A quiet trend in blue state Higher Education

[Joe Nation]

Talking to an old friend at my former university recently, he mentioned that one of the trends he is now seeing and his colleagues are seeing in other blues states is a wealth of LBGTQ applicants for open positions from states like Texas and Florida. Call it a red state brain drain or simply LGBTQ people not feeling safe in red states even at the higher education level anymore.

The trend is highly noticeable since many of these job searches have until recently, produced very little in the way of viable candidates over the last decade. The pools of applicants just haven't been all that great until republican governors like DeSantis began declaring war on higher education.

This also extends to students unwilling to apply to schools in red states as a result of laws like DeSantis' Don't say gay law and restricting what can be taught and what can't be taught.

As the red states trend dumber and the blue states benefit from idiotic laws, both sides have something to feel good about, if only a little.

[mike_c]

1. this is interesting

I've served on a bunch of academic hiring search committees in the last 25 years, and of course I was also a job applicant myself a couple times. Speaking for myself, I would likely apply for fewer jobs in red states simply because I dislike how their social agendas affect the quality of life there. If I was a woman of childbearing age, or less heterosexual normative, I'd be even more reluctant to move to states that institutionalize discrimination against those groups. My former department is hiring lots of folks as people like me age out of their jobs, but we're in arguably one of the bluest states in the nation, so I expect our searches do benefit from that liberal state government.

[Johnny2X2X]

2. Just a bigger divide than ever

Blue states are going to be more prosperous and free. Have all the brain and economic power. Red states will have more crime and poverty.

[Moostache]

4. Idiocracy brought to you by Brawndo, the thirst mutilator...

I wish it were not true, but it is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[kimbutgar]

6. What's going in now in those red states make idocracy look like a documentary !

I always loved that movie and seeing how those red states are getting stupider is appalling!

My husband won’t watch it again because it upsets him!

[DENVERPOPS]

7. Perhaps

the Red States will quit threatening to secede and actually do it !!!!!!!!!!!!! They are an extreme drain on the Federal Gov't since most, especially Southern Red States take far more Federal Money than they contribute..............The loathe socialism, which I find hilarious.
If it weren't for "socialism" they would be in far worse condition, and they are totally ignorant in understanding that fact....LOL

The thing that I find most curious, is that they don't realize that it is not just the Blue States and Dem voters that will get royally screwed by the Republicans, but they are gonna get crushed also........???????????

[erronis]

3. There isn't a lot of brain to drain from many of the red states, unfortunately.

I really feel for many friends I have that try to live and survive while surrounded by the seas of intolerance and hatred.

[paleotn]

8. In some of the rural and ex-burben areas I use to live in, I agree with you, but.....

there are quite a few smart, decent folks in Austin, Dallas, Orlando to name a few

[erronis]

9. Oh, I totally agree. And I knew that this was not representative of the intelligent

people that generally live in the enclaves of these states.

If anything, Austin is a shining light. Like Madison WI, Lawrence KS.

It's really sad that these lights are dimmed by the surrounding and governing nimwits.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

5. the resorting of America.. Blue people to blue states, red to red

[Tickle]

10. Bingo! This is the civil war we've been waiting for

No guns at least not now. I just have a hard time accepting this.