American Migration and the Presidential Inauguration of the 46th President of the United States

COVID has not only changed how we live, but where we live. Interstate migration – the changes where Americans are living and where they are leaving – reveal that cost of living and tax policy plays a huge role in the determination of where people want to live and work.

When COVID struck the American economy, many Americans began to question the value of high rents and house payments in large metropolises like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. With remote working now a permanent possibility for many people, living in large and expensive urban areas lost a bit of its charm and convenience. Families now wanted more space at a lower cost.

Looking toward the South and West, people realized they had greater purchasing power in other regions of the country. The UHaul Annual Report for 2020 on Interstate Migration reveals that the states of Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Arizona are the top destinations for relocation. Two of these states, Texas and Florida, have no personal income tax, and the rest have very low tax rates. All these states have easy processes and cheap costs to start a business.

This week the world watched as a peaceful transfer of power took place in Washington, DC. Amid scenes of American flags and thousands of US National Guard troops, the ceremony was quite different than previous inaugurations. The nation was still in shock from scenes of thousands storming the Capitol, but on Inauguration Day, there seemed to be signs of a fledging trust beginning to emerge. At least – that is our hope.

For me, there was a personal connection as six LSU graduates played in the ceremonial bands during the inaugural ceremony. Louisiana native Graham Breedlove serves in Pershing’s Own – the United States Army Band. Graham is one of the world’s finest trumpeters. Seeing him join other LSU graduates like Jason Sanders who stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as a member of the United States Army Herald Trumpets, it was obvious these men were examples of honor and precision. They represented the people of the United States well as they served the new American President.

Julie Giroux grew up in Monroe, Louisiana and played French Horn in the Ouachita Parish High School Band. She later went on to study at LSU, and she became such an outstanding composer that she went to Hollywood and wrote music with another distinguished LSU graduate – Bill Conti. It was a joy to hear that one of her finest pieces – The Integrity Fanfare and March was featured just after the Vice-President was sworn into office.

The music of these men and women reminds us that each American stands equal before the Law. Our nation is not a place where only those with distinguished blood lines or wealthy landowners have a voice in our government. We are not slaves to a throne or servants to an altar. We stand as citizens of a Republic whose strength is in the people of this great nation. Through wars abroad and strife at home, we have always risen in triumph over tragedy to emerge as one nation under God.

In this new season, our resolve remains to strengthen the foundations of this Republic praying, in the words of President Lincoln, “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

May God bless America!