December 23, 2005
THE SHRIVELLING OF BLUE AMERICA:
Census estimate a concern for state: Seats in Congress, US funding at risk (Scott Helman, December 23, 2005, Boston Globe)
Massachusetts lost residents for the second year in a row, new federal Census estimates show, underscoring an accelerating population shift from the Northeast to the South and West that threatens to erode the state's political and economic clout.
Only two other states, along with the District of Columbia, lost population from July 1, 2004, to July 1 of this year, according to US Census estimates released yesterday. The Bay State lost about 8,600 residents, or .1 percent of its population, according to the estimates.
If the trend continues, specialists say, the state will face serious consequences: fewer seats in Congress, companies choosing to locate or expand elsewhere, a shrinking labor force, and less federal funding for transportation, housing, and other initiatives.
Of such shifts is the permanent Republican majority made. Posted by Orrin Judd at December 23, 2005 10:38 AM
The other two states which are estimated to have lost population are New York and Rhode Island. New England as whole only gained slightly over 18,000.
Posted by: Earl Sutherland at December 23, 2005 11:53 AMWhat could we have expected? The People's Republic of Masachusetts is leading the gay marriage movement: the fools don't even knoow where babies come from.
Posted by: Lou Gots at December 23, 2005 12:21 PMnew england will be nicer once it settles in and accepts its inevitable decline. look for remake of "Green Acres" ...
Posted by: toe of doom at December 23, 2005 12:30 PMAre automatically assuming that the people who are moving are Republicans, or that they will begin to vote Republican when they move?
What if they are Democrats, and stay that way.
I know these things are fluid, and depend in many factors, but aren't we assuming a great deal.
In IL, the flight from the city has made Dupage and Lake Counties more Democratic.
Of course, some of this has to with the complete collapse of Rs here. (The Mehlman/Rove embrace of the idiot Topinka doesn't help either)
Posted by: Bruno at December 23, 2005 2:39 PMBruno,
Methinks political affiliation will relate to the population density the movers relocate within. Additionally, should changes in registration be made, they may not be immediate. Initially, actual voting patterns may not align with party affiliation. My best guess is they will see it in their interest to shift to the right eventually. Living in NH, where we're growing , I pray I'm right, err correct.
Posted by: Genecis at December 23, 2005 4:43 PMPeople are too smart to stay with party politics. People that think for themselves, look at the person and decide.
Posted by: oldkayaker at December 23, 2005 4:49 PMAnd made Will a toss-up.
Wait until Blowdry's ill-advised healthcare plan hits.
Posted by: Sandy P at December 23, 2005 4:49 PMNew Hampsire is only growing from all those Libertarians moving in so they can take over the state.
"People are too smart to stay with party politics. People that think for themselves, look at the person and decide."
And as with "growing in office", they will always choose just one way, right? And only stupid people care about parties, right? And we all know who the stupid people are, right? Why, there' s even a party called The Stupid Party!
The reason so many on the Left hide behind the moderate/independent schtick is because they know that they're guaranteed to lose if they are labeled correctly, so better to hide your true politics until you are safely the incumbent. In the real world all the independent, moderate, middle-of-the-road types seem to do is make arguments last longer and become more heated as they shift from side to side in and prevent a resolution.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at December 23, 2005 6:44 PMThe more I visit this site, the more I am impressed with Raoul Ortega. MERRY CHRISTMAS, Sir!
And the same to everyone else here.
Posted by: obc at December 23, 2005 7:00 PMobc, Blessedly, Raoul Ortega is one of many. Thank you all.
Posted by: jdkelly at December 23, 2005 8:09 PMRaoul,
Don't believe the media. They mostly come from MA to escape income and sales taxes, recreational opportunities and more reasonable real estate. In exit interviews at the polls the majority claim to be Republicans, but after the last election results I personally don't believe them.
Posted by: Genecis at December 24, 2005 2:42 PMSave your praise for someone more deserving.
My comment was in reference to a group of Losertarians a few years back who figured the way to power was to all move to the same state so they could vote to create their paradise-on-earth. I thought they'd settled on New Hampshire.