by Robert E. Wright
The American Institute for Economic Research
Since the Civil Rights Movement, Americans have had a strong sense that their state of residence does not matter much to the enjoyment of their fundamental rights. The federal government seems to reign supreme, so many Americans base their residency decisions on job and climate preferences and such. Young trappers move to Alaska and old beachcombers to Florida and so forth. Most Americans with standard occupations and tastes now follow the polite advice of TLC and stick to the rivers and lakes that they are used to.
The lockdown crisis and urban uprisings have induced some high-profile business leaders, including Elon Musk, to question the assumption that all Americans enjoy equal economic rights and personal freedoms. Clearly, the governors of some states de facto possess much more “police power” (a telling term) than others, so millions of Americans, especially small business owners, must be wondering if state amenities, like California’s climate, New Jersey’s proximity to Manhattan, or Michigan’s forests are really worth the risk to their liberty.