What is the most Libertarian or Contitutionalist .........

[kkassam]

This February 2009 study from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University "Freedom in the 50 States: An Index of Personal and Economic Freedom" should be helpful in answering your question. You can read about methodology in the full report, but the authors basically analyzed data to rank the states on fiscal policy, regulatory policy and personal freedom/paternalism. These were the top 10 states in their integrated index:

1. New Hampshire
2. Colorado
3. South Dakota
4. Idaho
5. Texas
6. Missouri
7. Tennessee
8. Arizona
9. Virginia
10. North Dakota

This paper presents the first-ever comprehensive ranking of the American states on their public policies affecting individual freedoms in the economic, social, and personal spheres. We develop and justify our ratings and aggregation procedure on explicitly normative criteria, defining individual freedom as the ability to dispose of one’s own life, liberty, and justly acquired property however one sees fit, so long as one does not coercively infringe on another individual’s ability to do the same.

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.

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.

 

[Wiserphil]

what about Idaho? I have heard that is the place to go. The northern part I am told. A couple of good writers for the American free press live up there.

I guess what I was trying to say with the title of this thread was it would be nice to live around people who actually care and know about freedom. I am either surrounded by "traditional conservatives" who's heart is in the right place or "Bleeding heart Liberals" who are at least against the war (well they used to be).

New Hampshire sounds like a good thing, but I was hoping to settle out west someday. Thanks for all the reply's.

 

[Icymudpuppy]

Regarding cities... Why live in a city. Unincorporated countryside is the way to go.

 

[Wiserphil]

Regarding cities... Why live in a city. Unincorporated countryside is the way to go.

well I didn't mean big city, just a town nearby.

 

[coyote_sprit]

This February 2009 study from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University "Freedom in the 50 States: An Index of Personal and Economic Freedom" should be helpful in answering your question. You can read about methodology in the full report, but the authors basically analyzed data to rank the states on fiscal policy, regulatory policy and personal freedom/paternalism. These were the top 10 states in their integrated index:

1. New Hampshire
2. Colorado
3. South Dakota
4. Idaho
5. Texas
6. Missouri
7. Tennessee
8. Arizona
9. Virginia
10. North Dakota

Missouri is 6? I know we have pretty lenient cigarette and beer laws but didn't expect that.

Regarding cities... Why live in a city. Unincorporated countryside is the way to go.

Off topic: Who's Sid Meiers?

 

[RevolutionSD]

AZ has lots of big open spaces and is quite gun-friendly (we have open-carry laws). FWIW, We're going to be voting on nullifying Obamacare in the next election, I hear.

I personally prefer the northern climbs for the weather, but business and culture seems to gravitate towards Phoenix/metro. We're also home to some of the more active members of the movement like Ed Vallejo. (I look forward to meeting him one day:o)

Overall, I would call AZ "conservatarian" with a libertarian streak. JMHO.

But AZ is McCain country! AAAAAA!!!!

 

[james1906]

Missouri is 6? I know we have pretty lenient cigarette and beer laws but didn't expect that.

I went to MO last year. I was impressed with how cheap the cigarettes are. Not to mention that liquor is sold everywhere and your fireworks stores are the size of Walmarts. All you need is gambling everywhere and Nevada would turn into a ghost town.

 

[mport1]

New Hampshire and specifically Keene.

 

[LittleLightShining]

Wyoming, New Hampshire, Montana, Alaska, and Vermont only because of it's gun laws.

NH - re: visit during summer... would that be because of the waist to chest high snow banks during winter?

Also, from the topless open carry thread - at least one city isn't that "free" - OR or WA are more free on the topless part... not sure on the carry part.

VT isn't that free on carry or class IIII.

MT isn't that bad if you don't mind their 350:1 ratio of sheep:women... oh - and their bestiality laws are really, really strict

seems like I was going to comment on one other state - but I ferget...

-t

Vermont has the best gun laws in the country. You can carry a concealed weapon here and there are no permits. Tangent, what are you referring to?

 

[FSP-Rebel]

Why does everyone say New Hampshire if Ron Paul only got, I think 8% in the Republican primary there? He did much better in other states like Montana, Nevada, Alaska.

