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Author Topic: Freedom in the 50 states  (Read 2611 times)

dm1333

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Freedom in the 50 states
« on: March 29, 2013, 06:33:11 PM »
The Dakotas, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming, Georgia, New Hampshire, Arizona and Oklahoma all made the top 10.  New Joisey, California and New York brought up the rear. 

Quote
Now in its third edition, Freedom in the 50 States presents a completely revised and updated ranking of the American states based on how their policies promote freedom in the fiscal, regulatory, and personal realms.

http://freedominthe50states.org/download/print-edition.pdf

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Ben

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Re: Freedom in the 50 states
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2013, 07:01:53 PM »
Wow, 234 pages! :)

Long read, but thanks for posting that. I downloaded it to study in more detail, but a couple of things unexpected to me that stand out in a quick perusal:

Most Southern states, which you generally think of as "free" ended up getting pretty crummy scores overall regarding regulatory issues.

Wyoming didn't fare well in many categories. Surprising based on how well the Dakotas, Montana, and Idaho did. I've always grouped Wyoming in with those states, and have thought of it near the top in that group.
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dm1333

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Re: Freedom in the 50 states
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2013, 08:06:31 PM »
I'm not sure why I typed Wyoming in there, wishful thinking I guess. 
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Scout26

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Re: Freedom in the 50 states
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2013, 12:36:08 AM »
I'm surprised Illinois didn't suck worse.
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RoadKingLarry

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Re: Freedom in the 50 states
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2013, 03:14:03 AM »
I'm a little surprised at Oklahoma's ranking. While over all it's a pretty decen't place we still have some anachronistic laws on the books and how some of the "good laws" represented in the report seem to be enforced arbitrarily based largely on the perceived economic station of the person being enforced upon.
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.

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Jamisjockey

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Re: Freedom in the 50 states
« Reply #5 on: March 30, 2013, 08:46:31 AM »
What's telling is how low some progressive states score in the 'personal freedom' categories.  They take away your economic freedoms, your property rights, your gun rights and they you don't have any way to protect your personal freedoms either.
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Tallpine

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Re: Freedom in the 50 states
« Reply #6 on: March 30, 2013, 11:26:42 AM »
Sometimes we wonder if we should have chosen WY instead of MT  =|

Except WY is too close to CO  :P
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Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake. It is not easy. It is not a gift given, but a choice made, and the choice may be a hard one. The road goes upward toward the light; but the laden traveller may never reach the end of it.  - Ursula Le Guin

Ben

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Re: Freedom in the 50 states
« Reply #7 on: March 30, 2013, 11:49:05 AM »
Quote from: Tallpine on March 30, 2013, 11:26:42 AM
Sometimes we wonder if we should have chosen WY instead of MT  =|

Except WY is too close to CO  :P

I read the document more closely this morning because I was so surprised by Wyoming's lower scores. The paper states that the major reason for Wyoming's overall freedom decline over ten years (last place score in change of freedom) was economic (p218). I'm still not sure how exactly that relates to the bad personal freedom score the state got. Again, I mostly found this fascinating based on always lumping WY in with the surrounding states that get really good scores. Plus we've see them pass things like constitutional carry, so there's the perception of great overall freedom there.
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Tallpine

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Re: Freedom in the 50 states
« Reply #8 on: March 30, 2013, 01:10:51 PM »
Quote from: Ben on March 30, 2013, 11:49:05 AM
I read the document more closely this morning because I was so surprised by Wyoming's lower scores. The paper states that the major reason for Wyoming's overall freedom decline over ten years (last place score in change of freedom) was economic (p218). I'm still not sure how exactly that relates to the bad personal freedom score the state got. Again, I mostly found this fascinating based on always lumping WY in with the surrounding states that get really good scores. Plus we've see them pass things like constitutional carry, so there's the perception of great overall freedom there.

WY seems to be more "don't tread on me" than MT right now.

MT suffers from a lot of liberals moving into the wonderland west half of the state, plus Republican candidates with some questionable ethical backgrounds*.  Just enough of the voters saw that instead the two-faced "pro gun/liberty" Democrats who never fail to turn around and stab us in the back after being elected by slim margins.  =(


* Rehburg blew his chance at a senate seat with a petty lawsuit against the city of Billings fire department  :facepalm:
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Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake. It is not easy. It is not a gift given, but a choice made, and the choice may be a hard one. The road goes upward toward the light; but the laden traveller may never reach the end of it.  - Ursula Le Guin

birdman

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Re: Freedom in the 50 states
« Reply #9 on: March 30, 2013, 08:46:43 PM »
I like that VA scores well.  After moving here 8 years ago, I can pretty easily agree, and call this great state home (That doesn't stop me from wishing for a few hundred acres in the inland NW though), and more than likely, my future kiddies will be Virginians in both birth and in the truest spirit of those in the mid/late 1700's.

Too bad its so close to DC and MD. 
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charby

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Re: Freedom in the 50 states
« Reply #10 on: March 31, 2013, 10:01:07 AM »
Since Iowa regained a republican governor in the last election, we have been becoming a better state in many ways. We have one of the best concealed carry laws in the nation, granted its not consitutional but permits are easy to get and you can carry just about anywhere except places that are verbotten by federal law.

I wish we could own NFA items, but perhaps in time. Also more than likely this year it will be made law that concealed carry permit holders will not be able to made public record, so that means newspapers can not publish the lists.

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mtnbkr

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Re: Freedom in the 50 states
« Reply #11 on: March 31, 2013, 10:27:24 AM »
Quote from: birdman on March 30, 2013, 08:46:43 PM
I like that VA scores well.  After moving here 8 years ago, I can pretty easily agree, and call this great state home (That doesn't stop me from wishing for a few hundred acres in the inland NW though), and more than likely, my future kiddies will be Virginians in both birth and in the truest spirit of those in the mid/late 1700's.

Too bad its so close to DC and MD. 

Check out SW VA.  The Roanoke area is nice, yet "urban" enough so that you don't miss the trappings of civilization.  However, you can move just minutes away from "town" and be far enough away to indulge your inner mountain man. :D

Chris
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birdman

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Re: Freedom in the 50 states
« Reply #12 on: March 31, 2013, 10:52:36 AM »
Quote from: mtnbkr on March 31, 2013, 10:27:24 AM
Check out SW VA.  The Roanoke area is nice, yet "urban" enough so that you don't miss the trappings of civilization.  However, you can move just minutes away from "town" and be far enough away to indulge your inner mountain man. :D

Chris

I have been looking out there...and in WV (west of Charlottesville) as well.  Amazing the kind of foothills plots you can get for "NoVa condo money"
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