. Some yes, but mostly people who want to get away from liberals and into red states with people they ID with

I wouldn’t live in California, NY, NJ, Washingtons, Mass/NE

NFW

It’s more than $$$ I don’t want to be around liberals. They are total fools, and I wouldn’t trust them one iota besides.

[MrEdd]

Liberals are hedonists.
How many Hurricanes will they stay through?
When the power goes out, work and sweat enter the picture.

[Red Badger]

Yes, those with means will flee. Those who depend on the welfare state will stay.........................

[alisasny]

I am leaving NY this month. I joined some right leaning political boards in Florida. I was told immediately ...do not bring your liberal values with you. It was quite insulting.... all they had to do was click on my page and see they were getting die hard conservatives. Shall be interesting. We are moving to a very conservative county.

[Red Badger]

Florida is actually three states.

South Florida, Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties, is full of old northern liberals, offset by the Cubans and Haitians.

Middle Florida, Orlando, Tampa, St. Pete and Melbourne, is the mushy middle, some retirees and a mix of local conservatives, so it’s a swing section.

North Florida, Jacksonville to Pensacola, with the exception of Tallahassee, is mostly conservative, military and retired military...........

[alisasny]

Also... 2 friends just left from Newburg, 2 cousins just left from Kerhonkson and my Aunt is no longer a snowbird. With husband, myself and our 2 adult kids that is 9 new conservative votes. We are leaving Suffolk County, Long Island. Other then my Aunt, all of us are no where near retirement age. We are getting out now before our net worth further decreases.

[Red Badger]

Sorry ‘bout that, chief. We still have that ‘Carpetbagger’ picture and ‘Damn Yankees’ mentality down here.

Are you a native New Yorker?.............

[Red Badger]

So, you are Lawn Guylanders!............

[Notthereyet]

“Florida is actually three states.”
______________________________________

Excellent explanation, Red Badger, and I thank you for it! Do you think it can stay as it is, though?

[alisasny]

Yup. Our great grandparents came over early 1900’s and settled in NY! On my side of the family I am the last to leave. My husband will still have members of his family here.