I'm glad you brought this up. On the surface, it would appear that what you're saying is in fact a blow against NH. But, let us rewind the clock back to the primary season shall we..

On one hand, NH is the 1st in the nation primary where each isle had 10 candidates in the race, thus diluting the support that some candidates could've had. The other states you mentioned were later in the primary season when other candidates had dropped out making it easier for RP to achieve higher totals and some of them are caucus states which are totally different from primary states. Leading into the NH primary, Fox News hosted a debate which Ron Paul wasn't even allowed into, the only debate he wasn't allowed in. And the night before the primary, our ole boy Tucker Carlson threw Ron on the bbq when he brought up the so-called racist writings in one of Ron's past newsletters. Add all that to the fact that Ron's official campaign was airing ridiculous commercials about not allowing for student visas if someone was from the Middle East. Whether outright ridiculous or completely ignorant about their tact, this was not an issue to highlight amongst NH voters. We have no immigration problem here nor are the conservatives anti-Arab. The main issues that should have been highlighted on TV were Ron's stance on gun rights, repealing the income tax and decreasing federal spending. We have virtually no restrictions on guns here nor do we have a state income tax.. Soooo, those might be the main issues that should've been focused on.

Plus, he should've had more campaign stops in NH as he had far less than McCain and Romney. It seems that the official campaign wasn't running to win it.

If there was another scenario like this going into 2012, we should be better postured to do a lot better if the campaign is more prepared. Right off the bat, there should be millions poured into NH via advertising and the ground troops will drill the message home from there. Plus, we've had lots of early movers since '07 and more to come before '11 (FSP). This is another added benefit for those that don't like their present state to move here and help gear up for the next primary.

 

[kahless]

Regarding cities... Why live in a city. Unincorporated countryside is the way to go.

With Obamacare coming it will put an unnecessary tax burden on those that wish to live freely in these areas. I still want to move to unincorporated countryside but feel Obama and the current Congress through the Obamacare tax burden may prevent me financially from doing so. I feel my working towards the American dream will no longer be realized due to Obama and the progressive Congress.

My only hope is there are enough pissed off people like me in this country that will demand their state governments not submit to it so we actually do have an option to move to Libertarian-Constitutionalist areas.

 

[JamesButabi]

Im with you kahless. Im a frequest visitor to NH and the freestater events. I think thats the best idea going now. No top down structure; people of all different ideals from small government to no government, all doing their own methods of activism promoting peaceful evolution.

 

[Anti Federalist]

I'm glad you brought this up. On the surface, it would appear that what you're saying is in fact a blow against NH. But, let us rewind the clock back to the primary season shall we..

On one hand, NH is the 1st in the nation primary where each isle had 10 candidates in the race, thus diluting the support that some candidates could've had. The other states you mentioned were later in the primary season when other candidates had dropped out making it easier for RP to achieve higher totals and some of them are caucus states which are totally different from primary states. Leading into the NH primary, Fox News hosted a debate which Ron Paul wasn't even allowed into, the only debate he wasn't allowed in. And then night before the primary, our ole boy Tucker Carlson threw Ron on the bbq when he brought up the so-called racist writings in one of Ron's past newsletters. Add all that to the fact that Ron's official campaign was airing ridiculous commercials about not allowing for student visas if someone was from the Middle East. Whether outright ridiculous or completely ignorant about their tact, this was not an issue to highlight amongst NH voters. We have no immigration problem here nor are the conservatives anti-Arab. The main issues that should have been highlighted on TV were Ron's stance on gun rights, repealing the income tax and increasing federal spending. We have virtually no restrictions on guns here nor do we have a state income tax.. Soooo, those might be the main issues that should've been focused on.

Plus, he should've had more campaign stops in NH as he had far less than McCain and Romney. It seems that the official campaign wasn't running to win it.

If there was another scenario like this going into 2012, we should be better postured to do a lot better if the campaign is more prepared. Right off the bat, there should be millions poured into NH via advertising and the ground troops will drill the message home from there. Plus, we've had lots of early movers since '07 and more to come before '11 (FSP). This is another added benefit for those that don't like their present state to move here and help gear up for the next primary.

That^^^

Even with all that working against him, NH was, what, his second or third best primary finish?

