CLICK HERE. / " title="RHODE ISLAND ranked 45th on this year's Freedom in the 50 States Index published by George Mason University's Mercatus Center. For a larger version of this image, CLICK HERE. /"/>ARLINGTON, Va. – Rhode Island ranked 45th in this year’s Freedom in the 50 States index, which compares individual freedoms based on each state’s fiscal and social public policies.
“Rhode Island is one of the least-free states in the country and performs poorly on all categories. Its fiscal policy is a mess, with spending, taxes, and debt all very high — though it is not as bad in these areas as New York and California,” the report said.
The Ocean State’s overall ranking improved on the inaugural 2009 ranking of 48th; however, the evaluation criteria was expanded this year to include bans on trans fats and the audio recording of police, and Massachusetts’ individual health-insurance mandate, among other variables.
The 2011 study, published by a free market oriented think tank at George Mason University, evaluates legislative data as of Jan. 1, 2009, and fiscal data from fiscal 2008.
The report criticized the state for high government regulation and restriction on individual freedoms.
Rhode Island ranked 46th in the personal freedom measure – which assesses legislation on gun control, smoking, homeschooling, and minimum wage – and 42nd in the economic freedom measure, which analyzes spending, taxes, and debt.
The report, which does not take into account current budget proposals, recommended that Rhode Island cut government spending on retirement funds for state employees, unemployment benefits, and the police and fire departments.
The state should also lower property taxes, reduce the maximum sentence of life imprisonment for marijuana-related offenses and legalize same-sex civil unions, it said.
Nevertheless, Rhode Island received positive reviews for its automobile and driving freedoms — for not authorizing sobriety checkpoints and not mandating motorcyclists to wear helmets — as well as its prostitution policies.
This year’s index ranked New Hampshire, the “Live Free or Die” state, as No. 1, followed by: South Dakota, Indiana, Idaho, and Missouri.
The five states ranking lower than Rhode Island, in order, were: Massachusetts, Hawaii, California, New Jersey, and New York.
While I am at odds over this or that with them, I get the point. I honestly don’t believe that making you responsible for your own cigarette smoke, holding parents who homeschool responsible for their kids lack of talent and social skills, giving folks a decent minimum wage or making you 100% responsible and liable for your gun ownership as a negative against “freedom.” Protecting me from these folks works for me. I feel more free because we have rules protecting me against the above.
I agree with Steven for the most part. What I think conservatives really mean is “free” to be poor, disabled, or in any way miserable, so that they can be “free” of their responsibilities to contribute to a civilized society.