Galt's Gulch

How free is your state?

Posted by awebb 10 years, 3 months ago to News
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What do you think? Agree or disagree with this map?
SOURCE URL: http://benswann.com/study-us-states-ranked-by-freedom/

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  • Posted by XenokRoy 10 years, 3 months ago
    I would like to see something as a overlay to this. What is happening with populations over the last 10 years in each of these states. Are people fleeing the tyranny or are they simply complacent to stay?
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  • Posted by Pearlsgarnet 10 years, 3 months ago
    Missouri ranked 5th and if you stay away from the big cities, I'd say that sounds about right. However, even living in a small town in rural Missouri, I see rats fleeing some big ships. This state won't be very 'free' for long if we don't find a way to keep drug dealers and runners out.
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  • Posted by mckenziecalhoun 10 years, 3 months ago
    Absolutely agree.
    Moved from California to Texas as a JFK Democrat partially because I watched too many Republican friends get abused by the "Party of Tolerance".
    Live in Austin now. Not like the rest of Texas, but a good place for me. Bosses first response to me just before hiring me was, "I don't like Californians".

    I knew I was home. Free speech was still valued.
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    • Posted by $ Abaco 10 years, 3 months ago
      I don't really understand that prejudice, "I don't like Californians." So...somebody leaves a place because it's too liberal or just plain totalitarian and Cowboy Tex doesn't like them because they came from California? Spend a little time at a place like Pismo Beach and tell me I'm crazy for loving it...

      I've heard great things about Austin. A friend and coworker of mine relocated his family there and loves it.
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      • Posted by plusaf 10 years, 3 months ago
        I moved from NJ to CA in 1978. Couldn't believe how smooth the roads were, how little traffic there was and how polite people were.

        Moved to NC in 2005... was very impressed with how smooth the roads were, how nice the traffic was and how polite people were.... compared to CA.
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      • Posted by mckenziecalhoun 10 years, 3 months ago
        California is lovely.
        It's not that it's too liberal.
        It's that it is not liberal enough, in the old sense of the word.
        If being liberal means silencing half the population, then I can do without liberalism.
        If it means letting all speak, what we fought for as Democrats so hard, real freedom, then I'll take it.
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      • Posted by MattFranke 10 years, 3 months ago
        The problem comes because so many Californians move to places like Colorado, saying how much they hated Cali, and how wonderful Colorado is and bla bla bla. But then immediately 95% start working full force to make wherever they moved to, just like Cali. Home-owners associations, regulating this and that, and generally just irritating the shit out of the locals. Seen it for myself, part of why we left the once fine state of Colorado.
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  • Posted by USAONENATIONUNDERGOD 10 years, 3 months ago
    Certainly do not agree with the map and freedoms..since the Dem's came into power here in CO too many live and let live factors are at play...not everyone agrees with what is happening here for certain its mostly in the Denver area and further south...hmmm....both heavy liberal areas and its junkies or mixed up people what their sexuality really is from one day to the next!
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  • Posted by $ Susanne 10 years, 3 months ago
    My daughter lived in Montana for a few years, and desparately wants to return there someday... think I'll have to encourage that. My mom's family - hail from S. Dakota. Sadly, I remember, when I was a kid growing up in California it was much much freer and more prosperous - now, it truly is a black mark on what it means to be American.
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    • Posted by awebb 10 years, 3 months ago
      While this doesn't compare to living in Montana for years, I did visit northern Montana for 10 days during 2013 and it was incredible. I'd like to return there for longer (permanently?) at some point.
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      • Posted by $ Susanne 10 years, 3 months ago
        My daughter keeps trying to convince me to do just that!

        Honestly - I am praying that the "Jefferson" movement (far northern California & far Southern Oregon) happens... it may have the best chance of returning some sort of sanity to what used to be a wonderful place to live, but is now a good place to be from.
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        • Posted by $ Abaco 10 years, 3 months ago
          I do some business in the Jefferson region and really like it up there. If it did happen the Feds would be on them like white on rice, making sure they aren't allowed to use their natural resources (remember the "spotted owl"). What beautiful country up there. Their pot crop (I don't touch the stuff) alone would financially power the new state.
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    • Posted by preimert1 10 years, 3 months ago
      I've been in California for 50 years now and (to quote Glen Campbell) "the weather suits my clothes." Granted its one of the highest taxed states and I probably could no longer afford to live here (I'm retired) had we not got pissed off and passed Prop. 13. But its what you make of it, which is, I suppose, true for where ever one lives.
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  • Posted by richrobinson 10 years, 3 months ago
    I didn't see too many surprises. I am in Pennsylvania and as bad as we are I knew others were worse. I expected Vermont to be lower and West Virginia to be higher.
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  • Posted by jrberts5 10 years, 3 months ago
    I will not say that I necessarily disagree with this map. I will say this: I have lived in Tennessee for over 50 years. If this state is ranked 3rd in freedom and that ranking is even close to accurate, then this country is much farther down the road to dictatorship than I realized. I make a concerted effort to avoid contact with any state or local official because of the level to which they consistently and aggressively disrespect the rights, freedoms, and properties of everyone they interact with. I think a real freedom indicator factor might the number of Objectivist groups and organizations within a state. If you are looking for a freer environment, pass on Tennessee.
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    • Posted by XenokRoy 10 years, 3 months ago
      I think your statement about how much farther down the road to dictatorship we are is likely true. The more I open my eyes the closer it seems we are to dictatorship. Look at the way Obama has not had to bend to anything from anyone. At least for the time being we have a king.
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      • Posted by squareone 10 years, 3 months ago
        What do you mean "For the time being?"
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        • Posted by XenokRoy 10 years, 3 months ago
          Well, at some time the king will fall. I do not mean Obama he is just the next king in a long succession of kings. In our system he is really just the king of the kings. Its the department heads that are the kings and they do not change as often as the king of kings.

          At some point, either though plague (economic, physical or philosophical), war or famine, the king will fall and there will be a chance for freedom to rise again. It is more likely that some other form of kingship will rise, but if we have a handful of dedicated people driven by agency (individual choice) and property rights based philosophy it will bring freedom back.

          That is what I mean for the time being. That time may be well beyond my life, but at some point it will come around again. I just hope its not after a return to the dark age.
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