[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.

[pepsionice]

What all you guys are missing is the 2010 and 2020 census. Lets say Northeastern states see a 10 percent drop in population, and LA residents finally give up and start moving toward Arizona and Las Vegas. The electoral college vote will shift even more away from liberal states to "red" states. We already can guess that the population in Mass...in 2010...will be less enough to take away one more representative...and Louisiana may lose one if the New Orleans folks don't move back by then. So what about 2020? I could see Blue states losing 5 or 6 representatives...and it becomes even more difficult for a democrat to win unless he's some southern governor who is popular.

There are major implcations by this story...we ought to forecast ahead.