airdvr 210 #1 April 1, 2013 http://freedominthe50states.org/overall No surprises here.Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lurch 0 #2 April 1, 2013 Looks pretty accurate, too. My home state, NH, is in the top 5, lot of personal freedoms still remain here that are gone in most or all other states. Its why I live here. Having lived in Cali and gained some unfortunate experiences in NY state, I can say their assessment of both those places as the blackest of the least-free is also quite accurate. I will live in neither. In both, many of your "rights" have been made defacto "conditional privileges" you have to buy from the state, and the rules are "whatever we say they are" when it comes to dealing with the authorities. Ugh... -BLive and learn... or die, and teach by example. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #3 April 1, 2013 Oh please... Yes, we in California are so "oppressed."quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airdvr 210 #4 April 1, 2013 Perhaps you've been there for so long you've lost your perspective.Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #5 April 1, 2013 QuoteOh please... Yes, we in California are so "oppressed." Go buy a .50 cal, an AR15, or walk around either open carry or concealed carry. Let me know how that works out for you. (but don't use your one phone call on me, I don't know any good CA lawyers; suggest you call Andy instead)witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #6 April 1, 2013 I thought there was something like 54, or 58 states. What happened? earthquake? ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #7 April 1, 2013 You risk falling into the trap of using a single metric for "freedom", when I've no doubt that you know that there are many. For example, many states with more-free gun laws also have comparatively restrictive alcohol laws, or are constantly looking to impose restrictions on abortions. The Mercatus Center, which commissioned this analysis, is a conservative think-thank; they are not a neutral source by any means. Its use of the loaded term "freedom" is more partisan sound-byte than bona fide study, analysis and reporting. You're a pretty level-headed guy; see this for what it is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #8 April 1, 2013 QuoteQuoteOh please... Yes, we in California are so "oppressed." Go buy a .50 cal, an AR15, or walk around either open carry or concealed carry. Let me know how that works out for you. (but don't use your one phone call on me, I don't know any good CA lawyers; suggest you call Andy instead) The ability to walk the streets armed is not exactly the definition of freedom. If you believe it is, then there are some countries in the middle-east you should visit.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #9 April 1, 2013 QuoteOh please... Yes, we in California are so "oppressed." You don't run a business where you have employees, do you? My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #10 April 1, 2013 QuoteQuoteQuoteOh please... Yes, we in California are so "oppressed." Go buy a .50 cal, an AR15, or walk around either open carry or concealed carry. Let me know how that works out for you. (but don't use your one phone call on me, I don't know any good CA lawyers; suggest you call Andy instead) The ability to walk the streets armed is not exactly the definition of freedom. If you believe it is, then there are some countries in the middle-east you should visit. http://freedominthe50states.org/how-its-calculated QuoteFreedom in the 50 States Index The overall freedom ranking is determined by combining scores for fiscal, regulatory, and personal freedom. Fiscal Policy (35.3%) The fiscal policy dimension consists of the following categories: Tax Burden (28.6%), Government Employment (2.8%), Government Spending (1.9%), Government Debt (1.2%), and Fiscal Decentralization (0.9%). Regulatory Policy (32.0%) The regulatory policy dimension consists of the following categories: Freedom from Tort Abuse (11.5%), Property Right Protection (7.6%), Health Insurance Freedom (5.4%), Labor Market Freedom (3.8%), Occupational Licensing Freedom (1.7%), Miscellaneous Regulatory Freedom (1.3%), and Cable and Telecom Freedom (0.8%). Personal Freedom (32.7%) Personal freedom dimension consists of the following categories: Victimless Crime Freedom (9.8%), Gun Control Freedom (6.6%), Tobacco Freedom (4.1%), Alcohol Freedom (2.8%), Marriage Freedom (2.1%), Marijuana and Salvia Freedom (2.1%), Gambling Freedom (2.0%), Education Policy (1.9%), Civil Liberties (0.6%), Travel Freedom (0.5%), Asset Forfeiture Freedom (0.1%), and Campaign Finance Freedom (0.02%). I was just picking an easy example. Lawrocket picked another. And FYI, I have no intention of crossing the Atlantic again anytime soon, thanks. Of course there are metrics they appear to have intentionally left out: "reproductive rights" et al. But just because you're comfortable with it doesn't make it right.witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lurch 0 #11 April 1, 2013 No, but the ability to go about your life and do what you want with a minimum of interference from the State, pretty much -is- the definition of freedom. NH... right to bear arms, is still an actual Right. You don't need to get a "permit to buy" you just go buy it. No firearms registration in any form. No firearm owners permit you have to buy. No seatbelt