The Economy: Sunbelt States Population Changing

In Tuesday's USA Today was a front page article regarding the migration of people now leaving the Sunbelt states. According to the article, this anomaly is being attributed to the economic crisis affecting these states in particular , but the real reasons are more complex. Florida in particular has seen more people leaving the state than entering since the last census in 2000 was taken. According to the article the culprit is slower job growth.

While Arizona was listed as second in growth over the past eight years, as someone who was placed in a position of an enforced exile from that state after 45, there are a number of relevant factors USA Today failed to mention in both the slowdowns, and with regard to Arizona's growth since 2000, now fluctuations. These states inherently have a high retiree population, and although many upon retirement seek out the Sunbelt States for their early retirement years, many when faced with health concerns return to their original states of origin in order to be closer to extended family members. The Sunbelt States also have always been more transient states to begin with, with far fewer natives or longer term residents. Many residents are simply winter visitors, and not permanent residents at all. Since the census is taken normally in the winter months in these states and across the nation, the statistics and true representation in Congress has always been a matter of much debate. Included in the figures are both U.S. citizens, and non citizens and even illegal immigrants. Arizona gained two seat several after the 2000 census for representatives due to the district boundaries includes much of the areas where the illegal immigrant community live, in effect giving nonvoting immigrants a voice in our Congress. According to the growth rate, while slowing down significantly, Arizona due to the influx of illegals would still gain another seat after the 2010 census, which is also why our state and local government officials while "talking the talk" have not been "walking the walk" with respect to being activists with the federal government in getting our borders secured, such as our ex-Governor and now Secretary of Homeland Insecurity, Janet Napolitano. The illegal immigrant population and their extended family members tend to vote Democratic, and so no matter what it costs the lawful residents of Arizona and the lives lost this past eight years, both mainstream parties have an inherent interest in keeping those borders open - for the votes, and for the corporate employers exploiting them at the general citizenry's expense.

The high cost of housing in the Sunbelt states which saw the greatest boom also has seen the greatest rate of foreclosures when the bubble burst. Thousands upon thousands have lost their homes, and since the major industries in most of these states shifted during the growth boom of the past several decades to construction and tourism, the states by and large are both overbuilt, and state and local tax rates out of sight. Florida may have no property taxes, but their sales tax rates and other taxes are among the highest in the nation. Arizona has both a property tax, and it's sales tax rate has increased over the past few decades at a rapid clip. Both are industry favoring states, and the business community and state legislatures have historically focused on attracting people to these states and creating new industries, but not in retaining residents or in sustaining established industries of long duration. Arizona's former major industries - cotton, cattle, copper and citrus - have been abandoned for Marriott, Hilton, bulk real estate scams, and open borders drug trafficking, hardly industries that encourage permanency, a stable economy or quality of life. The greatest number of new residents in the State of Arizona are actually escaping Californians, who stand to lose a seat, due to that state's high spending, high flying ways.

The state with the greatest gain was Utah, due to increases in birth rates, and also illegal immigrant population which also contributes to the increase in birthrates, in addition to it's Mormon heritage and roots of higher birth rates than a great many other states. Colorado rounded out the higher growth states due to also influxes of illegal immigrants and Californians, with Nevada losing residents due in part to the fact that the federal government controls over 80% of the available land there, and it's reliance on strictly two industries, construction and gaming.

Louisiana and North Dakota were the two states with no growth, but losses in their populations, which was predicted to continue at least until the next census. Louisiana, of course, due to Katrina, and who was again hit this year with Gustav.

Texas, of course, due to it's propensity for "bragging rights" and with somewhat still wide open spaces in some parts of the state, and it's also extremely high illegal immigrant population, was reported stands to gain the most seats, three. Maybe this is why those border state senators and representatives have been force feeding those amnesties and dragging their feet on the needed border security measures. As with everything, this issue is being used for purely political purposes. I wonder how many non citizens can be imported before that next 2010 census is taken, and how quickly they can be "politically" distributed?