America's Freest States

[Policía Loco]

From indelibly American quotations like "Give me liberty or give me death" to the iconic pairing of "liberty and justice" in the Pledge of Allegiance, there's no shortage of examples demonstrating that Americans have historically placed a high value on the concept of freedom.
But in a country as large and diverse as the United States, the concept of liberty is sure to have different definitions for different people. More complicating still is the fact that, beyond the overarching liberties defined by the Constitution, individual states have their own legislation to address individual freedoms that aren't explicitly covered in federal doctrine.
In Depth: America's Top 10 Freest and Least Free States (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/realclearpolitics/cm_rcp/storytext/america039s_freest_states/32177499/SIG=12ctgl0ob/*http://www.realclearpolitics.com/lists/freest-least-free-states/intro.html)
While the concept of freedom may be in the eye of the beholder, there's no question that each state has done their best to codify what actions they do and do not leave up to their residents' choice. But which states give their citizens the most leeway, and which have them on the tightest leash? A study entitled "Freedom In the 50 States: An Index of Personal And Economic Freedom," published by the Mercatus Center of George Mason University, sets out to answer this question.
The study, conducted by William P. Ruger and Jason ReSorens and released earlier this year, explores what the authors claim is the "first-ever comprehensive ranking of American states on their public policies affecting individual freedoms in the economic, social, and personal spheres." To create this ranking, Ruger and ReSorens outline three categories into which freedoms fit: fiscal policy (which covers spending and taxation), regulatory policy (which refers to such issues as labor regulations and health insurance), and Paternalism (which includes such categories as gambling and alcohol regulations).
This set of metrics was used to determine each state's ranking, which the authors of the study describe as the "ability to dispose of one's own life, liberty, and justly acquired property however one sees fit, so long as one does not coercively infringe on another individual's ability to do the same." Such indicators, which could prove controversial based on their potentially partisan associations, include citizens' right to educate one's child as well as the right to possess and carry guns "and be free from unreasonable search and seizure." Based on state gun laws, this metric would be more likely to favor conservative states, and the authors of the study concede as much when they note that freedom is defined differently by different people. However, liberties such as the right to smoke marijuana and same *** partners are factored in as well, which would lend weight to states with a more liberal sociopolitical bent.
Still, when taking into account all of their factors, the study ends up naming primarily "red" states as the nation's freest, with New Hampshire, Colorado, South Dakota topping the list. All three voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 except for New Hampshire in the latter year. New Hampshire also went to Obama in the 2008 Presidential race, as did Colorado.
On the other end of the spectrum, it was traditionally Democratic states that earned the title of "least free," according to the study. Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York-all of whom voted Democratic in the past three presidential elections-came in at 48th, 49th and 50th, respectively.
However, it is important to note that the study's findings do not all fall along these predictable party lines. Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Louisiana, for example, all fall in the bottom eleven among states with the most Personal Freedom. Arkansas, Texas, and Missouri, meanwhile finish fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively in that category. According to the authors of the study, while conservative states do perform better than liberal ones, it is moderately conservative states which are in fact the freest.
Though the authors argue that the study could be advantageous for state governments looking for improvements or scholars to analyze the effect of government policy on particular industries, the main benefit may be for businesses interested in the size and scope of state government's tax and regulation policies.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/realclearpolitics/america039s_freest_states

[Mofreaka]

Life free or die mother****ers, NH for the win lol.

[sinophile]

Which state is the most free? Depends on which freedom you're trying to protect.

Texas - gun rights.
Alaska - money (taxation).
Nevada - business entity rights.
Florida - homestead/bankruptcy rights.
Illinois - right to use minority status to extort money from big companies.
California - right to joust with windmills, smoke a bong and spend other state's money like its your own.
New York - right to b*ng a prostie and still be on CNBC.
Guam - not a state. No rights. F*ck off and fuel our jets.
DC - not a state, but... "You know what I am? I'm your worst ****in' nightmare, man. I'm an elected official with a badge which means I got permission to tax your f*ckin' a** whenever I feel like it"*


* quote provided courtesy of the movie 48 hours.

