Lots of brain drain from NY and CA to more red states.

Left Upstate NY for Texas 25 years ago and so glad I did. Most of my family has by now fled NY to Florida. Still end up having similar issues in big cities, my mistake was Houston rather than a normal suburb. Austin, Dallas, San Antonio similar issues to NY really.

So far the State governors at least have your back for sanity when the fed and local governments go completely off the rails. NY you get more of the same, repeat next seasonal flu crisis.

Federal government complete waste of money, needs to be defense only, States can do the rest. No Fed employee wants to hear that / votes for that. Corrupt system truly.