Speaking of demographic-related issues, The New Republic has a fascinating story on the changing mix of many American cities (h/t: Jonathan Martin).
The Seattle metro area - especially with its tech-centered job growth - seems like a prime example of the trend discussed in the article: low-income and minority families moving out, affluent (and younger) professionals moving in. The expanding residential populations of urban cores in Seattle and Bellevue bear witness to this, as does the increasing diversification of many parts of the suburban ring surrounding those two cities.
UPDATE: link fixed.
Posted by Eric Earling at August 04, 2008 07:12 PM | Email ThisAlso worth noting, I think, is the real reason why exurbs are growing, why people are moving further out. It's the same reason as always, and it is not what the left tells you: "white flight." The real reason is liberty. The more people around you, the less liberty you have. It's really that simple. So naturally, people who live in less densely populated areas are going to be more conservative in philosophy -- even the weed-smoking hippie liberals out here are conservatives on many issues -- but it doesn't stop many from branding us as racists.