[Panchito12]

MD, CAL, RI, NJ, NYC.

ALL with entrenched Democratic Party in control of the local government. I know I live in one of them.

[bababooey]

THe socialist republic of Massachusetts, comrades! Where guns are in the closet and the gays get married. Come for the beaches and stay for the best welfare.

[Soldat_Américain]

California - right to joust with windmills, smoke a bong and spend other state's money like its your own.

*cough* bull**** *cough*

[Sayeret]

Which state is the most free? Depends on which freedom you're trying to protect.

Texas - gun rights.
Alaska - money (taxation).
Nevada - business entity rights.
Florida - homestead/bankruptcy rights.
Illinois - right to use minority status to extort money from big companies.
California - right to joust with windmills, smoke a bong and spend other state's money like its your own.
New York - right to b*ng a prostie and still be on CNBC.
Guam - not a state. No rights. F*ck off and fuel our jets.
DC - not a state, but... "You know what I am? I'm your worst ****in' nightmare, man. I'm an elected official with a badge which means I got permission to tax your f*ckin' a** whenever I feel like it"*


* quote provided courtesy of the movie 48 hours.

Actually, Alaska is probably the least strict with gun rights. You don't even need a CCW to carry around a gun concealed there.

[MaDuce]

THe socialist republic of Massachusetts, comrades! Where guns are in the closet and the gays get married. Come for the beaches and stay for the best welfare.

How dare you mock policy set fourth by Chairman Duval? Just because it is easier to get Top Secret/SCI clearance than to get a gun permit in Massachusetts does not mean it is less free.

[California Joe]

Vermont has literally no gun laws and we let gays get married. All at the same time.

However, do not get caught f*cking up the environment.

[Hollis]

My state is not listed or on the Map, just stay the F*** out.

Do not Californicate my state.

[offspring]

Illinois is just f*cked

[szr]

New York less free than California??? At least we're ALWAYS allowed to water our lawns in the Soviet Republic of New Yorkistan...

[shocker1]

Georgia: no beer sales on Sunday, income tax, Weekly "seatbelt" checkpoints and race based politics.

positive: easy, inexpensive CWP, self defense law and ban on gay marriage.:)

[Kit]

Illinois is just f*cked

I hear ya. I thought Illinois would make Top 5 for sure.

My home state Maryland is #5 on there. The Democrats pretty much have a strangle-hold on our policies. It's a sad state for a Republican to be in.

[deagle]

i love (to hate) NY !

especailly how they are trying to close budget defecit by raising, then taking 80% of SUNY rate (shrewd enough to hide away from regular taxpayer). the school system can't support w/20%, so they're gonna raise fees too.

and i also love how entire NYS Thruway is a speed-trap for revenue.

[gaijinsamurai]

My state is not listed or on the Map, just stay the F*** out.

Do not Californicate my state.

x2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Abolith]

My state is not listed or on the Map, just stay the F*** out.

Do not Californicate my state.

I don't want to Californicate your state I just want to get the **** out of Kommiefornia and enjoy your way of living... can I come live up there with you free peoples??

[gaijinsamurai]

^ As long as you don't act like a Californian. And don't bring too many people with you, either.

[GtodeO]

Which state is the most free? Depends on which freedom you're trying to protect.

Texas - gun rights.
Alaska - money (taxation).
Nevada - business entity rights.
Florida - homestead/bankruptcy rights.
Illinois - right to use minority status to extort money from big companies.
California - right to joust with windmills, smoke a bong and spend other state's money like its your own.
New York - right to b*ng a prostie and still be on CNBC.
Guam - not a state. No rights. F*ck off and fuel our jets.
DC - not a state, but... "You know what I am? I'm your worst ****in' nightmare, man. I'm an elected official with a badge which means I got permission to tax your f*ckin' a** whenever I feel like it"*


* quote provided courtesy of the movie 48 hours.
pretty true lol
Florida sucks, orlando to be more precisely unless you're a tourist or upper class

[brainplay]

Actually, Alaska is probably the least strict with gun rights. You don't even need a CCW to carry around a gun concealed there.

