Posted on 02/04/2022 6:57:15 AM PST by Enlightened1
Only a state with the motto “Live Free or Die” is freer than the Sunshine State.
That’s according to the nonprofit CATO Institute’s annual Freedom in the 50 States report, which compares states based on different aspects of autonomy and choice in key policy areas. The report uses hundreds of variables to gauge states on fiscal, regulatory and personal terms.
Overall, Florida came in second to New Hampshire in the 2021 ranking that used 2019 data to compare states.
The CATO Institute bills itself as a libertarian public policy think tank that promotes limited government, free markets and peace.
It highlighted the state’s lack of a personal income tax and warm weather as the pied-pipers of not just well-heeled retirees but also business professionals looking to make the most of their labor.
“Florida does especially well on economic freedom, and even more so on fiscal policy. Indeed, it is our top state on both,” the report said. “Regulatory policy is improved but mediocre compared with the fiscal side.”
Florida’s freedom metrics lagged due to heavy incarceration rates, onerous occupational licensing requirements, state-level health insurance mandates, and the cost of gun control laws on owners and dealers.
To make the state freer, CATO suggests Florida decentralize taxing and spending powers from counties to municipalities, reform its occupational licensing system to remove barriers of entry into careers, and enact criminal justice reforms.
While New Hampshire was this year’s freest state, nearby New York came in last.
My state is in the top 5, but escapees from the bottom 5 state to the left of us are trying to recreate what they fled from.
Send the Florida prisoners to New Hampshire if it’ll help the stats! ;)
Florida sucks for lots of reasons.
These studies leave out all kinds of stuff.
This site’s criteria may be quite different than most freepers. Rights to sodomy and marijuana are considered an “improvement”.
New Hampshire is not the most free state. Not even close. Florida is great but there are definitely freer states out there (licensing program for practicing 2nd Amendment rights, for one thing).
Sad that we now talk about which states are free and which aren’t.
The best states are the ones where the #LauraVirus is least likely to occur. So that leaves FL off my list.
Like what? This is a comparative study. Other states have issues too.
I agree. But the bottom four — the least free states — are spot-on!
It looks like mine is in the top five!
I spent almost 20 years in NH before returning to Texas.
NH talks a good game and is probably the best of the New England states, but is overrun with liberals, laws, fees and taxes disguised as fees. At the local level it is filled with nick-picky you can’t do that regulations and strongly union (despite what they like to claim) due to the refugees from border states.
The CATO institute is typical of all big city / DC folks - stuck in a bubble with no real world experience.
Maryland the Free State is now in the bottom 10... Maryland the not so free state.
Like old folks driving ten mph under in the passing lanes.
Never heard of the #LauraVirus. Just the #KarenVirus.
So this is the analysis for South Carolina.
“The court-ordered legalization of same-sex marriage gave South Carolina a big spike on personal freedom in 2014”
Well isn’t that special.
If you ever watched North Woods Law, it is a show about New Hampshire Game Wardens, you would come away with a totally different outcome.
As a FORMER resident of soviet Red Hampshire; I call BULL****!!!
Texas #21? Bull!
New Hampshire #1 is laughable.
Sununu doesn’t allow free elections which are obviously the foundation for true liberty.
And Sununu recently had good Citizens ARRESTED, freedom taken away, simply for disagreeing with him.
BUT you are free in NH if you are an adult Male in a dress and want to follow little girls into bathrooms. Or force a business owner, against their free will, to hire you.
Thank God Trump is actively seeking a candidate to get Sununu out of office.
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