'Scared' students are rejecting colleges in states with strict abortion laws

[PatrickforO]

24. This is good.

I often work with economic developers, who tend to be Republican, or at least sympathetic to Republican positions on regulation, incentive and so on. Even Democrats among them tend to the center, because the truth is that without job growth, there isn't any opportunity, and without opportunity people begin leaving.

Nowadays, the trend for businesses, who are actually very faddish, is to follow the talent, which tends to move to places that have a good quality of life.

What is a good quality of life? It has to do with whether an area has good economic opportunity, is culturally diverse, LGBTQ-friendly, has good cultural amenities, available and accessible healthcare, decent cost of living, plenty of recreational opportunities and so on.

In short, the perceived quality of life is what attracts skilled, educated workers to a place, and what causes businesses to be attracted, expand or just stay in the area.

The other day, I sent the Alabama tourism board an email telling them to get ready to hear the giant sucking sound as qualified, high-skilled workers begin to leave, and businesses begin to follow them. Because that is what will happen. If I were a young, educated, skilled young person seeking a place with a good quality of life, honestly I'd avoid these so-called 'christo-fascist' states like the plague.

Sadly, even if the economies in those states go down the tubes and they experience an exodus (pardon the pun!) of qualified workers, the bible-thumpers will likely still stick to their guns (because they are also likely big second amendment people). The reduction of the tax base over years will starve the state and local governments for revenue, so the roads and schools will deteriorate, and they will not be able to afford to fully fund other things people need, like motor vehicle, planning, open space and trails, and medicaid. Community block grants and other federal aid sometimes get refused for no good reason by these right-wingers, too.

So, we're looking at a downward economic spiral directly caused by the implementation of poor policy that dramatically decreases quality of life.