Yes but most states you don't have to worry about being mauled by a polar bear or a hungry Eskimo if you're fat and your belly jiggles.








J/k p-)

[Zarak]

I'm pretty happy in Colorado but if I meet one more Californian transplant who tells me the entire state should be like Boulder I'm going to go postal.

[CPLHUNTER]

pretty true lol
Florida sucks, orlando to be more precisely unless you're a tourist or upper class

x2 florida sucks all over and my current hometown Orl really sucks.

[Walter Sobchak]

Bumper Sticker seen in Everett Washington:



We Don't CARE How You
Did It Back In California

[Soldat_Américain]

I'm pretty happy in Colorado but if I meet one more Californian transplant who tells me the entire state should be like Boulder I'm going to go postal.
Never been to Boulder...what's there other than Bison? Hollis, Oregon has probably as bad of drug problems as we do...just to let you know. I just got to find a new state of residence.

[Zarak]

Never been to Boulder...what's there other than Bison?

Lots of hippies.

[brainplay]

Lots of hippies.

Do you have to get a hunting license for those or are they under a deprivation policy. What do they taste like?

Oh and Bison burgers are overrated.

[tyovan]

Full rankings from the report:

Table I: Fiscal Policy Ranking
State Fiscal free dom
1. New Hampshire 0.28
2. South Dakota 0.26
3. Tennessee 0.25
4. Texas 0.22
5. Colorado 0.21
6. Missouri 0.19
7. North Dakota 0.15
8. Montana 0.13
9. Georgia 0.13
10. Idaho 0.12
11. Oklahoma 0.11
12. Alabama 0.11
13. Nevada 0.11
14. Virginia 0.11
15. Arizona 0.09
16. Maryland 0.06
17. Wyoming 0.06
18. Illinois 0.05
19. Iowa 0.04
20. Utah 0.04
21. North Carolina 0.03
22. Mississippi 0.02
23. Massachusetts 0.02
24. Indiana 0.01
25. Florida 0.00
26. Connecticut -0.01
27. Oregon -0.01
28. Kansas -0.02
29. Louisiana -0.02
30. Delaware -0.02
31. Michigan -0.03
32. Pennsylvania -0.03
33. Arkansas -0.04
34. South Carolina -0.04
35. Minnesota -0.04
36. Kentucky -0.05
37. Washington -0.06
38. Nebraska -0.07
39. West Virginia -0.07
40. Ohio -0.07
41. Rhode Island -0.10
42. Wisconsin -0.13
43. New Jersey -0.17
44. California -0.19
45. New Mexico -0.19
46. Hawaii -0.21
47. Vermont -0.21
48. Maine -0.23
49. Alaska -0.35
50. New York -0.44



Table II: Regulatory Policy Ranking
State Regulatory freedom
1. Michigan 0.19
2. North Dakota 0.16
3. Pennsylvania 0.15
4. Kansas 0.15
5. Indiana 0.14
6. Idaho 0.14
7. Iowa 0.13
8. South Dakota 0.13
9. Utah 0.13
10. Georgia 0.13
11. Colorado 0.12
12. South Carolina 0.11
13. Nebraska 0.10
14. Arizona 0.10
15. Alabama 0.09
16. Delaware 0.07
17. Virginia 0.07
18. New Hampshire 0.06
19. Florida 0.05
20. Wyoming 0.04
21. Oklahoma 0.03
22. Missouri 0.02
23. Wisconsin 0.02
24. Alaska 0.01
25. Louisiana 0.01
26. North Carolina 0.01
27. Texas 0.00
28. Tennessee -0.01
29. Ohio -0.01
30. Minnesota -0.03
31. Montana -0.04
32. Kentucky -0.04
33. Nevada -0.05
34. Mississippi -0.05
35. Illinois -0.07
36. Hawaii -0.09
37. New Mexico -0.10
38. Oregon -0.10
39. Vermont -0.10
40. West Virginia -0.11
41. Arkansas -0.11
42. Connecticut -0.14
43. Massachusetts -0.15
44. New York -0.16
45. Washington -0.16
46. California -0.16
47. Maryland -0.17
48. Rhode Island -0.17
49. New Jersey -0.17
50. Maine -0.18


