When people ask why the rural areas which used to be blue dog democrat homebases are now voting GOP, its an easy answer: there is no government center for people to live off of so they don't try. The more people you have who make their living off the government, the bluer your city/county/state.
That's why I love Nevada. We are proud to be 50th in the nation in disability and welfare paymouts. Our motto is: If you don't want a big government, don't feed it.
Wow! I did not know that. Still, the tax-eaters must look at you as a frontier. I would not get complacent if I were you.