Today, we're diving into a juicy tidbit that’s got everyone buzzing: red states have seen a 7% increase in their child population since 2000, and it’s not just a political thing—it's about affordability! Yup, you heard that right. Instead of just waving our political flags, we’re looking at what’s really driving families to pack their bags and move: housing costs. The Institute for Family Studies backs this up, pointing out that when a starter home is way cheaper in Nashville compared to San Francisco, families are gonna hit the road, regardless of their political stripes. So, if blue states want to keep their population from heading for the hills, they’d better get cracking on those housing issues. Join me, James A. Brown, as we unpack this whole situation—let's get into the nitty-gritty and have some fun along the way!
Takeaways:
In this episode, we dive into census data showing that red states have increased their child population by 7% since 2000, which is pretty wild, right?
We discuss how the growth in red states isn't just about politics; it's mainly tied to housing affordability and economic factors.
It turns out that those living in blue states are facing a population drain, and if they don't address housing issues, this trend will continue. Yikes!
Did you know that a starter home costs way less in Nashville than in San Francisco? No wonder families are packing up and moving!
The polarization we see today is only part of the story; understanding affordability is crucial to grasping these demographic shifts.
Even the conservative thinktank that published the data agrees: it's about affordability over politics. Who would've thought?
This is the Daily note from jamesabrown.net There's a chart making the rounds that just feels like common sense.
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% since the year:
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The obvious read here is tribal and yes, we're extremely polarized.
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But that's only part of the picture.
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Even the conservative thinktank who made the chart agrees with that.
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The Institute for Family Studies says this is more about affordability and housing than politics.
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And of course, they're right.
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When a starter home costs half as much in Nashville as it does in San Francisco, a young family starts googling and eventually loads a U haul, no matter what their politics are.
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And if blue states don't fix housing and affordability, they won't fix their population drain anytime soon.