 

[literatim]

New Hampshire does not have the resources to support itself, thus lowering any chance the State will actually secede.

 

[kahless]

New Hampshire does not have the resources to support itself, thus lowering any chance the State will actually secede.

Support what? Perhaps you mean the old way of thinking where government is involved in areas which it does not belong. Maybe you mean there would need to be a transition to prevent any form of disruption to the way of life if they did secede.

 

[MR2Fast2Catch]

AZ has lots of big open spaces and is quite gun-friendly (we have open-carry laws). FWIW, We're going to be voting on nullifying Obamacare in the next election, I hear.

I personally prefer the northern climbs for the weather, but business and culture seems to gravitate towards Phoenix/metro. We're also home to some of the more active members of the movement like Ed Vallejo. (I look forward to meeting him one day:o)

Overall, I would call AZ "conservatarian" with a libertarian streak. JMHO.

You're an activist in AZ, with that many posts on the forums and you haven't met Ed Vallejo? I think he is on the boards under the screen name "AZ Libertarian"
I've only met him a couple times, briefly. He is a real trooper for the movement.

But AZ is McCain country! AAAAAA!!!!

Don't remind me! (Chris Simcox for Senate!) I think AZ used to be a libertarian state but it has transitioned into a Conservative one. Remember, Barry Goldwater was the Senator from AZ before McCain got elected.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

You're an activist in AZ, with that many posts on the forums and you haven't met Ed Vallejo? I think he is on the boards under the screen name "AZ Libertarian"
I've only met him a couple times, briefly. He is a real trooper for the movement.



Don't remind me! (Chris Simcox for Senate!) I think AZ used to be a libertarian state but it has transitioned into a Conservative one. Remember, Barry Goldwater was the Senator from AZ before McCain got elected.

I've exchanged emails with Ed and have his phone number, but haven't had the chance to meet him yet. Life is not cooperating with my desires to overthrow the tyrannical State!

 

[MR2Fast2Catch]

I've exchanged emails with Ed and have his phone number, but haven't had the chance to meet him yet. Life is not cooperating with my desires to overthrow the tyrannical State!

Are you involved in the Republican or Libertarian Party at all? I'm always curious what the board members in AZ are up to cause a lot of times it's difficult to connect usernames to actual activists. I'm a Republican PC in LD18, currently.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Are you involved in the Republican or Libertarian Party at all? I'm always curious what the board members in AZ are up to cause a lot of times it's difficult to connect usernames to actual activists. I'm a Republican PC in LD18, currently.

between health and job issues, I'm not able to be active as I would like. However, if there's anything I can do from home (I'm a graphic artist, musician, and composer) my skills are ready when needed (see the link in my sig)

 

[Keith and stuff]

Why does everyone say New Hampshire if Ron Paul only got, I think 8% in the Republican primary there? He did much better in other states like Montana, Nevada, Alaska.

Ron Paul did amazing in NH. I think he get 2nd out of the 1/2 of of primary votes. Keep in mind he tended to do better in the caucus votes and that NH is by far the most competitive state. He did win a town in NH and everything. Actually, at least one article was written which explained how great Ron Paul did in NH, especially when compared to almost every other state. If anything, how well Ron Paul did in NH helped the status of the Free State Project and NH among Ron Paul types. It is really strange to see people confuse or twist the facts and come up with the opposite conclusion.

However, saying that, it doesn't really matter how many votes Ron Paul got in any state. RP certainly didn't win the GOP primary in any state. He didn't win the caucus, either. In fact, he didn't even come close to winning either. Even if he would have won that, it still wouldn't have represented the voters of a state, just the voters that participated in a particular GOP Primary.

If you look at the actual laws, you will see that some states are much freer that some other states. For example, it is very easy to tell that there is some degree of freedom left in NH and SD. On the other hand, it is easy to tell that places like CA, NY and NJ tend to be statist hell holes. Out of all of those states, Ron Paul did best in NH. However, he did even better in PA which is a joke as far as freedom is concerned.

When I look at how free a place is, I look at the laws and the people. NH has just about the best laws and certainly is head and shoulders above any other state when it comes to per captia freedom activists in raw numbers and quality.