Americans are segregating themselves by their politics at a rapid clip, helping fuel the greatest divide between the states in modern history.

“One thing we have really found is a place to feel comfortable being ourselves,” Dean said. Americans are segregating by their politics at a rapid clip, helping fuel the greatest divide between the states in modern history.

One party controls the entire legislature in all but two states. In 28 states, the party in control has a supermajority in at least one legislative chamber — which means the majority party has so many lawmakers that they can override a governor’s veto. Not that that would be necessary in most cases, as only 10 states have governors of different parties than the one that controls the legislature

This can only end badly as conservatives seem to have no problem ruling over land in empty states.

  • DEXSIC@beehaw.orgEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    The article mentions the types of people who left these states, but I am more interested in the economic activity in the years to come with all this movement. This is a classic example of people voting with their feet. Reagan spoke of this stuff back in the 80s.

    […] this is one of the—the built-in guarantee of freedom is our federalism that makes us so unique, and that is the right of the citizen to vote with his feet. If a State is badly managed, the people will either do one of two things: They will either use their power at the polls to redress that, or they’ll go someplace else. And we’ve seen industries driven out of some States by adverse tax policies and so forth. - Ronald Reagan, November 19, 1981

    We have yet to see how all this movement will impact the individual states themselves or the country as a whole yet. For example, we do not know how all this will all play out economically for the red/blue states. COVID mixed with Remote Work has upended a lot of the soft lines that kept people within a state to begin with (for many, but not all). Truly wild times we are in.

    • off_brand_@beehaw.orgEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      Actually, West Virginia might well be an example. They have been facing brain drain for a generation (if not more), and it’s affected the economy to such a degree that WV will regularly offer raw cash to people moving in. Nevermind that they won’t spend that money on their own services…

      I’m not educated enough to speak to causes. Anecdotally, though, everyone I know from college left or is trying to leave because it’s dangerous to be there if you’re queer. That sort of privilege only comes with money, though, so if that anecdote means anything than their highest earning queers and allies are fleeing the state.