We mentioned that Cato (the group doing the study) is Libertarian-leaning because it sets up the frame of reference for their assessment.
You should note, however, that their evaluation of “free” may not exactly match everyone's as they tend to focus on tax, gun and education laws as well as a regulatory burden.
WASHINGTON — New Yorkers enjoy the least freedom in America, while New Hampshire citizens enjoy the most, according to a new report, Freedom in the 50 States, that examines the best states in which to live.
The report by the Cato Institute examines everything from tax laws to gun laws to government regulation to education freedom and found that the five freest states are:
1. New Hampshire
2. Alaska
3. Oklahoma
4. Indiana
5. South DakotaThe five states with the least freedom are:
6. Maryland
7. New Jersey
8. Hawaii
9. California
10. New YorkThe reasons why the Empire State came in 50 include:
• A local tax burden twice that of the average state.
• Local taxes consuming 7.8 percent of the average New Yorker’s income.
• The nation’s strictest gun control laws.New Hampshire is ranked first because it combines “relatively high scores on both personal and economic freedom,” the authors noted.
Some of the reasons why New Hampshire ranked so high include:• State taxes as a share of personal income at 2.8 percent.
• Local taxes as a share of income at 4.8 percent.
• One of the best states for gun rightsRuger and Soren calculated freedom in each state using more than 230 variables.
Some of these included land-use regulations, insurance requirements, licensing, gun rights and asset forfeiture. Cato is a libertarian think tank.
The study found that personal liberty and economic freedom do not always go together.
“Texas is one of the economically freest and personally least free states in the country,” the survey authors said.
One thing to consider is that these assessments consider the environment in a state as things are now, not as things would be if a major survival situation occurred.
In that scenario, the formulation of free versus not free would undoubtedly be affected.
Freedom in New York State, for example, might be more prevalent or accessible if all the focus was on controlling chaos in New York City and its suburbs.
In rural states, freedom might be curtailed as the authorities do not have as many urban hot spots drawing their attention.
Stuff to think about and if you want to know more about this study, please visit Off the Grid News.
Featured Image via Off the Grid News/Cato
Can you call the homeless as off the gird living? If so California has half a million living off the gird.
Agreed.
Surprised that Maine and Montana aren’t apart of it!!
I can safely assume orange is off the grid as I hail from Alaska. Where 90some percent of our land is off thevgrid.
Brad, Worth the read
Looks eerily similar to the electoral map. Red states seem to be more free than blue states.
Indiana is good for something
Clearly you guys have never been to Indiana.
But you better be well prepared true?
Ummmmmmm fake news?!! Lol
Yet people are worried more about refugees. Smh.
Looks good
Not only my state beats Texas on size but is a damn good place to live off the grid. I know I know. Talking about being off the grid on one of the biggest social medias.
I found my cave. Screw society!
I lived in AK and found to be very socialistic. Maybe if you plan on living (And dieing) in the bush you could say it was free. Anyplace within 4 hours of civilization is regulated with no property rights. But I suppose property rights are only for those who want to own the land, not squat.
Myranda Castillo
Love living here in Ak! Retired before 40, debt free and mostly self sufficient!
Hard to get to AK and make a life unless you have lots of money. The living expenses there was out of this world!
We have a place, all family members all over know where to go just in case
Trish Jividen
Thx love ❤️ this OTG
Oklahoma!
Go Indiana!
Well if you figure where the biggest bunch of hypocrites live,you might find states like New York in a melt down with more citizens bearing firearms than the so called free states,they just don’t tell you,they preach their global warming crap,gun control crap,but they don’t live it folks
What is Freest?
I have people and refuge in my home state of Indiana,even though I’ve live in Florida for over thirty years.
Proud Hoosier
The most free.
Freest? Really? Get an education before you try to voice an opinion! You’re dead before the race even begins! smh
Oklahoma baby
I don’t know what you people are talking about. New Hampshire is a terrible place to be. Don’t move there.
Ken Ortega
yeah listen to this guy….it sucks and noone should ever even visti….
Color code would help a lot here.
Terrible place to visit especially if you’re from New York or Massachusetts.
I’ll take my chances where I’m at.
Christina Freeman