Well, well, well—looks like even the millennials have had enough. New data shows wealthy millennials are fleeing high-tax states like New York and California in droves, trading their avocado toast and overpriced rent for the sunshine and business-friendly policies of Florida and Texas. The exodus isn’t exactly subtle. These are people who grew up hearing that California was the land of dreams and New York was where the magic happened. But now, those dreams come with sky-high taxes, crime, and crumbling infrastructure. So, they’re packing up their Teslas and heading to states that actually work.

Florida and Texas, once maligned as “flyover country” or places for retirees, have become the ultimate destinations for young professionals who are tired of being treated like walking ATMs by progressive state governments. In Florida, there’s no state income tax, the beaches are pristine, and you can go months without having to hear the word “equity” in a corporate meeting. In Texas, you’ll find a booming job market, affordable real estate, and communities that still believe in family values and freedom. These states are offering what New York and California can’t: a chance to keep your paycheck and your sanity.

The trend isn’t just anecdotal; the numbers back it up. Florida has seen a massive influx of residents over the past few years, with the pandemic only accelerating the trend. Texas, too, has become a magnet for young entrepreneurs and tech professionals who are sick of paying a premium for the privilege of being lectured about climate change by people who fly private jets. Meanwhile, California’s population is declining, and New York City feels more like a ghost town than the bustling metropolis it once was. When even the liberals are leaving San Francisco, you know something’s gone horribly wrong.

What’s driving this shift? It’s not just the taxes, though those certainly play a big role. It’s the overall quality of life. Millennials want what everyone else wants: safety, opportunity, and the freedom to live without being micromanaged by a nanny state. They’re tired of policies that prioritize virtue signaling over real solutions. They’re done with cities that defund the police while crime rates soar. And they’re fed up with housing markets that make homeownership a pipe dream unless you’re a hedge fund manager.

Critics will try to paint this as selfish, claiming that these millennials are abandoning their civic duties by leaving behind states that “need” them. But let’s be honest: why should they stick around? New York and California have shown no interest in addressing the issues that drive people away. Instead, they double down on policies that punish success and reward failure. If anything, the millennials heading to Florida and Texas are making the smartest investment of their lives—betting on states that actually respect hard work and individual freedom.

The irony here is thick. For years, progressive elites in New York and California mocked places like Florida and Texas as backward, uncultured, and unsophisticated. Now, those same elites are watching their best and brightest leave for the very states they once ridiculed. It turns out that freedom, lower taxes, and common sense are pretty appealing after all. Who would’ve thought?

The great migration of wealthy millennials is a sign of the times. America is dividing into states that work and states that don’t. Florida and Texas are thriving because they prioritize policies that empower people rather than control them. New York and California, on the other hand, are learning the hard way that you can’t tax and regulate your way to prosperity. It’s a lesson that the rest of the country would do well to remember.