“I define political freedom as the ability to choose the government policy's one wishes to live under.” – Free to Move
For those of us lucky enough to be born in a First World country, particularly the United States, we are often said to have won life’s lottery. And in many ways, that is true. Most, however, are not so fortunate, having themselves been born in nations rife with poverty, war, or brutal authoritarianism. Given the chance, nearly 15 percent of the world’s population, or 158 million adults, would leave their country for another, with 1 in 5 choosing the US, based on a recent Gallup poll. As did our ancestors, who during the mid-to-late nineteenth century, made their way to America. By 1890, a record 14.8 percent of the US population were immigrants. Today, immigrants total 44.8 million, or 13.7 percent of the US population. For low-skilled foreign workers who migrate from other countries, a move to a richer nation can increase their wages two to six-fold.
In Ilya Somin’s 2020 book, “Free to Move”, Somin discusses the three different foot voting options available for citizens around the globe. They include internal relocation within one’s country, international migration to another nation, and finally, opportunities through the private sector. Each has its unique benefits and challenges, but all increase the freedom and autonomy of millions of people each year. Voting with our feet impacts our lives far more than ballot box voting, by providing us with additional choices, much like a marketplace. And since these decisions affect us directly, we are far more likely to be informed about the advantages and consequences.
Last year’s COVID response is a clear example of why it matters where one lives. President Trump chose the Constitutional provision of federalism and allowed states to determine their own actions relative to their unique population. Blue states, using draconian lockdowns, had an average unemployment rate of 10.5 compared to red states, at 6.6 percent, who allowed their businesses to reopen earlier. Some of the lockdowns were so severe that a record number of Californians and New Yorkers decided to leave their states and relocate elsewhere. As a result, for the first time, Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth ranked number 1 and 2 as the top tech cities, topping both Silicon Valley and San Francisco. Even billionaire Elon Musk famously exited California over his frustration with their COVID policies.
Following the 2020 census, it will now be the job of state legislatures to redistrict their political maps to adjust for losses and additions of congressional seats based on new population totals. Left-leaning Brookings Institute has estimated that ten states (AL, CA, IL, MI, MN, NY, OH, PA, WV, and RI) will lose one seat each, with 70 percent of the losses coming from blue states. On the flip side, 80 percent of additional congressional seats are expected to be added to red states (TX, FL, AZ, MT, and NC). Confirming what we already know, policy matters!
Despite a particularly chaotic election in 2020, many still view voting as the quickest means to an end. If one side gets enough votes, they can then force their policies on everyone. Yet, while few votes will ever make a significant difference in the final outcome, voters themselves present a much bigger problem. A 2018 Pew Research report measured US citizens’ understanding of the political system. It was unsurprisingly dismal. Only 14 percent of people aged 18-29 had a good understanding of American civics; a mere 24 percent for the age group 30-64; and only 33 percent of our older generation 65+, had sufficient political knowledge. Unfortunately, each of these low-information citizens has the same equal representation in voting, one person, one vote.
While voting results reflect the will of the collective, foot voting puts focus and responsibility on the individual. With 50 independent states and more than 89,000 local districts, the United States offers significant opportunities for people to live as they wish. Since most people who move domestically are looking for lower taxes, inexpensive housing, better schools, and improved job prospects, competition among jurisdictions will continue to lure new residents. Ironically, it is excessive government intervention that makes each of those issues worse, making a mere change in location, a significant benefit for Americans.
Nancy Sinatra’s 1966 hit song, “These Boots Are Made for Walkin” ends with this exhortation: “Are you ready boots? Start walking.” As you’ve seen, many already have.
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