Posted on 02/11/2026 6:25:49 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
In his famous 20th century novel "The Sun Also Rises," Ernest Hemingway’s character, Mike Campbell, was asked by a friend how his financial ruin had happened. Campbell replied to the question simply, "Two ways. Gradually and then suddenly."
Just a cursory look at today’s headlines and one can see this very idea of "gradually and then suddenly" playing out in the fiscal health of many blue states. California, the poster child for a state heading down the road to financial ruin, is slated to lose four congressional seats in the 2030 census due to population loss.
Moreover, major companies such as Wells Fargo and Quantum, with others surely to follow, are moving their headquarters out of the Golden State to Florida. In fact, Miami was recently labeled by one national outlet as the "new Silicon Valley."
Two of the other largest out-migration states in the country? Illinois and New York. Ken Griffin, the multibillionaire who runs the largest and most successful hedge fund in America, Citadel Hedge Fund, left Chicago in 2022 and moved his headquarters to Florida. Meanwhile, both Illinois and New York are slated to lose between two and four congressional seats in 2030 due to population loss.
So, what is going on here? Well, in short, individuals and companies have had it with blue state taxes, wild spending, suffocating regulations and draconian environmental policies that stifle innovation and entrepreneurship. They are moving to red states like Florida and Texas that value capital, markets, free exchange and opportunity. Florida and Texas, incidentally, are projected to gain four congressional seats in 2030.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
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The big battle over the next decade is going to be blue cities/states trying to get bailed out by the federal government.
Not just the blue states, the whole country.
Watch out, red states.
Some here have said that the Californians moving to red states will turn them purple. Other reject that view, arguing that the Californias leaving are the conservatives who have no interest in replicating what they’re fleeing.
In reality, both arguments are right... and both are wrong. It’s a mix. As someone who lives in 2 parts of California, I know a lot of folks who’ve moved out, and I’ll make the following generalization:
The retiree or self-employed individual who moves is usually a conservative who will make his red state-destination redder.
The corporate drone who moved to a red state when her job at Adobe or Charles Schwag moved to another state usually a liberal who will make her red-state destination bluer.
Favorite phrase when dealing with life.
Gradually, then all of a sudden.
Just like a cancer.
Logarthmic curves are an essential life lesson.
“Valero Energy is reportedly taking a staggering $1 billion loss to shut down and exit California by April 2026 rather than comply with the ever-expanding mandates pushed by Governor Gavin Newsom and his regulatory agencies. Let that sink in. “
It's only a problem if we don't vote in '26 and '28 and if the Democrats are able to recapture the White House, they'll just open the borders once again.
But in the future, we won't have Trump waiting in the wings.
Look at the UK.
We're already seeing aspects of Directive 10-289 from Mamdani. Ayn Rand can be wordy in parts, but she nails the themes and results of socialism.
I think your assessment is spot on.
Why would they do that?
That’s why they have to win elections. So that we can bail them out.
And then there are those of us semi retired living in California and can’t afford to move to another state. Very modest home is paid off, but property taxes would be a killer anywhere else. What’s a poor conservative boy to do?
The result of diminished ideological recruitment in the educational system is that the younger generation is more conservative in Florida. Liberal corporate drones who move to Florida from a blue state risk finding that their kids become Republicans. And they may move right as well due to the lower taxes and better quality of life.
I don't understand the question. Why would who do what?
I said blue city/states will try to get bailed out by the federal government. They'd try to get bailouts because getting bailed out for the consequences of their own financially catastrophic policies is better than going under/bankrupt/broke. Did that really need to be explained?
So, Democrats will push for federal spending/legislation that does that because it benefits their core constituency, and Republicans will oppose it because it is unfair as hell, and also hurts their constituency. Whether or not it actually happens will depend on what happens in national elections.
So I'm sorry, but I don't get the "why would they do that" question at all.
Because you didn’t read my post.
I said blue city/states will try to get bailed out by the federal government. And I said you really mean get bailed out by red states who are not insolvent. And why would they do that?
And then there are those of us semi retired living in California and can’t afford to move to another state. Very modest home is paid off, but property taxes would be a killer anywhere else. What’s a poor conservative boy to do?
**********
My sister sold her modest house in Paso Robles and moved to Kansas City and bought a fantastic house. You have lots of better options than gutting it out in California.
Maybe. I guess it depends on how set in their ways these folks are. Real world example: a woman with whom I’m acquainted has a senior position with a well-known tech company. Berkeley grad, and your classic limo liberal. High earner, middle-aged, married with dogs but no kids, Dem voter and donor. Her job moved to a Trump-voting state, and she moved with it. Is her political orientation going to change? Oh, hell no. Several years in “red state America” and she’s still posting the same leftist crap on social media. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
Granted this is an anecdotal example, but I imagine 1000s like her. At the same time, you’re right. Maybe the younger liberal with a family isn’t necessary as set in her ways and might swing right in a different environment.
Property taxes in Hawaii are cheap for old veterans.
Homes are pricey. Can you get 5 acres, two homes, a large workshop and a great ocean view in CA for a million dollars?
Probably not. That is about all my rural Hawaii place is worth.
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