Snowbirds and American Migration and Mobile Populations

We have seen an increase in Snowbirds from Northern States into Southern States. It is truly phenomenal the difference between now and a few years ago. I attribute this to the mobile nature of our society, me included and the use of modern technology, such as cell phones, GPS devices, and Internet availability in many places to hook up to and now for the first time we are seeing a proliferation of services in major markets such as LA, Seattle, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Phoenix of Ricochet, Inc. the first main system which came on the scene. Soon as in a few months we will be seeing Internet Direct the GM Hughes system similar to the Direct TV idea for motor homes that you can point at the satellite anytime, anywhere providing clear skies and no obstructions, such as buildings, mountains, bridges or trees. These systems will be rolled out for use in the Trucking Industry and over the road independent drivers and also to RV whizzes.

All these tools will increase the number of snowbirds migrating and smart businesses will be taking advantage of this location and customer variation to help with not only profit but also skilled labor. Several areas in AZ, CA, NM, and TX as well as GA and FL have areas, which cater to these snow birds and often cannot handle the volume of people every year. We have witnessed Fed Ex increase route drivers to handle the volume in many cities and even rent additional units and then in summer work these drivers doing other type of work until traffic picks up again for Christmas. Let us look at this scenario. People live half-year one place and Half year somewhere else. The customer base also moves half and half.

have talked to franchisees of large companies and small business owners a like who say; I cannot wait until the busy season again. What kind of statement is that? The busy season is every season if done correctly. And why pick a location to run your business if every location is more suited? Snow Birds are needing activities to keep them busy and increase in fuel costs to travel to the new winter time area to live increase along with energy costs and food costs (remember even though we supposedly have no inflation, everything we buy will go up due to fuel costs). People in States like OR, ID, WA, MT,WY, ND, SD, IA, IL, WI, OH, NY, MA, NH, RI, CT, VT, ME, MI, and provinces like Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan have been traveling to other parts of USA for years and the numbers are also increasing. Even though we are in a an interesting weather period and the weather has been relatively nice in WA, OR, ID, MT, WY snow birds is on the increase. Well they predict another 2% in 2005 and 2% more in 2006 and we just came from a 3% increase in 2003-2004. So we now see 2+2+3=7 and that is 7% in only three years. Now in the future as fuels to heat increase and jobs decrease all those people will migrate South again choosing to stay. Also we have had an increase in Hispanic over the border crossing from the South into states such as IL, NJ, GA, FL, TX, AZ, CA, NM, NV. As many as 600,000 permanent new residence per year. You would think that this labor would be sufficient to handle the increase in the snowbird traffic, but it is not. Also as the population of Northern States increases those residence are interested in moving and staying all year in the Southern States which increases needs of those consumers for service businesses.

This will include gas, food, services, and even taxes. The tax base to employ the workers and the government dwindles as less goods are bought by the consumers who are in different states half the year and many choosing to stay all year. Especially those in IL, where it is hot and muggy in the summer and ass freezing cold in the Winter. As taxes increase on sales of goods and property taxes increase to cover needs of local governments those governments will need to be looking at hiring part time half year help and trading with sister cities in other states of the same size, same policies and same equipment in operations. If government does not do this correctly soon then they will become inefficient and need to disappear. For instance a small city, which cannot handle its duties should return to County control. Those Counties, who cannot handle their duties for animal control, sewer, sheriffs, etc, need to be gobbled by larger counties or the state. Redundancies in government are costing too much money to consumers, and thus effecting quality of life.

If the populations move around, then so too should government resources to cater to the needs of those tax payers who are paying into the system, where ever they are. Businesses must cater to the customers and government should cater to the people. Businesses should be watching all demographic shifts in population temporary or otherwise; trendy or cataclysmic. Business should respond to the needs of the consumer without hesitation and without excuse. It should have already been done, but if it has not then now is better than never. We must be a metamorphic for the customer, so should any business person who cares to prosper in now or in the future.

Government should be no different in its mission to provide welfare, health and allow each American to pursue their American Dream, whatever that dream might be. As for the government the ends are justified as long as the mission is truly fulfilled. To find the answer to this question stop any citizen on the street and ask them what they think and what they are concerned about, after all those are your customers.

If you tell the customer what they want in your business, they will only buy it until they find out what they really want. Advertising, PR, and all the help you can muster from the media cannot work forever. Although it is said that perception is reality; think to yourself, is it reality? NO, perception is perception; that is a reality. But reality is truth and that only changes with the relativity of the situation and the proximate of one dimensional time and their desires at the moment of payment in the case of a consumer. What does all that mean? It is simple, it means that the customer will buy what they want when they want for the reasons they want and if they later feel they have been tricked they will stop buying and be angry and not return if they can get a better substitute elsewhere. A government who is not reasonable and responsive to her clientele will find those customers and consumers unwilling to support her in heart, body and soul. That is not teamwork and in such a case the government will lose it's social contract with the people, which obviously makes governance that much harder. This will force the government to use more coercive techniques, which will in fact impede the element of freedom that the citizenry is looking for, thus forcing a continuing downward spiral. In a business it is much the same, as the customer votes with their dollar and if you do not service the customer someone else will. We built this country together and we need to be receptive to each others needs. I see know reports on the allocation of government resources addressing the 7% increased population base of snowbirds, yet the trend continues and is not going away. Shouldn't all business and our government be thinking here to increase profits and/or efficiency? Think about it.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs

whole house cleaning Highland Park ..
In The News:

