There’s probably a basic element of popular support for many of the proposed changes; however, if you check into the article it seems the main motivation is better “redistribution” of resources focused on the central population centers… Many of the recent movements are driven by the taxpayers’ desire to have LESS taken out of their pockets, not send it to the Black Holes that are the big cities.
I did, and you are correct. In the case of my area those gravity wells aren’t particularly deep: Boise and Spokane at roughly 200,000 people each. I think I could live with that. New York, not so much.