Author Topic: States Personal Freedom Rankings (Read 1813 times)

OldSchoolRanger · « **on:** June 14, 2011, 04:26:37 AM »

The New York State ranked 50th in George Mason University's biannual "Freedom in the States" rankings. This ranking is based on: Freedom & Government Intervention, Fiscal Polices, Regulatory Policies, & Paternalism. The study states:

"New York has by far the highest taxes in the country," the study reads, citing steep levies on property, income and corporations compared to other states.

The high taxes, in turn, fuel massive spending, according to the analysis by George Mason's Mercatus Center, a libertarian think tank.

"Spending on public welfare, hospitals, electric power, transit, employee retirement . . . are well above national norms," concludes the report, which covers the 2007-through-2009 period.

Ranking worst in the categories of economic freedom and fiscal policy, New York also landed near the bottom for the categories of personal freedom (48th) and regulatory policy (40th).

The study cites New York's restrictive gun-control and anti-smoking laws and sky-high cigarette taxes and the Big Apple's ban on trans fats.

The researchers also slam New York's "excessive" home-schooling regulations and its strictest-in-the-nation health-insurance rules.

The authors rap New York for curbing the rights of individual property owners. "Eminent domain abuse," the report says, "is rampant and unchecked."

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/slaves_of_new_york_yO0DTfKbiTExNWFBYd3oeL#ixzz1PFu0pl00

Most rankings were to be expected, due to their liberal policies. I was just surprised that California & Massachusetts didn't rank lower. What are your feeling on the list ranks, IYO, should your state be higher or lower on the list. If you are interested where your state ranked see chart:
State Freedom Rankings

1. New Hampshire 26. South Carolina
2. South Dakota 27. Michigan
3. Indiana 28. Arkansas
4. Idaho 29. Montana
5. Missouri 30. Vermont
6. Nevada 31. Pennsylvania
7. Colorado 32. Kentucky
8. Oregon 33. Maine
9. Virginia 34. Minnesota
10. North Dakota 35. Louisiana
11. Florida 36. West Virginia
12. Oklahoma 37. New Mexico
13. Iowa 38. Connecticut
14. Texas 39. Delaware
15. Georgia 40. Washington
16. Tennessee 41. Illinois
17. Kansas 42. Ohio
18. North Carolina 43. Maryland
19. Alabama 44. Alaska
20. Utah 45. Rhode Island
21. Wyoming 46. Massachusetts
22. Arizona 47. Hawaii
23. Nebraska 48. California
24. Mississippi 49. New Jersey
25. Wisconsin 50. New York

magooch · « **Reply #1 on:** June 14, 2011, 05:43:27 AM »

Oregon number 8? On what basis? Oregon's state government is at least as liberal as California's. It's gun laws are more restrictive than it's neighbor to the north and although Oregon has no sales tax, their other taxes more than make up for it. Oregon even requires a permit on human powered water craft above 10'. That is restrictive government run amok in my book. The remainder of our 60 states (per Obama) must really be bad.

Casull · « **Reply #2 on:** June 14, 2011, 07:29:46 AM »

Glad to see I went from 41 to 9 when I moved last year.

Bigeasy · « **Reply #3 on:** June 14, 2011, 09:23:41 AM »

Suprised to see Alaska at #44.

Larry

tcencore3006 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 14, 2011, 09:31:54 AM »

As someone from NY I am not at suprised. It is getting ridiculous here. $200 and a 6 month wait on pistol permits in my county.

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #5 on:** June 14, 2011, 10:26:48 AM »

Quote from: Casull on June 14, 2011, 07:29:46 AM

Glad to see I went from 41 to 9 when I moved last year.

Casull - That's called voting with your feet.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2011, 01:40:04 PM »

I'm surprised Illinois ranked that high.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 14, 2011, 04:22:46 PM »

Glad to see my home state of New Hampshire rank #1. Not all of New England is liberal. The cesspool where I grew up is right where it belongs - #46.

powderman · « **Reply #8 on:** June 14, 2011, 06:12:40 PM »

Quote from: GRIMJIM on June 14, 2011, 01:40:04 PM

I'm surprised Illinois ranked that high.

Me too. POWDERMAN.

sidewinder319 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 14, 2011, 07:39:10 PM »

This thing is left loaded. If your state does not have a high cigarette or beer tax or allow gay marrage you get a low number. Really, Constitutional carry states rate lower than states with restrictive gun laws.

tcencore3006 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2011, 08:54:42 AM »

Interesting thoughts sidewinder.

Casull · « **Reply #11 on:** June 15, 2011, 09:07:26 AM »

Happy to say that Virginia has shall issue and open carry. And to think that I moved from one of the only two states that have NO form of concealed carry.

rwng · « **Reply #12 on:** June 19, 2011, 06:36:48 AM »

There is absolutely no way that Indiana can seriously be ranked that high. And I agree with the previous posts that Illinois is too high too.

Old Syko · « **Reply #13 on:** June 19, 2011, 08:48:22 AM »

Quote from: rwng on June 19, 2011, 06:36:48 AM

There is absolutely no way that Indiana can seriously be ranked that high. And I agree with the previous posts that Illinois is too high too.

Spend some more time in some of the higher ranking states like I have and you'll understand quite easily. I honestly see no real surprises. Too many folks only see how things are in their own back yard and have no clue about the rest of their state.

Mike38 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 19, 2011, 10:24:51 AM »

Wow, Illinois sucks but 41? I would have guessed it to be around 30. Chicago ruins it for the rest of the state. If we could split Illinois at Interstate 80, I’d bet us down staters would be much better rated.

Casull · « **Reply #15 on:** June 19, 2011, 10:37:07 AM »

Mike, you'd still have horrendous property taxes, high gas and cigerette taxes and NO CONCEALED CARRY of any kind.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #16 on:** June 19, 2011, 10:54:00 AM »

Quote from: Casull on June 19, 2011, 10:37:07 AM

Mike, you'd still have horrendous property taxes, high gas and cigerette taxes and NO CONCEALED CARRY of any kind.

I think we would have had ccw a long time ago if it weren't for the urban areas.

Casull · « **Reply #17 on:** June 19, 2011, 10:58:47 AM »

Jim, I couldn't agree more. But, the unfortunate truth is that Chicago is part of Illinois and rules the rest of the state.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #18 on:** June 19, 2011, 12:22:50 PM »

That is the truth and yes it is unfortunate.

oldandslow · « **Reply #19 on:** June 20, 2011, 02:20:08 AM »

When I look at the rankings of the two states I'm familiar with I consider the rankings to be mostly hot air. I won't argue about where California and New York come in but all I know about them is what I read.

magooch · « **Reply #20 on:** June 20, 2011, 05:29:22 AM »

If you could separate almost any state from its large poopulation area/areas, the results would be about the same. Most metro centers are loaded with libs and the hinterlands are more conservative.

rwng · « **Reply #21 on:** June 20, 2011, 07:26:51 AM »

One thing we must keep in mind when debating this stuff. We all live in the "land of the free".

Old Syko · « **Reply #22 on:** June 20, 2011, 08:24:43 AM »

Quote from: rwng on June 20, 2011, 07:26:51 AM

One thing we must keep in mind when debating this stuff. We all live in the "land of the free".

Apparently some are more free than others. People who choose to live in urban areas or feel they have to be around others are either afraid or too lazy to be free.