The AP had a fascinating story yesterday asking, “Has twilight come to the Sun Belt?” Citing the real estate meltdown, soaring unemployment, budget crises, water shortages and general economic stress, the column echoes Richard Florida’s suggestion that the boom was one “giant Ponzi scheme” and raises the questions:
“[Have we] witnessed the Rise and Fall of the Sun Belt? Will those who swept into those Miracle-Gro states get swept out just as quickly, leaving behind a sprawl of hollow houses, cul-de-sac moonscapes and mosquito-infested pools — the stucco ghettos of the 21st century?”
I plan to write a full length post about my opinion’s on this and what affect, if any, the economic recession in the Sun Belt will have on American politics, in both numbers and psyche, as well as my predictions of whether the Sun Belt can regain the economic/political/cultural clout it enjoyed around 2003 when Bush was in the White House, DeLay ran Congress and NASCAR posted consistent record profits.
But first I wanted to pose a few questions to TEM’s readers. Hit up the comment section or email me at patottenhoff@gmail.com if you’re interested.
- Is the Sun Belt really in its “twilight”? Wasn’t Roger Clemens said to be in the “twilight of his career” when the Red Sox let him go? How can a region be in a twilight?
- If the Sun Belt is indeed in decline, are predictions that it will gain congressional seats at the Rust Belt’s expense premature?
- How will this affect the psyche and tone of American politics?
- Should Charlotte and Triangle be considered hubs of finance and biotech, respectively, or just merely regional outposts?
- Can the Sun Belt regain its strength on the backs of the energy sector?
Garrison
2 June 2009 at 3:26 PM
At the same time, Florida’s still the biggest battleground in the nation, and North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada are swing states, so I don’t see their national political clout diminishing.
HP
2 June 2009 at 3:27 PM
Texas is the X-factor – Sun Belt yet not doing so poorly; gaining 4 seats in 2012; booming energy sector
Jay
9 June 2009 at 9:48 AM
I think the slow population growth is temporary in Florida and will population will increase again in the Sun Belt as the energy crisis comes back and taxes continue to go sky high in the NE and California.
David
10 June 2009 at 11:50 AM
“Is the Sun Belt really in its “twilight”? Wasn’t Roger Clemens said to be in the “twilight of his career” when the Red Sox let him go? How can a region be in a twilight?”
Clemens was in the twilight of his career until Dr. Steroids showed up. Are you saying the Sun Belt needs to go find Brian McNamee?