law aside from kids. You're a grown person, you wanna forego the seatbelt for a 1 mile trip to the store, go right ahead. Other states, its an excuse to pull you over, start a fishing expedition... No biker helmet law... your choice. I choose a fullface myself, but I like that at least here, if I want wind in my hair I can have it. Very little regulation of motorcycles at all actually. In fact you're free to just buy one and learn to ride it yourself on a 30 day learner permit. If you try that you'll discover the test is very difficult to pass, but thats your problem. Training is available. No mandatory car insurance law. If you're a Granny who drives 20 miles a month maybe it doesn't make any sense to HAVE car insurance. Your choice. No state income tax. So far, the state does not claim you have an obligation to pay "your fair share" of somebody else's bills. Property taxes here are awful though. Few to no random law enforcement fishing checkpoints. I've heard of em but never seen one. On the other hand small town cops love to pull you over "just to check you out"... this can get maddening after the 46th time they pull that stunt when you appear as a regular on a new road with a new job. "Yeah, the last 6 times you guys said the same thing my taillight was out, but it never was..." Noplace is perfect. -BLive and learn... or die, and teach by example. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #12 April 1, 2013 QuoteOh please... Yes, we in California are so "oppressed." We are. I had to leave my favorite guns in an out of state storage facility from which they were stolen and I can't jump off the Auburn bridge like others (Perrine) in free states. Strict land-use laws limit housing density and keep costs high (2 bedroom apartments in my neighborhood rent for $3000/month). There are a lot of business regulations, restrictions, and taxes. Each corporate entity I own must pay a $800/year minimum tax even when they're loosing money. I'm free to do less in my spare time due to the zoning impact on housing and 9.3% marginal tax rate cutting into my budget a lot more than in free states like Washington (0%) and Colorado (4.63% with one friend observing that the difference between Boulder's allegedly high property costs and decent places in the valley was $1M). The venture capital and startup scenes are awesome (42% of 2011 venture investments were in Silicon Valley), otherwise I'd live someplace else. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,593 #13 April 1, 2013 QuoteNo state income tax. So far, the state does not claim you have an obligation to pay "your fair share" of somebody else's bills. Property taxes here are awful though.Property taxes are how you pay other people's bills. I own some property in NH; no disabled, veteran's or senior's discount if you're not a resident (my father owned it before me, and he was all three). And yeah, it's high all right. And, frankly, for paying less, you get less. Which is fine when you're younger, but it's keeping NH out of the mix for my husband's and my next house. We expect to grow old in it, and things like transportation & medical are far more spread out, especially if you take into account wanting to have things like theater and music close by. Wendy P.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,156 #14 April 2, 2013 QuoteQuoteOh please... Yes, we in California are so "oppressed." Go buy a .50 cal, an AR15, or walk around either open carry or concealed carry. Let me know how that works out for you. (but don't use your one phone call on me, I don't know any good CA lawyers; suggest you call Andy instead) One-trick pony!... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #15 April 2, 2013 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4465379#4465379witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toolbox 0 #16 April 4, 2013 Live free or die! Last time I was there it was on the license plates. I like NH and I loved the steak bomb pizza from RHOP(Rochester house of pizza)and I really liked it when the delivery guys would pick you up a couple cases of beer and a few packs of smokes if you asked them when they delivered your pie to the DZ. I have never been anywhere else where pizza guys would deliver beer and smokes with your pizza. We did give them fat tips for this,as they deserved it. I thought you could have open containers in the car as long as the driver was not drinking as well,is this correct? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Niki1 2 #17 April 4, 2013 When my friends form Fla ask me how I like living in North Carolina, I say that it's not unlike any other third world country. http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/03/17584491-first-amendment-doesnt-apply-here-nc-lawmakers-push-bill-for-state-religion?liteMost of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossilbe before they were done. Louis D Brandeis Where are we going and why are we in this basket? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #18 April 4, 2013 Constitutional amendment refusing gay rights? Check. Attempting to set a state religion? Check. Religion requirement to take public office? Check. Ridiculous alcohol laws? Check. Bigots of every stripe? Check. Scandal-ridden state law enforcement and politicians? Bet your sweet pattooty that's a check. Et cetera ad nauseam.witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