Table III: Economic Freedom Ranking
State Economic free dom
1. South Dakota 0.385
2. New Hampshire 0.345
3. Colorado 0.337
4. North Dakota 0.315
5. Idaho 0.257
6. Georgia 0.253
7. Texas 0.225
8. Tennessee 0.225
9. Missouri 0.210
10. Alabama 0.200
11. Arizona 0.190
12. Iowa 0.177
13. Virginia 0.175
14. Utah 0.164
15. Michigan 0.161
16. Indiana 0.159
17. Oklahoma 0.144
18. Kansas 0.126
19. Pennsylvania 0.120
20. Wyoming 0.098
21. Montana 0.096
22. South Carolina 0.062
23. Nevada 0.058
24. Delaware 0.052
25. Florida 0.047
26. North Carolina 0.041
27. Nebraska 0.036
28. Louisiana -0.012
29. Illinois -0.025
30. Mississippi -0.032
31. Minnesota -0.075
32. Ohio -0.081
33. Kentucky -0.086
34. Maryland -0.110
35. Wisconsin -0.111
36. Oregon -0.113
37. Massachusetts -0.133
38. Connecticut -0.142
39. Arkansas -0.148
40. West Virginia -0.177
41. Washington -0.219
42. Rhode Island -0.267
43. New Mexico -0.288
44. Hawaii -0.295
45. Vermont -0.310
46. New Jersey -0.337
47. Alaska -0.343
48. California -0.351
49. Maine -0.406
50. New York -0.596


Table IV: Personal Freedom Ranking
State Personal freedom
1. Alaska 0.272
2. Maine 0.193
3. New Mexico 0.138
4. Arkansas 0.125
5. Texas 0.121
6. Missouri 0.110
7. Oregon 0.104
8. Idaho 0.100
9. Virginia 0.100
10. Wyoming 0.095
11. Vermont 0.093
12. Arizona 0.089
13. New Hampshire 0.087
14. Utah 0.086
15. Kansas 0.085
16. Colorado 0.084
17. West Virginia 0.080
18. Tennessee 0.059
19. Indiana 0.049
20. Michigan 0.045
21. Montana 0.029
22. Mississippi 0.027
23. Florida 0.022
24. South Dakota 0.007
25. Iowa 0.006
26. Kentucky 0.003
27. Oklahoma -0.002
28. Hawaii -0.009
29. Pennsylvania -0.018
30. North Carolina -0.022
31. Minnesota -0.036
32. Nevada -0.045
33. North Dakota -0.047
34. Nebraska -0.055
35. Washington -0.055
36. Delaware -0.060
37. California -0.063
38. Connecticut -0.082
39. Wisconsin -0.089
40. Louisiana -0.098
41. South Carolina -0.102
42. Georgia -0.106
43. Alabama -0.107
44. Massachusetts -0.109
45. New Jersey -0.120
46. Ohio -0.124
47. Rhode Island -0.163
48. New York -0.188
49. Illinois -0.213
50. Maryland -0.294


