Economic twilight in the Sunbelt?

[marmar]

AP, via Yahoo!:



Has economic twilight fallen on nation's Sun Belt?
By TODD LEWAN, AP National Writer


ORLANDO, Fla. – We first heard the term decades ago: The "Sun Belt" was just starting a run of phenomenal growth — and no wonder. It conjured a sunny state of mind as well as a balmy place on the map.

Everybody, it seemed, wanted a spot in the sun.

Industries such as aerospace, defense and oil set up shop across America's southernmost tier, capitalizing on the low involvement of labor unions and the proximity of military bases that paid handsomely, and reliably, for their products and services.

Later, San Jose, Calif., and Austin, Texas, developed into high-tech nerve centers; Houston grew into a hub for the oil industry; Nashville became a mecca for music recording and production; Charlotte, N.C., transformed itself into a center for low-cost banking and finance; and then there were the new Dixie Detroits, places like Canton, Miss., Georgetown, Ky., and Spartanburg, S.C., that began rolling out Titans, Camrys and BMWs.

Meanwhile, other warm-weather havens offered their own variants of the Sun Belt dream — as Fountains of Youth for 60-and-up duffers, as Magic Kingdoms for fun-seekers, as Cape Canaverals for middle-aged northerners looking to launch their second acts. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090530/ap_on_re_us/us_stress_map_sun_belt_sunset

[Taverner]

1. It's not dying, just changing

[mix]

2. the "Sun Belt" is also a poverty belt

with historically high rates despite recent boom times

[anonymous171]

4. More proof that prosperity does not trickle down. nt

[depakid]

6. Always interesting to justapose these deals with the social capital map

[mix]

7. not much social capital beneath the poverty line

at least that is what comparing your map to mine suggests...

[Bravo Zulu]

3. They should cut taxes,

that always works!

[lib2DaBone]

5. Sunbelt Government.. if it lives, breathes or moves.. TAX it....

Dont know about other states...in Florida.. Gov Crist claims he balanced the budget w/o raising taxes...

Although Gov Crist wordsmiths.. (he doesn't call it "taxes") the $2.2 Billion increase includes double fees on drivers license, license plates, park fees, boat registration. He even raised Hurricane insurance 20% a year "to help home owners"

Just one mesage to our elected leaders...Please.. Congress, Federal, State, Local Politicians.. DO NOT HELP ME ANYMORE.. YOU ARE KILLING ME!

If I'm unemployed and I can't affod license plates at $40 a year.. how am I supposed to afford them at $80 a year? What do you mean... "that's not your problem"?

[Hannah Bell]

8. Industry moved from developed, high-wage areas of the US to less-developed, lower-wage

areas, then to even lower-wage areas offshore.

What's the big surprise?

SOP for capitalism.