Not according to the Mercatus Center of George Mason University. The Center believes you can rack them and stack them, one through 50. In the interest of full disclosure I have two children with degrees from George Mason University.
The survey is to be found here.
Where do we rank here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts? Number 46. By comparison, New Hampshire is Number 1.
Hat tip to the Instapunidt.
Regards — Cliff
Best I can interpret the bases for these rankings, you could alternatively ask "Are All States Equal In Lawlessness?". Ironic that they even express challenge of determining where individual rights begin, and where the rights of others might become trampled by their free expression in their summary, yet feel no need to factor any of that into their analysis.
ReplyDeleteAnother potentially necessary point to study would be the expenditure of Federal Government funds in each of the states. The "free ones" according to this list are, coincidentally, often the ones in which a disproportionate amoount of federal dollars are spent relative to personal income tax collected. (Making this an interesting angle to add to their "paternalism" factor).
Speaking as one living in the (apparently dangerous) and (apparently un-free) city of Lowell, (at least according to recent "rankings"), I hardly feel my situation to be less free than any of my neighbors a few miles to the north. In fact, observing the poorer quality of public education, I feel even better able to express my freedom to raise my family where I choose.
But thank the Instapundit for the waste of time for me, will you?
"A difference of opinion is what makes horse racing and missionaries."—Will Rogers
ReplyDeleteAnd, that same kind of difference of opinion is why folks move from Massachusetts to New Hampshire and visa versa.
And the fact that we can act on such differences of opinion is what makes America.
Regards — Cliff
Live free, or die. And, apparently, we in NH not only talk the talk, we actually walk the walk.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that there is any meaningful relationship between Federal funds spent and personal income tax taken. For one, NH has no income tax, but makes up for those state losses in revenue by property tax and some other taxes that are not especially onerous. If I look at MA, it would certainly SEEM that an awful large number of Federal dollars are spent there annually.....thanks to the MA Congressional delegation. Just think of what other states might have done with even half of the Federal largesse poured into the Big Dig.....and the MA highway system is among the poorer in the country, but with the highest cost per mile to maintain. It is amazing to me as I motor northbound on Rt. 3 even after the years long widening project, that with my eyes closed, I can tell the moment I pass onto NH roadway. And over on I-93, where we are busy widening THAT roadway after years of getting the cost down and the money in our pocket, there are precious few delays from the construction which is moving along very smoothly. Just go over to exit 3 and look at the massive earth movement job that its taken to replace/redesign the exit onto Rt 111. Much work remains, but the really tough parts are largely done or close to being done. If I recall, this only began about 2 years ago.
I agree with Cliff. And his point is why MA has a full population. For whatever reason, a whole bunch of folks just LOVE living in the Bluest state in the Union...perhaps because of the efforts of Deval and Sen. Kerry and Rep Fwank.
Then there are those of us who prefer to live free...or die.
BTW....I would also suggest that there is less "lawlessness" in NH that in MA...if you go to the FBI database.....but it is only a suggestion.
I do think Lowell is a wonderful city though...I thoroughly enjoy my frequent visits there...and it seems to be getting better with time. I love to see urban resurgence.....maybe its because.....oh...never mind....
I would further argue that the NH schools are at least as good as those of our brethren to the south of us, and in some cases, perhaps better.