Census: Americans Are Fleeing Big Cities (escaping high costs - and liberalism?)

Associated Press ^ | 04/20/06 | Stephen Ohlemacher

[Heartofsong83]

Could they be escaping from liberalism?

Honestly, I am not a big fan of urban sprawl, but neither do I support the liberal ways, extreme costs and high crime of the big cities today. I'd rather settle out on a farm, or in a smaller community.

The same trends are probably occuring all throughout the industrialized world.

[Rakkasan1]

take note that all the bunny-huggin', UN lovin' millionaires,celebs, and billionaires own vast tracts of land in Montana.

city life is what they want for the 'rest of them'.

[SF Republican]

Florida, Arizona and Nevada - Anyone needing a new carrier may want to try air conditioning - hours are long and hot but you only work 6 months and probably make 2 years income.

[DM1]

I fled to NH from Mass partially for housing costs but mostly because i could not stand taxachusetts any longer.

[Heartofsong83]

I'd prefer Arizona or Nevada to Florida. No need to worry about hurricanes!

[MplsSteve]

The downside to this migration is that a number of those who are leaving are liberals too.

They move somewhere else and bring their terrible ideas with them. They vote for liberal Dems in the areas they move to and eventually they change the political dynamic of that area - and certainly not in a good way!

Look what liberals from Massachusetts and New York have done to states like New Hampshire and Vermont!

[akorahil]

You mean like a Carrier brand A/C installer?

[Cecily]

The opposite is happening in Atlanta. People are moving back into the city proper because they are sick of the long commutes if they work in or close to town.

[ancient_geezer]

Northeasterners are moving South and West. West Coast residents are moving inland.

Just d'mn, there goes the neighborhood ;O/

[stephenjohnbanker]

Just moved to Scottsdale ~Bump!

[Heartofsong83]

Vermont has always been fairly liberal though...

[MplsSteve]

Over the years, I've driven Atlanta's freeways at various times of the day and night.

They are truly over-crowded and aggravating at just about any time!

[Heartofsong83]

Those are mostly wealthy people and liberal yuppies who are doing so.

[Heartofsong83]

Do they have commuter rail there? That seems like something that they could use...

[MarDav]

I moved from northeast New Jersey (just outside NYC) down here to North Carolina. Love it. The town I was born and raised in ceased to be the town I was born and raised in, so, to paraprhase RR: "I didn't leave my little town. My little town left me."

[Southack]

Left-wing rules (e.g. smoking bans, housing permit restrictions, etc.) and higher-taxes contribute to make urban areas less desireable to all but the biggest spenders and the underclass that services them...

That's one side of the equation.

Lower home prices, lower taxes, fewer rules...and high technology finally being available in rural areas (e.g. internet access, FedEx, etc.) are another part of the equation.

Then factor in better weather, better air quality, better roads, less crime...and suddenly the population shift makes sense.

Now add in the fact that lots of new jobs are being created in non-union "right to work" states at wages that are competitive to jobs in higher-cost regions, and this demographic shift appears not only inevitable, but also urgent.

[mikethevike]

I left Minneapolis last year and moved to the outer suburb of St. Michael. More house for my buck and, let's face it, Minneapolis is saturated with Liberal nutjobs, rainbow flags and lame politicians (Mayor Rybek).

[Reaganesque]

Just a thought but, cities are controlled, mostly, by Liberals, right? They have their way politically on just about every subject, right? Then, if their policies and way of doing things is so wonderful, why is the crime rate so high in big cities? Why are racial tensions so high in big cities? Why is homelessness rampant in big cities? Guns are banned but gun violence is commonplace. Surely, if Liberalism is the very definition of compassion and tolerance, big cities should be paradises, shouldn't they? And yet...

[pabianice]

Lived in the city. Never again.

My little piece of heaven. Took 27 years to get there but it was worth it. And the chief of police issues LTCs "for all lawful purposes."

[MplsSteve]

You almost have to go that far out to find any sensibility.

The first-ring suburbs like Maplewood, Richfield, Crystal, etc are starting to circle around the drain too. Crime, iffy housing, etc.

You have to go outside the 494-694 belt to find any sense of conservatism.