Survive flight disruptions with expert travel tips: Book early morning flights, download airline apps and know your refund rights during service cuts.
Apple's iOS 26.1 update delivers major security fixes, performance boosts and enhanced privacy controls for your iPhone. Discover why updating now protects your data.
Russian hackers use fake CAPTCHA tests to spread dangerous malware targeting governments and journalists. Learn how to protect yourself from these deceptive attacks.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Miami-Dade debuts America's first autonomous police SUV with AI cameras, drone deployment and real-time crime detection in groundbreaking law enforcement pilot.
Bank impostor scams cost Americans $2.9 billion as criminals use AI voices and caller ID spoofing to steal life savings. Learn nine essential fraud protection tips.
Foreign-owned apps secretly harvest personal data from seniors, making them prime targets for scams. Learn how to protect your privacy and stop data brokers today.
Sens. Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal introduce bipartisan GUARD Act to protect minors from AI chatbots through mandatory age verification and disclosure requirements.
Ghost-tapping scammers exploit wireless technology to drain accounts through small transactions, but RFID-blocking wallets and transaction alerts can protect you.
French pilot project demonstrates wireless charging roads that can deliver over 300 kilowatts of power to EVs while driving, potentially eliminating range anxiety.
YouTube's Ghost Network spreads information-stealing malware through thousands of fake videos offering cracked software, using compromised accounts and fake engagement.
Protect your privacy by disabling your smart TV microphone. Most TVs have hidden mics that listen even when voice commands are off. Learn quick steps to stop unwanted audio capture.
SessionReaper vulnerability hits Magento and Adobe Commerce stores, compromising 250+ sites in one day. Hackers steal data and hijack shopping sessions.
Master essential parental controls and digital safety tools to protect your kids online. Learn screen time limits, location settings and privacy controls every parent needs.
Cybersecurity expert shares six essential steps to protect against dark web threats, including data removal services, password managers and antivirus software.
NVIDIA GPU space mission could revolutionize cloud services by enabling orbital data centers that make apps, games and AI tools faster and more efficient.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Microsoft warns Windows 10 users face serious security risks as 90% of ransomware attacks target unsupported systems. Learn why upgrading to Windows 11 is crucial.
Nike unveils Project Amplify, revolutionary motorized shoes developed with Dephy that add powered assistance to every step for runners and walkers.
Cybersecurity experts warn about one of the largest credential compilations ever found, urging users to check "Have I Been Pwned" and change passwords immediately.
Quick iPhone and Android battery optimization techniques help your device stay powered all day by turning off hidden features that secretly drain power in the background.
Kodiak Driver autonomous truck achieves perfect 98 safety score, matching top human fleets in groundbreaking AI evaluation by Nauto's VERA system.
New 401k catch-up contribution rules in 2026 will change taxes for high earners over 50. Learn how scammers exploit these changes and protect your retirement savings.
Kurt Knutsson's guide covers social media privacy protection through location settings, account privacy controls and two-factor authentication to prevent scams and data breaches.
Revolutionary retinal implant restores central vision in 80% of patients with advanced macular degeneration, offering hope where treatments once only slowed blindness.

Unemployment Iraqi Style

Let's put it all into perspective: the U.S. has an... Read More

Bird Flu may kill you and your family

We have heard a lot about the coming bird flu... Read More

Minor Disruptions Cause Chaos in Transportation

Recently the Los Angeles Transit workers are on Strike and... Read More

Abu Ghraib: Our Surprise is the only Surprise

As pictures and videos surface showing young American soldiers humiliating... Read More

The Self-Appointed Altruists

Their arrival portends rising local prices and a culture shock.... Read More

Plastics In Our Nations Dumps and Landfills

Long Term Environmental Effect of Plastics, Composites and Other Materials... Read More

Wars, Oil and Trade Conflicts of the Human Race

Many in the World Media are quick to judge the... Read More

Quality of Life and Freedom, Unilateral Discussion

City Governments is their quest for; "quality of life" often... Read More

The Absurdity of the Public School Monopoly

The notion that local governments should have almost total monopoly... Read More

Will Gay Marriage Slow Down AIDS Crisis

It is widely known in the Homosexual Male Populations that... Read More

Water at the Roots of Twenty First Centurys Conflicts

According to a postulate made by Ignacio Ramonet ecological resources... Read More

Timber Dumping

Recently in Professional Builder a cover article discussed how the... Read More

The Blessings of the Black Economy

Some call it the "unofficial" or "informal" economy, others call... Read More

What is the Filibuster-Breaking Nuclear Option?

What is the so-called "nuclear option" that Senator Bill Frist... Read More

Trade Policy; Hurting Industry and Small Business

The steel tariff taxes a few years ago hurt industry... Read More

Voting Pro-Environment is Good For Jobs, Health, and Security

There are many issues on the minds of US voters... Read More

The Federal Trade Commission, reality check

Federal Trade Commission Owes Industry and Entrepreneurs an Apology. The... Read More

All There is, is dust in the wind; Dust Particulate Traveling The Globe

Dust from Deserts and Particulate ControlThe greatest contributor to particulate... Read More

TSA Missteps at Our Airports

The TSA seems to have completely missed the ball at... Read More

Harmonic Beams to Pre-Detonate Shoulder Launched Surface to Air Missiles

Using Harmonic Beams to Pre-Detonate Shoulder Launched Surface to Air... Read More

5 Years in Prison for Satirical Flash Films About the President of Belarus

They do not allow the criticism of the president in... Read More

Screening Trucks and Containers Coming Into Our Country

We presently have adequate sniffer devices in this country to... Read More

911 Could Have Been Prevented, Was It Bush?s Fault?

September 11, 2001 could have been prevented. We could have... Read More

Revitalizing The Power of the Baby Boomers

As baby boomers, we have been spoiled all of our... Read More

Public Utilities, Monopolies and Problematic Structures

Public utilities and a problematic issue on the allowance of... Read More

pet-friendly home cleaners Glenview ..