Ireland is world's seventh freest economy - report (HK is #1, USA #4 in WSJ / Heritage report)

The Irish Times ^ | January 16, 2007 | David Labanyi

[Stoat]

they can get back to me when they have a list of the freest countries in terms of self-defense.

1: Texas
2: United States
3: Switzerland

No idea where it goes after that.

Being a proud American and a proud and passionate American gun owner, I agree with your perspective.  Your definition of Texas as a country in it's own right is part of the reason that I dearly wish to visit Texas one day, as everyone from Texas that I've ever met has been incredibly friendly and gracious.....far more so than most in the People's Republic of Seattle where I am imprisoned  "sigh"

Re Switzerland, I'm sure that everyone is familiar with the Swiss compulsory military service and of their requirement that soldiers maintain their full-auto rifles at home, but I haven't read about the private citizen's ability to freely bear arms.  Are they also pretty reasonable in that regard?  Just curious.

 

they can get back to me when they have a list of the freest countries in terms of self-defense.

1: Texas
2: United States
3: Switzerland

No idea where it goes after that.

[Centurion2000]

Actually I need to update that list :)
1: Alaska
2: Vermont
3: Texas
4: United States
5: Switzerland

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Thanks for posting this, I usually only post the bad news! :)

Ireland Ping!

[gcruse]

"the new overall scores are more refined and therefore more accurate."

Heh. It's like a cynically pragmatic friend told me once about my new-fangled hand calculator, "Now you can be wrong to six decimal points."

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Beautiful pic, Stoat.

It is, I was trying to figure where it was, I thought it was Killala Bay, but looking at my own pics, no. Somewhere on the west coast, at least! ;)

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I was asked by a couple of FReepers a while ago about Irish gun laws. Sorry for the delay, lads:

Department of Justice: Information on Firearms Licensing

[elc]

You obviously didn't come across any "travellers"

[elc]

That has to be the Dingle Peninsula

[TChris]

You will not be granted a licence for any weapon for the purposes of personal protection, protection of others or the protection of property.

Hmm... Sad, that.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Ah.. that explains why I don't recognise it, I was only down in Cork and Kerry once in my life.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I think that could be about to change:

Irish homeowners should be allowed to kill intruders in order to defend their family and property

[vimto]

I'm not surprised at all. I live in Wales - a socialist country - and we small businessmen know just how far behind we lag.

Good news for you, I'll raise a glass or two!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

The trouble is, our government are sly enough with taxation - a lot of hidden taxes added in recent years.

Good news for you, I'll raise a glass or two!

Thanks! :)

[vimto]

Yeah well what govenment doesn't slide in a tax or two onthe quiet?

A story. I went to a conference on Health Service economics about 15 years ago in London. I met this guy from the N. Ireland Office.

I asked him what he did 'to' Northern Ireland, and straight away realized my mistake and said "I meant 'for' Northern Ireland"

"no" he replied "you were right first time"

we spent a lot of time together after that and a very clever and witty chap he turned out to be.

regards.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Good one! ;)

[Stoat]

Seventh in econ but first in pretty girls

You'll get no arguments from me  :-)

[Stoat]

I've read that Intel is the largest single employer in Ireland.

I also recall hearing that; Ireland has a rapidly-developing high-tech sector that will be an outstanding asset in the years to come.

[LukeL]

John Stossel did a segement on 20/20 about 8 years ago on the problems with starting a business in America. To compare to went to India where it can take over a decade or more to get all the necessary permits and apporvals from government to do virtually anything. He then went to Hong Kong and was able to open a small business in a mall in 24 hours.

[Stoat]

You obviously didn't come across any "travellers"

Thankfully not.  They are becoming a significant criminal element here in the USA as well.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Ireland is great, I hope to work there at some point.

I already have the dual citizenship. They are doing all the right things.