This Map Shows How Many Libertarians Are in Each State

[rg17]

Intersting article about which states have the most libertarians. Montana has the most and Mississpi have the least. Wyoming and Hawaii have not enough data.

http://reason.com/blog/2015/06/26/this-map-shows-how-many-libertarians-are

 

[Sola_Fide]

It surprises me that Indiana is in the "most" column.

 

[r3volution 3.0]

Very interesting, thanks for posting.

It surprises me that Indiana is in the "most" column.

Ditto, and that must be a lot of people gross, since that's a pretty large state population-wise.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

Gonna have to call Bologna sausage on this notion that VA more libertarian than NC. Clearly the people who made this map have never driven there.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

And California more libertarian than 3/4 of the country? Lol no.

 

[Aratus]

Massachusetts gave birth to a new political party in 1970 when college educated Libertarians banded together and abandoned politics as usual.
Half our registered voters are Democrats and the rest are split between the GOP and the independents and/or the third parties. For the GOP to
win here, the contender needs to garner the support of the independents and some of the more socially conservative Democrats. This is my state.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

And California more libertarian than 3/4 of the country? Lol no.

Yup...the methodology strikes me as shaky at best.

To see which states have the most libertarians, I use six measures: Libertarian Party presidential vote share in 2008 and 2012, Ron Paul contributions as a share of personal income in 2007-8, Ron Paul and Gary Johnson contributions as a share of income in 2011-12, and “adjusted” Ron Paul primary vote share in 2008 and 2012. Ron Paul vote shares are adjusted for primary vs. caucus, calendar, number of other candidates, and the like.

 

[timosman]

I call BS because of high position of NH.

 

[Carlybee]

Washington? Oregon? Nyet

 

[TheGrinch]

Yup...the methodology strikes me as shaky at best.

So its mostly based on voter turnout (to vote for politicians) and the amount of cash (for politicians) coming from libertarians?

Yeah, no possible way that data could be skewed.

 

[Ronin Truth]

Voting libertarian, oxymoron.

 

[The Northbreather]

They need to shade the top of Cali a little bit darker...

 

[GunnyFreedom]

and Kentucky, home of Rand Paul and Thomas Massie, #41 out of 50? Between New York and Massachusetts?

l m a o

Just another "Reason" fail. Like the thousands of "Reason" failures before it.

 

[Sola_Fide]

and Kentucky, home of Rand Paul and Thomas Massie, #41 out of 50? Between New York and Massachusetts?

l m a o

Just another "Reason" fail. Like the thousands of "Reason" failures before it.

Reason's "libertarians" are usually not what would be described as libertarians.

 

[willwash]

And California more libertarian than 3/4 of the country? Lol no.

I think it's just number of libertarians, not percentage of libertarians. California could still have one of the highest numbers but still a very low percentage since it is the most populous state.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Kentucky has the most "libertarian" Senator in the nation, yet they are ranked lowest. Hmmm.

 

[dannno]

I would say NC and Kentucky probably have more Republicans willing to support libertarian leaning candidates - the study is regarding how many people associate themselves with the group or at least have a strong connection with the philosophy (by supporting Ron Paul).

If you have say 8% libertarians in a state like Washington or Oregon and the political establishment is largely leftist with a lot of big government Republicans owning the party, they aren't going to get much done with the laws unless they help support cannabis legalization or some such.

On the other hand, if you have a more conservative state and a lower percentage of libertarians, you can still have a more libertarian local government - in part because local governments don't start wars.

I would consider Washington and Oregon and even California more libertarian than NC and Kentucky on many issues - including cannabis and being against wars at the Federal level. Of course they are not very libertarian when it comes to spending by local governments.

 

[William Tell]

Kentucky has the most "libertarian" Senator in the nation, yet they are ranked lowest. Hmmm.

Maybe because their GOP is libertarian enough that they get to vote Republican in some general elections.

 

[William Tell]

Voting libertarian, oxymoron.

libertarian who doesn't bother to fight for liberty, oxymoron.

 

[The Free Hornet]

libertarian who doesn't bother to fight for liberty, oxymoron.

And, of course, voting isn't inherently an expression of force or direction of a force-based entity. Voting is how a company with multiple owners operates, fundamentally (or at least the board level).

Voting at root is an expression of opinion. I wonder about a few of the people who are too stubborn to learn the basics. Perhaps they are either lacking or here to serve alternative purposes.

As to comments regarding methodology of the poll, I'd love to see some better proposals. I'm sure they exist (possibly gun ownership but you have to be registered or I have to trust a poll ...). Given that it uses quantifiable and verifiable information (mostly), I'd say it's alright.