Mass. exodus

The Boston Globe ^ | January 15, 2006 | Jeff Jacoby

[george76]

FOR THE second year in a row...the population of Massachusetts has shrunk.

It was one of only three states to end the year with fewer people than it had at the start -- New York and Rhode Island were the others -- and the only one to do so for the second year running.

[SC33]

I understand. I'm glad you see where I am coming from, and I understand that not everybody who comes down here is looking to do that.

[Jackson57]

ABSOLUTELY!! Very well stated.

[ROTB]

Wow. This is part of why Boston is literally collapsing as we speak.

[george76]

"This is a state in which a tax cut can be decisively approved by the voters yet never go into effect."

"In which a $2 billion Big Dig ends up costing $14 billion."

"In which Ted Kennedy keeps getting reelected."

[Radix]

Corruption is rampamt.

After my recent trip to the South, I'd say that taxes are not so bad here, at least in restaurants and such places.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

The good people are fleeing the communism, faggotry, high cost,(due to communism) and the loss of the second amendment.(Romney)

How long before they build the new berlin wall to keep the small business and property owners in the state?

[truth_seeker]

"NY gave GWB more votes than most of the red states combined, don't forget it!"

Same for California.

I guess every conservative vote in a blue state is wasted.

If we move we take our vote, our house of representatives' seat, and our electoral college votes with us.

So if we all move out of California and New York, what will Texas, Florida and Arizona be like, with about 30 or 40 million people each?

(my future may be in St. George, Utah. Or in Prescott, Arizona.)

[HostileTerritory]

I'm in my late 20s and the people I know who have left are in their late 20s through mid 30s. The difference in our perspectives probably reflects the limited segment of the population I know; of course I'm going to see more people my age and not be aware of people who are older.

[george76]

Thanks for the correction. You are correct.

One vote for each senator.

But Mass could still lose a congressional seat soon.

[HostileTerritory]

I would hate to work in Harvard Square. It is a panhandler/angsty suburban brat mecca and you have to deal with tons of tourists and students crowding the sidewalk.

[HostileTerritory]

Boston's not collapsing. It's doing very well, and they're putting up tons of housing. The problem is that middle class families are leaving, and being replaced by a) immigrants and b) empty nesters, 20-something Carrie Bradshaw wannabes, and DINKs (often homosexuals). That's actually a great combination for the city's tax base and for companies looking for workers, but it means the population declines without a change in housing occupancy and you lose the sense of being a real city and not a playground for the rich.

[HostileTerritory]

Corruption is rampamt.

It's amazing how many people vote 'RAT because they think government's main purpose is to get their nephews and in-laws good jobs in the Department of Public Works or the Parking Office.

[old republic]

No, I didn't say there was a plan to infest other areas. I merely said "For all we know...". The point of the sentence was that there is no evidence in the article that anyone is leaving because of Massachussetts' liberal policies.

[Free Dominoes]

It is a sure thing that MA will lose a seat after the 2010 census. Check out polidata.org

[Make It In Mass]

Tax-wise, Massachusetts is better off than in years past. I know people who moved to Pennsylvania and North Carolina who were shocked that personal property taxes (real estate) and/or income taxes were higher than Massachusetts. I have yet to discover why the populace in Massachusetts continues to vote against its interests by voting Democrat.
In my state legislative district, Cheryl Jacques resigned her state senate seat (after impregnating her "partner" with a turkey baster) to become the short-lived director of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay advocacy group. Her office manager, a basket case who never held an actual job, ran against a very competent Republican (Scott Brown) for the state senate seat. Brown won the interim election, and then prevailed again during the regular election cycle. But both elections were close, in the 51/49 percent range. With good voter turnout. I can only wonder why.
Real estate prices will moderate but not collapse as illegals occupy older urban properties while those who can, leave for the suburbs. Those with equity take the opportunity to cash out and move on to a more hospitable climate (in many senses of the word).
Jeff Jacoby used the word "disdain" for the elite's attitude toward the electorate. As one of those who is pulling the wagon (and getting fewer every day), I am waiting for the day I take off my harness and move on to a state where "disdain" is not the general attitude towards the populace.

[Jack Black]

So you claim there is a plan to infest other areas? Hardly, since moving is a large expense and the very thought of a plan such as this being set up and implemented by the left, in secret, is out of the question.

Well there was a famous plan for liberals to move to Vermont that had articles published about it in many publications in the early 1970s. Vermont is now one of the bluest states. There are two active movements to get conservatives and libertarians to move to other states. One for Wyoming and one for New Hampshire. None of this is secret. No reason it should be, in fact that seems a little counter-productive if the goal is to get lots of like-thinking people to move. Publicity is your friend.

The porcupine is the symbol for the New Hampshire FSP. However they were considered to academic, centralized and East Coast biased by a group of Westerners. They have formed an alternate Wyoming based Free State movement.

Both aim to start with states that have a very conservative leaning political culture and enhance it via immigration from others states. The Wyoming movement has as one of its founders Boston T. Pary who wrote a novel about what an immaginary gradual electoral take over of Wyoming might look like. It's a fun book.

All images above are links back to the associated web site for anyone interested.

[Mogengator]

This is a state In which Ted Kennedy keeps getting reelected.

[bkepley]

But I read right here on Free Republic that the economy is booming in Massachusetts. Jobs for everyone.

I know better. The state is hurting.

You certainly wouldn't know it from the voters. They seem to think there's plenty of room to tax and spend.

[palmer]

For all we know the liberals could be moving out to corrupt other states with liberal colonies.

Some of that is true. Many liberals don't understand the connection between "liberalism" and "sucking". They believe the high prices and high crime are just incidental, not the result of regulations, gun control, etc. So they move to NC or somewhere and bring their dumb ideas with them.

[Jack Black]

You certainly wouldn't know it from the voters. They seem to think there's plenty of room to tax and spend. Well if you are retired, or a welfare recipient there is no reason not to keep taxing THOSE PEOPLE. It's more money for you. If your a government worker it probably makes sense too, more taxes from THEM means more money for YOU, so they vote Dem too. When the recepients are more than 50% of the populace there is really no incentive for them to not keep voting themselves benefits, until bankruptcy. I believe California is close to that than any other state, but I'm not really sure.