Posted on 07/03/2009 7:50:37 AM PDT by jay1949
Normally I hesitate to inflict scholarly papers on others, but a recent release by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University appealed to my libertarian sensibilities. "Freedom in the 50 States" analyzes and ranks the states by factors indicative of economic and personal freedom, and the results are enlightening.
Measured by the conventional, two-dimensional view of American politics, the top ten (most free) are a mix of dark Red States and light Red States with one light Blue State. The bottom ten are all dark Blues. Also note that the bottom ten include a high proportion of the states which are currently suffering severe economic distress - - like California, which is so broke it cannot pay its bills, and New York, which is trying to raise every tax in sight.
(Excerpt) Read more at backcountrynotes.com ...
This was posted a couple of days ago.
I was impressed to see that one of the authors is currently on leave serving with the US Navy in Afghanistan.
Godspeed.
Yes, and I read about it on Annuit Coeptis in May; this is not so much a “news” piece as an attempt at analysis. I don’t mean to be repetitive - - I am trying to add something to the discussion.
As a current NH resident, and given the crap the legislature has pulled in the last 3 years, I’d opine that this state definitely does NOT deserve its ranking.
Not sure how Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, and Alaska got left out of the top ten. I’m living in number three with a son in number four, was born in number 5, own property in number seven and work in number ten. Add to that, lived in Alaska, and Utah, work in Wyoming and attend conventions in Nevada so my opinion ought to be worth something, and I know thing or two about personal freedom.
It used to. No income or sales tax, however, is nice. It seems NH is victim to its own success, and all the Mass-Holes and Vermontonistas have shown up and wrecked things.
There is a state-by-state breakdown beginning on page 25. Alaska, for example: “Alaska’s big problem is fiscal policy. Over a quarter of the state’s workforce is employed by state or local government, and that figure does not include federal employees. Alaska has the third highest debt ratio in the country and the second highest state and local government spending ratio. However, Alaska does extremely well on personal freedom, scoring 1st on our ranking.”
To a point. Meals and hotels have a 9 percent tax slapped on them. It was 8 percent until last week. Property taxes, vehicle registrations, and fees are through the roof. Consider this—the budget for this state has an annual per-capita spending of nearly DOUBLE that of California. Frightening, indeed.
I wonder how much NH rakes in at the highway-robbery toll booth where I am required to pay tribute when driving to Maine. ;-)
Of the 10 states at the top, only Colorado and Virginia have not adopted a “Castle Law.” New Hampshire, though located in the Marxist northeast, has gun laws very similar to those of Kentucky and Texas. Open carry is a right and NH is a SHALL ISSUE state for those applying for CC licenses.
It’s posted every few months. It’s pure idiocy.
Of the 10 states at the top, only Colorado and Virginia have not adopted a “Castle Law.”
Colorado has “make my day” law. Isn’t that the same concept? I believe it was 1985 that this was passed in Colorado.
Virginia, in theory, retains the common-law doctrine which is the equivalent of a Castle Law - - no requirement to retreat to the wall before using force within one’s home and curtilage. In practice, prosecuting attorneys routinely pursue homicide charges when home defense results in the death of the attacker/invader. Such charges are not screened out by probable cause hearings in District Court because self-defense is an affirmative defense and the Commonwealth needn’t present any evidence to negate self-defense. Since he cops seize all of the homeowner’s guns as evidence, the homeowner can be left defenseless for a long period pending trial (or more often, dismissal of the charges).
Colorado’s law generally is considered to be the equivalent of a Castle Law.
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