I just found out about a recent study of how much relative freedom still exists in each of the 50 American states. Rankings are presented for individual categories, covering financial and civil liberty factors, and then an overall aggregate ranking. Here are the top five:
- New Hampshire
- Colorado
- South Dakota
- Idaho
- Texas
No surprise seeing Texas in the top five. Utah just missed the top ten. And my home, Nevada? Nearly half way down at #24. Earlier this week, New Hampshire legalized gay marriage, but did so with language that protects the rights of religious objectors to oppose it and not participate if they so desire. Will this compromise be the way the legal aspects of this controversy are resolved? At the very least, kudos to New Hampshire for their unflagging dedication in trying to preserve the freedom of every individual, not just a popular special interest.
In my neck of the woods, the legislative session that just ended has raised taxes and saddled us with plenty of new regulations and nanny state laws. Thanks to all of you California refugees who moved here and promptly started voting in the kind of socialist fools who ruined your state. Good job.
Texas and Idaho are looking better all the time.
California was #47. New York came in dead last.
Gently Hew Stone 