Posted on 01/13/2011 12:48:36 PM PST by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
When the Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation began compiling their Index of Economic Freedom a decade ago, Canada consistently ranked behind the United States and other developed nations on such measurements as regulatory freedom, commitment to free trade, property rights and freedom from corruption.
In this year’s rankings, however, we are ahead of the Americans: We’re sixth, they’re ninth. Why the change?
Much of the switch in fortunes is the result of America’s decline since the global financial crisis began in 2008. But our own score jumped modestly from last year, as well. In part, the report tells us, this is because Canada’s “straightforward regulations and the competitive tax regime facilitate entrepreneurial activity and lure dynamic investment.”
{SNIP}
Before the downturn began, the Liberals resisted the temptation to loosen credit rules that would have made it easier for borrowers to acquire American-style sub-prime mortgages. Now, during the current recession, the Tories have refused to pander to populist demands for punitive new financial regulations — which would have frightened away investors, as they have in the United States.
In other words, we now find ourselves ahead of the Americans because no matter which party has been in office in Ottawa over the last decade, it has provided prudent management of our national economy. The Americans, by contrast, threw open their credit markets with disastrous results; and have since been attempting to spend their way back to prosperity with borrowed money. (Canada, of course, has its own deficit — but it is miniscule in per-capita and per-GDP terms compared with that of the Americans.)
{SNIP}
It’s amazing, but true: The United States can take some lessons on economic freedom from its northern neighbour.
(Excerpt) Read more at fullcomment.nationalpost.com ...
I wonder if the decline in economic freedom is getting much play in the U.S. media?
Hopefully the first steps in reversing this dire course were taken last November.
Rank Country Overall
1 Hong Kong 89.7
2 Singapore 87.2
3 Australia 82.5
4 New Zealand 82.3
5 Switzerland 81.9
6 Canada 80.8
7 Ireland 78.7
8 Denmark 78.6
9 United States 77.8
10 Bahrain 77.7
The Rise and Fall
Improving Country
Seychelles (+3.3) is among the most improved.
Declining Country
Timor-Leste (-3.0) is among the most declined.
http://www.heritage.org/index/
We’ll ask Mark Steyn and Ezra Levant about that freedom and how many years in court for saying anything that offends anyone!
U.S. media or U.S. TV? It is all behind the kenyan. He heals the sick, lepers and others during funeral pep rallies. He is jesus - no he is better than jesus. HE is jesus, The Beatles, JFK, RFK, Teddy, ET, Elvis and MLK combined. (Small j used on purpose cause he is not Jesus)
ALL of TV loves him. Fox is only slightly better in their muted fawning. ALL of TV supports him and all the news media and hollywood. He is a deity like Mugabe was in Zimbabwe. Our economy is heading in the same direction as Zimbabwe.
Well on the plus side the Canandians did not elect a muslim to destroy their country.
Unless you use the word “faggot” in a song................
Not yet. That is true.
Your taxes are more focused on consumption rather than income. You tax businesses less. Your immigration policy is eminently reasonable, favoring people who have skills that are in demand. Your social welfare state is under control and not threatening your country with bankruptcy, as is ours.
Overall, you guys are doing very well! With the exception of healthcare policy, that is.
Tell that to Dire Straits.
(Reuters) - Canadian radio station have been warned to censor the 1985 Dire Straits hit "Money for Nothing," after a complaint that the lyrics of the Grammy Award-winning song were derogatory to gay men.
Canada doesn’t have free speech....
If you can't speak against politicians or political trends, then your freedom is severely limited and the foundation of your rights is weak.
Tribunals shutting down all speech that they do not agree with. I know we have those unconstitutional hate crimes laws but we will be getting rid of them soon, or die trying. Canadians do not have the wherewithal to even try to take back their government from the commies.
Bingo! Took the words right out of my mind.
Yes, that’s a hopeful sign.
Fortunately Canada has a very power military under which to shelter. I suspect that helps considerably with their budgeting...
That’s the result of decades of Liberal rule. The populus is finally awakening. If we had a majority, rather than a very tenous minority Conservative government; the “human rights” star chambers would be dealt with. Let our dilema in that regard be a warning to you. Once freedom is lost, getting it back can be difficult.
Thanks for saying those things. It’s off topic a bit; but, I should point out that our immigration policy has some serious flaws — in so far as we seem to be innudated with “refugee” claimants. By the boat load (literally). There are hopeful signs that that’s also reached a turning point.
Please also read my # 18 to GeronL. You won't get any disagreement from me about the importance of free speech, nor about the travesty of speech codes. We do, however, still have the right to put surveyors’ targets, or printers’ registration symbols on political maps.
One of my motivations for posting this article was that I thought that U.S. conservatives (i.e. Freepers) could use the information. The rankings were created by an American conservative think tank. They could be ammo (of the metaphorical, or Nerf type, of course) in your ongoing battle (again, in a metaphorical, strictly non-militaristic sense) with the forces (oops) of socialism.
This thread is about economic freedom. Yes, you can score easy points against Canada on free speech; but, please don't play the leftist game of deflection.
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