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The Best State in America Is…?
Townhall.com ^ | January 23, 2014 | Daniel J. Mitchell

Posted on 01/23/2014 2:29:49 PM PST by Kaslin

What’s the best state in America?

I’m not sure I can answer that broad question, but I can address the more narrow issue of which state has the most economic freedom. Last month, for instance, I shared some data from the Canada-based Fraser Institute which showed that South Dakota was America’s most laissez-faire state, followed by Tennessee, Delaware, Texas, and Virginia (though all of them trailed the Canadian province of Alberta).

And one year ago, I posted about a fascinating Mercatus study that ranked states based on total freedom (including, interestingly, a “bachelor party” variable). That research put North Dakota at the top, followed by South Dakota, Tennessee, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma.

Now we have another measure of overall economic liberty at the state level. The Texas Public Policy Foundation has put together a “soft tyranny” index that measures total economic oppression, both for the United States and for the 50 states.

As you would suspect, the ranking was constructed with various measures of spending, taxes, and regulation.

Since we’re focusing today on state competitiveness, let’s first look at that data. As you can see, Texas is in the top spot with the lowest burden of government, followed by South Dakota, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Tennessee.

Soft Tyranny States
Since South Dakota and Tennessee appear in the top 5 of all measures, I’m guessing that means they are the best states (and it’s presumably no coincidence that they don’t have broad-based income taxes).

Now let’s review the data for the United States.

Probably the most relevant thing to notice is that economic freedom improved during the Reagan and Clinton years, whereas it worsened under Carter, both Bush Administrations, and Obama.

Soft Tyranny USA

And since America’s last two presidents have imposed a larger burden of government, it’s no surprise that the United States has fallen in both major global measures of economic freedom.

P.S. On a totally separate issue, I’m not surprised to learn that Republicans who are philosophically corrupt sometimes are personally corrupt as well.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: mine
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1 posted on 01/23/2014 2:29:49 PM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Obviously it is the State of Denial..................


2 posted on 01/23/2014 2:34:01 PM PST by Red Badger (Proud member of the Zeta Omicron Tau Fraternity since 2004...................)
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To: Kaslin

Republicans are corrupt?

Okay then. ...

The best state is Texas — obviously.


3 posted on 01/23/2014 2:34:13 PM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: Kaslin

             
4 posted on 01/23/2014 2:34:36 PM PST by tomkat (live it)
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To: Kaslin; LucyT

SoDak ping!


5 posted on 01/23/2014 2:35:04 PM PST by Rushmore Rocks
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To: Kaslin

Confusion. At least that’s the state I find myself in the most.


6 posted on 01/23/2014 2:35:07 PM PST by discostu (I don't meme well.)
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To: Kaslin

Any measure that ranks Delaware anywhere in the top 10 for good qualities is worthless. Delaware is a Communist fiefdom. It is a one party state, with a RINO dominated subminority that openly hates Conservatives.


7 posted on 01/23/2014 2:39:12 PM PST by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners. And to the NSA trolls, FU)
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To: Kaslin

Arizona!!!!! Woo-Hoo!!!!, in the top 10 best States.


8 posted on 01/23/2014 2:40:53 PM PST by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Kaslin
One of my oldest friends is from North Dakota. She has waxed poetic about her home states for decades.

Yet, she remains in California because of the North Dakota winters. It would seem to me that the best state to live in is NOT North Dakota or IT would have the 40+ million folks, NOT California.

Doesn't climate have any influence on people's choice where to live? I know that I SURE wouldn't want to live through those North Dakota winters where one spends zillions on heating. AND I wouldn't want to live in the desert where I would have to spend zillions on cooling.

Hmmmm, now WHERE, o where, would there be a place that is NOT to hot and NOT too cold?
Why, CALIFORNIA's climate is pretty nice along the coast, as is Oregon's and Washington....the latter two ONLY if you like LOTS and LOTS and LOTS and LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of rain.

9 posted on 01/23/2014 2:40:59 PM PST by cloudmountain
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To: discostu
Confusion. At least that’s the state I find myself in the most.

Lol. Good one.

10 posted on 01/23/2014 2:41:49 PM PST by cloudmountain
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To: Kaslin
NH have way too many (D) in government and there are too many immigrants from MA and NY who fled their oppressive states, only to demand and vote for the same crap here.

11 posted on 01/23/2014 2:42:09 PM PST by BitWielder1 (Corporate Profits are better than Government Waste)
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To: NTHockey

Where’s your Blue Hen pride?


12 posted on 01/23/2014 2:42:30 PM PST by EEGator
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To: tomkat

...it’s futile.


13 posted on 01/23/2014 2:44:24 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: SandRat

Ha!

Barely below ya!


14 posted on 01/23/2014 2:45:14 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Kaslin

New Jersey! We have just about everything within 2 hours driving distance!
Now of course the politics...run while you can.


15 posted on 01/23/2014 2:46:06 PM PST by jughandle
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To: SandRat
Arizona!!!!! Woo-Hoo!!!!, in the top 10 best States.

How much do you spend on A.C. from April-October? Probably about as much as the North Dakotans spend on heating during the winter.

I do love Arizona. My mother's family moved there in the last century (late 19th century) to get away from their Chicago roots. They didn't have A.C. in Phoenix but a water cooler. During the summer they just didn't move.
Also, the wealthy USED to flee the north and northeast and flock to Arizona for the winter. My grandmother used to be a dresser and packer for the 'nobs who wintered there.

I also had an uncle in Nogales, Arizona. He worked for the U.S. Customs. We used to visit both Phoenix and Nogales in the summer. Nogales was beautiful back then. We'd go across the line for dinner. It was nice.

But live there? No thanks. California is just right for me.

16 posted on 01/23/2014 2:48:15 PM PST by cloudmountain
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To: cloudmountain

Then you knoe Cochise County, thats were I am, better temps year round.


17 posted on 01/23/2014 2:52:02 PM PST by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: cloudmountain
California is just right for me.

Except for the damn Commies it is a fine State....
And I suppose a higher than normal infestation rate of sodomites and atheists ... but it is mostly the Commies...

18 posted on 01/23/2014 2:53:45 PM PST by El Cid (Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house...)
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To: cloudmountain

You really can’t beat the fabulous California weather, but there are so many downsides to California, too. Illegal aliens aren’t stupid; they’re going to flood into the most beautiful, warm states.


19 posted on 01/23/2014 2:54:44 PM PST by Nea Wood
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To: NTHockey

“Bearded Marxist”, and Harry Reid’ pet coon. (Just one example)


20 posted on 01/23/2014 2:55:31 PM PST by Sir Napsalot (Pravda + Useful Idiots = CCCP; JournOList + Useful Idiots = DopeyChangey!)
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