Voting with their feet - Americans fleeing high tax, big government states
- Chris Cargill
- Dec 24, 2022
- 1 min read
Updated: Jul 21, 2023
Call it a confirmation of what most of us already knew - the population of the mountain states is surging.
The U.S. Census Bureau has released the latest population estimates, which show that Idaho and Montana are growing. In fact, Idaho is one of the top states for population growth.
Washington State, on the other hand, has had virtually no growth.
This is not really a surprise. Most of the states that are seeing substantial growth or low tax, low regulatory environments. Meantime, most of the states that are seeing declines are high tax and high regulation.
It is also interesting to consider that five of the seven states with no state income tax (Texas, South Dakota, Tennessee, Florida and Nevada) are some of the fastest growing in the country.
Idaho is also getting attention as having the two fastest growing cities in the country, as ranked by SmartAsset:
Nampa, Idaho
Meridian, Idaho
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
New Braunfels, Texas
Fort Myers, Florida
Conroe, Texas
Menifee, California
Pasco, Washington
Lewisville, Texas
Chino, California
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Rancho Cordova, California
Victorville, California (Tie)
Riverview, Florida (Tie)
Homestead, Florida
Expanding our regional population is not a bad thing. It can help increase the strength of our economies and lower the tax burden.
However, policymakers throughout the mountain states should make sure to remember why so many Americans are voting with their feet and choosing states that have lower taxes and fewer government burdens.
It never ceases to amaze me that in one breath many conservatives mention how bad policies in blue states are causing people to flee and in the next assume every migrant from California is a liberal that hates their values.
Not only is it inconsistent, it's counterproductive. I know a lot of Cali transplants who are exactly the type of people we need moving here who say the way they are treated is the only thing preventing them from recommending Idaho to other like-minded Americans sick of California policies.
I wish simply being kind was sufficiently its own reward, but unfortunately for many Idahoans it isn't.