Do You Live in a Freedom Loving State?
In a study conducted by George Mason University we finally get to see, for the first time, which states are liberty lovers and which are not.
It’s no wonder why I have broken out of the liberally indoctrinated mindset, and become more and more conservative over the past few years. I have lived in two of the most ”freedomless” states of the union; Connecticut (where I grew up) and Maryland (where I live now).
After having your freedoms trampled upon by intrusive laws and high tax rates, it’s no wonder that some may get angry and swing the opposite direction; politically!
It’s no surprise to me that the least free states are those that vote Democrat! I wish more people would wake up to this fact and actually care about the political landscape of the country. I know more people who choose not to vote than do! It’s time for these unaffiliated voters and apolitical citizens to get in the game, because the more government grows, the worse it’s going to get!
This study improves on prior attempts to score economic freedom for American states in three primary ways: (1) it includes measures of social and personal freedoms such as peaceable citizens’ rights to educate their own children, own and carry firearms, and be free from unreasonable search and seizure; (2) it includes far more variables, even on economic policies alone, than prior studies, and there are no missing data on any variable; and (3) it uses new, more accurate measurements of key variables, particularly state fiscal policies.
Here’s a look at how some of the states stack up:
We find that the freest states in the country are New Hampshire, Colorado, and South Dakota, which together achieve a virtual tie for first place. All three states feature low taxes and government spending and middling levels of regulation and paternalism. New York is the least free by a considerable margin, followed by New Jersey, Rhode Island, California, and Maryland. On personal freedom alone, Alaska is the clear winner, while Maryland brings up the rear. As for freedom in the different regions of the country, the Mountain and West North Central regions are the freest overall while the Middle Atlantic lags far behind on both economic and personal freedom. Regression analysis demonstrates that states enjoying more economic and personal freedom tend to attract substantially higher rates of internal net migration.
Democrats from blue states migrate to red states and never learn the lesson that voting for liberal hacks, causes the social messes we have today. But ideology and elitism continue to trump logic and common sense, and therefore, they bring their policies down to freedom-loving regions and change the voting and political landscape of states like North Carolina.
Peruse the rest of the study for yourself and see where your state stacks up!
In My Opinion – Christianity: Under Attack
For the last decade or so, Christian Values (belief in God, Marriage, Pro-Life, Prayer….the list goes on) have been under constant attack from the left (ACLU, Atheists and others). In case after case, any reference to “God” or prayer in school, Nativity scenes at Christmas, or the Ten Commandments in public places, has been slowly removed from everyday society. It is an alarming trend and one in which I think Christians need to stand up to and say enough is enough.
The founding fathers made it extremely clear as to the intent of the founding documents. The founding fathers guaranteed us “freedom OF religion” and not “freedom from religion.”
This striking quote is exactly right. We, as a new nation, ensured that those who come to our shores to start a new and better life, would not be persecuted for practicing the religion of their choice. They were not creating a system by which we would shield people from religion or God.
This country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles; they have been a part of our heritage and culture since the Mayflower. Our third President, Thomas Jefferson, who many historical illiterates claim created the statements in the Federalist papers supporting a ‘separation of church and state,’ said the following: “God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?…Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.”
How true. Freedom, liberty, life, are God given and so shall they be protected. It is that belief, those convictions, which has made this nation strong, wealthy (in spirit, hope, and quality of life), and the model for all nations who want to have those same gifts.
French historian and American observer Alexis de Tocqueville opined, “liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.” Americans of all faiths must stand together with the understanding that no religion is safe when even one comes under attack. Josef Stalin disclosed an ominous plot many years ago: “America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within.” We’ve stood by as Christianity takes a beating in the town square. It’s high time we turn the tide. Our very liberty depends on it.
