National growth and the U. S. Postal System

Here's an unique way to track and understand the growth of the United States over time.  To see what I mean click here.

Looking forward: population growth and immigration

Joel Kotkin, author of The Next Hundred Million:  America in 2050, has interesting things to say about immigration, population growth and the future of the U. S. economy and position in the world.  On Sunday, The Dallas Morning News published an essay "adapted" from his new book.  Here's a taste of it. 
Estimates of the U.S. population at the middle of the 21st century vary, from the U.N.’s 404 million to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 422 to 458 million. To develop a snapshot of the nation at 2050, particularly its astonishing diversity and youthfulness, I use the nice round number of 400 million people, or roughly 100 million more than we have today.

The United States is also expected to grow somewhat older. The portion of the population that is currently at least 65 — 13 percent — is expected to reach about 20 percent by 2050. This “graying of America” has helped convince some commentators of the nation’s declining eminence. For example, international relations expert Parag Khanna envisions a “shrunken America” lucky to eke out a meager existence between a “triumphant China” and a “retooled Europe.” Morris Berman, a cultural historian, says America “is running on empty.”

Immigration will continue to be a major force in U.S. life. The United Nations estimates that 2 million people a year will move from poorer to developed nations over the next 40 years, and more than half of those will come to the United States, the world’s preferred destination for educated, skilled migrants. In 2000, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, an association of 30 democratic, free-market countries, the United States was home to 12.5 million skilled immigrants, equaling the combined total for Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Japan.


If recent trends continue, immigrants will play a leading role in our future economy. Between 1990 and 2005, immigrants started one out of four venture-backed public companies. Large American firms are also increasingly led by people with roots in foreign countries, including 15 of the Fortune 100 CEOs in 2007.

For all these reasons, the United States of 2050 will look different from that of today: Whites will no longer be in the majority. The U.S. minority population, currently 30 percent, is expected to exceed 50 percent before 2050. No other advanced, populous country will see such diversity.

To read the entire essay click here. 

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Census 2010 and Dallas, Texas

Recently, Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Pauline Medrano was named Vice Chair to the National 2010 Census Committee.

Please take a look at this link.

In Dallas, and in every other city, town, hamlet and rural location, taking part in the census is critical to our democracy and to the well-being of our communities.

Consider just how census data is used:

--Decision making at all levels of government.

--Drawing federal, state, and local legislative districts.

--Attracting new businesses to state and local areas.

--Distributing billions in federal funds and even more in state funds.

--Forecasting future transportation needs for all segments of the population.

--Planning for hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and the location of other health services.

--Forecasting future housing needs for all segments of the population.

--Directing funds for services for people in poverty.

--Designing public safety strategies.

--Development of rural areas.

--Analyzing local trends.

--Estimating the number of people displaced by natural disasters.

--Developing assistance programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

--Creating maps to speed emergency services to households in need of assistance.

--Delivering goods and services to local markets.

--Designing facilities for people with disabilities, the elderly, or children.

--Planning future government services.

--Planning investments and evaluating financial risk.

--Publishing economic and statistical reports about the United States and its people.

--Facilitating scientific research.

--Developing “intelligent” maps for government and business.

--Providing proof of age, relationship, or residence certificates provided by the Census Bureau.

--Distributing medical research.

--Reapportioning seats in the House of Representatives.

--Planning and researching for media as backup for news stories.

--Providing evidence in litigation involving land use, voting rights, and equal opportunity.

--Drawing school district boundaries.

--Planning budgets for government at all levels.

--Spotting trends in the economic well-being of the nation.

--Planning for public transportation services.

--Planning health and educational services for people with disabilities.

--Establishing fair market rents and enforcing fair lending practices.

--Directing services to children and adults with limited English language proficiency.

--Planning urban land use.

--Planning outreach strategies.

--Understanding labor supply.

--Assessing the potential for spread of communicable diseases.

--Analyzing military potential.

--Making business decisions.

--Understanding consumer needs.

--Planning for congregations.

--Locating factory sites and distribution centers.

--Distributing catalogs and developing direct mail pieces.

--Setting a standard for creating both public and private sector surveys.

--Evaluating programs in different geographic areas.

--Providing genealogical research.

--Planning for school projects.

--Developing adult education programs.

--Researching historical subject areas.

--Determining areas eligible for housing assistance and rehabilitation loans.

Plan now to get involved by promoting the census in your sphere of influence.

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