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.
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.
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.
Bisbee! Beautiful place, but it's too hot for me in the summer. All the counties in Arizona are named after Indian tribes. I remember that.
Mind you, we were in Saudi Arabia for five years, including during the summer. 124 degrees out in the desert!! I got so that I was comfortable up to 103 degrees.
But then I came HOME to California, to the USA, the most WONDERFUL country in the world. This is home, sweet home.
If I didn't live here I would live in Arizona and just pop for the A.C.
oops I cannot read sometimes
Fixed.
Obviously prejudiced I’d have to say Georgia. :-)
Any state above the Mason-Dixon sucks.
What's the saying....liars figure and figures lie.
The correct answer is of course: Kansas
Tennessee one of the bestest...
of course...
:)
Bullspit!! You don't know what you are talking about!!
I lived in SoCal back in the 70's-80's...I watched American's lose their jobs to illegal's.
The job's they took were plumbers, carpenter's, roofer's, gardener's, cement worker's, ditch digger's, pool cleaner's, house cleaning in Hospitals..etc, etc.
So DON'T FREAKING PARROT THE LIBERAL LINE..that illegals take jobs AMERICAN'S WON'T DO!!! THEY WERE DOING THEM!!!
Yeah ya pissed me off...cause you don't have a clue what you are talking about!!!
4th or 5th paragraph down.
Isn’t that Panama? (sarc) The one with the canal the NWO is lusting after; #44 on the list.....I figure it has to be one of the “57 states” O mentioned and plans to have before he leaves office.
I've read a few of your posts here. You seem like an intelligent and well informed person, but you are widely off the mark in your assessment of California.
California has one of the highest out-migration rates of individuals and businesses of any state in the country - and for good reason. It's over-taxed, over-regulated, and over-populated by leftists and liberal leeches of every description.
Things may be hunky dory for the super wealthy, the political class, and the gimme class on the bottom, but the working middle class and small businesses are being squeezed to death to pay for the bloated Socialist system in Sacramento. More and more of them are voting with their feet to escape to states that don't penalize them for being honest, hard working Americans.
I was born in California 60 years ago, and called the place my home for half a century, so I'm not some outsider, looking in. I'm one of those who was essentially pushed out of California, for the crime of being a moderately successful business person with a family.
I invite you to search on the keyword, 'California', on FR and read some of the articles that come up. It's not even debatable any longer that California is in very serious trouble.
Well, I don’t know if it’s the best state, but I’d say the friendliest state would have to be New York. Look at Mr. Welcome Wagon himself, Governor Andy Cuomo.
“I don’t like nobody who lives outside of New York. As a matter of fact, I don’t like nobody who lives IN New York. You want to hear my tourism message? Well, here it is. F**k you! You wanna know if New York is friendly to business? Here, I’ll give you my business message. F**k you! You wanna know about our recreational opportunities? I got your recreational opportunities right here! Yeah, recreate on this! Just come on up here and I’ll take a baseball bat to your heads and your stinkin’ minivans! And the only thing I wanna see from New Yorkers is their taillights as they’re leaving! New York. We don’t need anybody’s raggedy donkey hanging around here getting in my way. You kids get the hell off my state!”
Must be why NY is in last place on the list
New Yorker joke: "Oh, you're from New Jersey? What exit?" :-)
COBOL2Java, born and raised in Brooklyn...
Right now it’s 14° here in Clarksville, TN and I am ready for Spring. It could be worse though, my son was in MN a couple days ago where it was -35°
I loved visiting Kansas when my daughter & SIL were stationed at Ft. Riley. Met the nicest people. Got a chance to visit Russell (birthplace of Bob Dole, saw the spot where he & Ford kicked off their campaign), Abilene (visited the Eisenhower Presidential Center), and Hutchinson (to see the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center). While at Ft. Riley my wife and I stayed at Manhattan or Junction City.
Not too bad in Az. Yes it is hot but generally it is a dry heat. More sufferable than Deep South summer heat and humidity. Essentially most of what you do in summer in either locality is to walk from one air conditioned space to another. But your clothes don’t get wet from presperation in Az.
You left out the scorpions. I know you are from Texas. When Texans talk the tails are tall and wide. I think 223s are pellet guns too. Maybe sleet guns.
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