Jobs Fled to Texas First, the People Followed

Ross Douthat points out the sheer silliness of the left's assault on Rick Perry's record in Texas, noting that people aren't coming to Texas for the weather, they're coming for the jobs.

Yes, Texas' growing population has contributed to the job boom, but the boom has driven population growth as well. The influx of people has been too extraordinary to just be chalked up to, say, snowbirds seeking 105-degree retirements. More likely, thousands of Americans have responded to hard times in their home states by moving to Texas in search of work.

People have been coming because businesses have been coming. Just a few examples, Comerica Bank relocated its corporate HQ to Dallas in 2007. Schlumberger relocated from New York to Houston in 2006. Hundreds, if not thousands of small companies moved in too. Just a small sample: American Locker Group moved from Jamestown, NY to the Dallas area. Collins Industries moved from Kansas to Dallas. HMS Holdings, Escalante Golf, Hanger Orthopedic, and LINN Energy are just some of the hundreds of small businesses that made their way to Texas.

The businesses have been coming and thus the people have been coming. Pretty simple, but this kinda stuff gets lost on the "reality-based" community.