Table V: Overall Freedom Ranking
State Overall Freedom
1. New Hampshire 0.432
2. Colorado 0.421
3. South Dakota 0.392
4. Idaho 0.356
5. Texas 0.346
6. Missouri 0.320
7. Tennessee 0.284
8. Arizona 0.279
9. Virginia 0.275
10. North Dakota 0.268
11. Utah 0.250
12. Kansas 0.210
13. Indiana 0.208
14. Michigan 0.206
15. Wyoming 0.193
16. Iowa 0.183
17. Georgia 0.146
18. Oklahoma 0.143
19. Montana 0.125
20. Pennsylvania 0.102
21. Alabama 0.092
22. Florida 0.068
23. North Carolina 0.019
24. Nevada 0.013
25. Mississippi -0.004
26. Delaware -0.008
27. Oregon -0.009
28. Nebraska -0.018
29. Arkansas -0.023
30. South Carolina -0.040
31. Alaska -0.071
32. Kentucky -0.082
33. West Virginia -0.097
34. Louisiana -0.110
35. Minnesota -0.111
36. New Mexico -0.150
37. Wisconsin -0.199
38. Ohio -0.205
39. Maine -0.214
40. Vermont -0.217
41. Connecticut -0.225
42. Illinois -0.238
43. Massachusetts -0.242
44. Washington -0.275
45. Hawaii -0.304
46. Maryland -0.405
47. California -0.413
48. Rhode Island -0.430
49. New Jersey -0.457
50. New York -0.784


http://www.mercatus.org/uploadedFiles/Mercatus/Publications/Freedom%20in%20the%2050%20States.pdf

[brainplay]

46. Maryland -0.405
47. California -0.413
48. Rhode Island -0.430
49. New Jersey -0.457
50. New York -0.784

Dang New York was not only at the bottom but it beat out the 2nd place loser by almost double. Why do people still insist on putting up with it?

[pimabread]

lol Florida blows

[deagle]

NY in bottom 5 every category !

good job of our state govt.

[Soldat_Américain]

It would be New Hampshire, "Live Free, or Die!"

Disclaimer: I am from the Golden State and our Motto is Eureka.

[szr]

Dang New York was not only at the bottom but it beat out the 2nd place loser by almost double.Our state motto: "Excelsior". In this state we're always striving to the best at everything we do, even if it's being the best at being the worst.


Table V: Overall Freedom Ranking
State Overall Freedom
1. New Hampshire 0.432
2. Colorado 0.421
3. South Dakota 0.392

[...]



[............]

47. California -0.413
48. Rhode Island -0.430
49. New Jersey -0.457
50. New York -0.784New York isn't called "The Empire State" for nothing...

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/952/empirew.jpg

[Aerosoul]

TN baby. Number 7, not bad.
Meh. We at least need medicinal MJ here to be as free as we should be.

[El Diablo Rojo]

Suck it, California! Oh wait, I live here.

On the topic of gun rights, I don't believe it's been mentioned but the Brady Campaign says Oklahoma takes the cake (bad by their standards, good by mine).

[matthew.manhorn]

Georgia has low taxes, unlike communist states like New York.

[deagle]

Motorcyclist sues NY State Police over motorbike-only roadblocks (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/11/motorcyclist-sues-ny-state-police-over-motorbike-only-roadblocks/)



http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/11/motorcyclist-sues-ny-state-police-over-motorbike-only-roadblocks/

"...Upstate New York has earned a reputation as the speeding ticket capital of the country..."

just another form of govt extortion really. if they truly cared about safety, tell the automakers stop making cars that go over 80mph. all this talk about hybrids, they should just have a chip that maxes out the car's best fuel-economy speed at 65 instead. so even if you wanted to speed and waste gas (and stimulate economy by doing so), you couldn't, and would never get a ticket. then again, the states couldn't get revenue.

"...According to one Mitchell ****er, the state's institution of roadblocks exclusively for motorcyclists is unconstitutional: the motorcyclist and personal injury lawyer claims that without justifiable cause, the checkpoints infringe on riders' First Amendment rights to freedom of assembly and association and their Fourth Amendment right to freedom from unreasonable search and seizure. Last year, the New York State Police conducted twelve such "safety checks" near motorcycle events, including the Americade biker gathering at Lake George, the largest such event in the Northeast – and the NYSP plan on conducting fifteen more this year..."

you know its bad, when motorcyclists' rights are being infringed upon. way to live up the rep of the least freest state NY. thank goodness for the Yanks (? if they win the World Series).

[shocker1]

Georgia has low taxes, unlike communist states like New York.
What? You like the State income tax? 7% average sales tax is not low either with such a state income tax rate. Add to that the strange way we calculate the tax.