On the Brink


On the brink of climate change migration? Should where you want to move to have the right to say no?
Trump would say HE has the right to say no to any people fleeing where they live because it is no longer livable.
Taking international borders out of the equation does one state get to say no to people from a drowning coastal area? Or a northern state with cool summers say no to those from Phoenix.
Moving requires a commitment to where you are moving.
But currently there is a seasonal migration going on. They love Phoenix in the winter but Colorado in the summer. But that means double the houses and double the infrastructure for only one climate migrant. And it reduces the support for the infrastructure in the area vacated by the "Snowbirds" flying south and north. We talk about a housing crisis but some people require twice the housing.
Should communities be able to modify zoning laws to say you cannot leave your house empty for 6 months less 1 day? Rates are set to support the maintenance of wires and equipment. We have to provide emergency response and police for the largest population based while collecting taxes and fees from only the full time occupants?
Your cell phone company has roaming charges. Should they pay the owners of towers of where you roam to? Should the state you are a resident of pay a percentage of your taxes to the state you roam to?
At the very least every local utility has to rethink their rates and how they calculate them. Our electric cooperative just changed electric rates for those who shut off the electricity for a half year. All the roads have to be plowed year round even if only house on that street is occupied year round. Same with water pipes and power lines.
This isn't tourism. This is an ever growing migratory population. And climate change will only make it worse.

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