How ‘blue blight’ is linked to falling college enrollments and manufacturing jobs

The author likens the current downturn in public education quality and manufacturing employment to a spreading “blue blight,” a term he expects to become commonplace. Citing an analysis and a podcast discussion, he notes that states that voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 have experienced faster declines in college enrollment than their red-voting counterparts, with only five red states showing growth. He also highlights California’s loss of manufacturing jobs—from nearly 2 million in the late 1970s to 1.2 million today—and the reduction of its refineries from 23 to 11, linking these shifts to regulatory choices.

The column argues that voters ultimately shape the laws driving these outcomes and can alter the course if they find the trend alarming. It concludes by urging citizens to consider the long-term costs of high taxes and regulation when casting ballots.