Dear Californians and New Yorkers,
We would like to welcome you to Tennessee, Texas, and Florida. We truly believe in southern hospitality. We’ve operated that way our whole lives. Don’t be surprised when total strangers start waiving at you. Oh, and if someone says, “Bless your heart”, it’s not a good thing, though it sounds like it. And always try the biscuits.
We don’t hold resentment toward you for wanting to better your lives by moving here. We’d all do the same. We want to benefit from your contribution to society. We understand that in 2019 alone, 653,000 people left California. We know that number will probably be even higher in 2021. We understand that Tennessee is #1, Texas #2, and Florida is #3 on Uhaul’s list of one-way trucks entering states.
The purpose of this letter is to remind you why. See, we believe that the liberal and conservative can work together and get along. We believe in “you do you.” We believe in the good of humanity which causes us not to rely on the government. Remember 9/12/2001? There were no republicans in TN, TX, or FL that day. There were no democrats. There were no black and white people. There were no straight or gay people that day. There were only Americans helping Americans get through this trying time. In 2010, TN endured a devastating flood that shocked the nation. That event brought out the best in everyone. People were once again helping out complete strangers with total disregard to identity or background. Church attendance again reached an all-time high. In March 2020, middle TN was hit by strong tornadoes. Immediately, Tennesseans rushed out to help people they had never met. Events like these show us that people, at their core, are good people. We believe the same about you until you give good reason to believe otherwise.
Californians are fleeing by the droves and are all stating the same few reasons, personal taxes, business taxes, government policies, some of which led to shutdowns, and the lack of affordability to the middle-class family. Ask yourself how it got there. Think long and hard about how a vibrant, rich state, got to a place where it was too expensive for a middle-class family to live there. Ask yourself why that hasn’t changed.
What you’ll find are a few consistent principles. Big government leads to either mass exodus or opposition to tyranny. I learned that in history. But you, from California and NY don’t have to look back very far in history to see what relying on the government does. Raising taxes only hurts everyone EXCEPT the government. Making it impossible for a business to profit causes them to go where they can profit. Capitalism works when used correctly. Government doesn’t generate revenue; it only spends it. Of the top 10 states that people are leaving, NY #1, CA #2 and through MA #10, ALL of them are governed by big government policies: big government spending and control. Ask yourself, why would people leave that and come to our states. The answer is for the same reason you did. Big government PROVED to not work.
In our states, we believe that we know what to do with our money better than any government entity. We don’t force conservative or liberal opinions on you, and we don’t want other opinions forced on us. What you believe about a certain subject is perfectly fine. But we’d rather not see legislation stating we must believe the way you believe, nor do we want to see legislation stating you must believe the way we believe. Again, you do you.
So now you’re here, in TN, TX, and FL. And in these states, we believe that the people should retain more of their own money. We believe that people know how to spend it more appropriately than government. TN still has no state income tax… and we’re thriving. How could that be? Because people know what to do with their money to stimulate the economy. We believe in the humanity and goodness of people to give to charity, which we all do. We believe that personal choice is a constitutionally protected right and individual responsibility is vital to a thriving economy. We believe that if you want to wear a mask, that’s up to you. If you want to get a vaccine, that’s up to you. Don’t believe in God or church? Don’t go. Up to you. Don’t like guns? Don’t buy one. You will not be shamed for doing so or not doing so. You will, however, receive resistance if you are pushing us towards or away from any of those. You do you.
But remember that FL has remained open this entire time and has had by far the best overall response to covid in the country, with South Dakota close behind. Florida’s covid numbers are excellent. How did that happen? Protect those that are vulnerable to it, let everyone else go to work. Governor DeSantis refused to make an illness political. He just used common sense.
So, here’s where we have one request, we simply ask one thing, please don’t begin looking to make TN, TX, or FL just like home. We ask that you understand HOW we got to be YOUR destination, then begin to find a way to adapt so that you too can thrive. If we start implementing policies in these 3 states that line up with states you’re leaving, making the government too big, there will be mass exodus or opposition to tyranny here as well. Let’s avoid that if possible. Again, welcome. We’re glad you’re our neighbors. To us it means there are more good people to come together in times of need. In the words of my good friend, Jeff Pence of FL, “Hello Neighbor!” Now, somebody pass the biscuits!
Stay Classy GP,
Grainger