Pacific Research Institute ranks the 50 States.
1. Kan. 11. Ariz. 21. Mont. 31. Wash. 41. Mass.
2. Colo. 12. Nev. 22. Fla. 32. W. Va. 42. N.J.
3. Va. 13. S.C. 23. Ark. 33. Alaska 43. Ohio
4. Idaho 14. Ind. 24. N.C. 34. Mich. 44. Minn.
5. Utah 15. S.D. 25. Ala 35. Hawaii 45. Penn.
6. Okla. 16. Iowa 26. Tenn 36. Vt. 46. Ill.
7. N.H. 17. Texas 27. Md. 37. N.M. 47. R.I.
8. Del. 18. N.D. 28. Miss. 38. Wisc. 48. Conn.
9. Wy. 19. Ga. 29. Ore. 39. Ky. 49. Calif.
10. Mo. 20. Neb. 30. Maine 40. La. 50. N.Y.
So much for the book by Thomas Frank "What's the Matter With Kansas?: How Conservatives Won the Heart of America (Metropolitan Books, 2004)
Perhaps it was tax rates, state spending, occupation licensing, environmental regulations, income redistribution, right-to-work laws, minimum wage and tort law.
Darn straight (posting from Kansas)
What's with NH being 7th and still being a blue state? I guess the NE liberals who have moved there have altered the voting status of that state but have not yet stifled the economic freedom. Probably just a matter of time.
Also, it surprises me greatly that Ohio is 43rd. That's very scary and hopefully not a harbinger of that state going to the dark (i.e. blue) side.
Let's see, 8 of 10 are red states. NH was only just blue and Del. is smaller than most counties in Texas. Sounds like a trend to me :-)
Here in PA we have fast eddie talking about raising gas taxes and Pitts. set to install onerous occupation taxes and wage taxes on those businesses and people too stupid not to have moved out already.
Frankly, I'm surprised PA is only ranked 45 and not 50. Give us a couple more years of fast eddie and we'll be there.
Blah, blah, blah, blah . . . .
Skip all that for a moment:
I'd like to know to what degree, if any, economic freedom correlates with population density.
And how it may correlate wih overall population of a state.
My random rants on the list:
1) Delaware is unusually high - I can't believe such an economically free state would vote consistently liberal Democrats nationally for presidents and senators. But then again Luxembourg is economically very free but politically it is enthusiastically in the weasels camp.
2) Montana is unuually low - I would have guessed all most great plains states and all Rocky mountain states to be economically the freest. Similarly Alaska should be in the top 10 by an uninformed guess.
3) There is not necessarily a positive correlation between economically free and votes going for Bush (eg New Hamphire and Delaware both went to Kerry, and Colorado, 2nd place, almost went to Kerry as well), but all the dead last 5 were Kerry states, and 9 out of the last 10 save Ohio.
4) I would never have guessed yeterday's-swing-to-moderate-Rep-that-have-turned-blue states like Connectitcut, Rhode Islands, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois would come among the last 10 in economic freedom. Does wealth necessarily create a class of rich leftists intent on squandering that wealth?
So howcum Kansans aren't the richest citizens per capita in the US?
Frank has it all wrong. Conservatives didn't win the heart of America. The heart of America always was conservative until the libs came along. If Frank thinks that the average American wants Big Brother to take care of him cradle to grave, he better go back to sociology class and burn the Marxist books he read. Libs just can't understand why average Americans wouldn't rather have their lives run from Washington and live off government goodies. Their ignorance amazes me. No it doesn't.
Man does not live by bread alone.
{{evil cackle}} Democrats to Kansas: "I'll get you, my pretty...{{evil cackle}}"
Of the freest 26 states, only NH and DE went for kerry.
Of the 10 least free states, only Ohio went for Bush.