Libertarians name North Dakota “most free” state

[DonViejo]

Sorry, women! Your "freedoms" aren't as important as freedom from excessive taxation

The Mercatus Institute, a libertarian-oriented — and Koch brothers-affiliated — think tank based out of George Mason University (a public university, for whatever that’s worth), regularly releases its ranking of American states in terms of “Freedom.” Their definition of “freedom” largely adheres to the standard American libertarian conception of “liberty,” which is to say it is oriented almost entirely around private property ownership and low taxation. As a result, America’s freest state this year turns out to be North Dakota.

North Dakota has also been in the news for another reason recently. What was it, again? Oh, right, it passed the most restrictive antiabortion laws in the country. Including a law specifically aimed at shutting down the state’s lone abortion provider. It passed this law knowing it was unconstitutional.

The data Mercatus used, as far as I can tell, are largely from 2011. But these laws wouldn’t do a thing to change’s North Dakota’s ranking, because Mercatus doesn’t take reproductive rights into account at all. In fact, no issues specifically related to women’s rights are taken into account. Same-sex marriage is included, but not housing employment anti-discrimination rules. They do weigh “‘smoker protection’ in employment,” though. (I think they are in favor of laws barring companies from firing smokers. Isn’t that the government interfering with the employer’s Freedoms?) There is also a list ranking the states in terms of friendliness to Bachelor Parties.

-snip-

http://www.salon.com/2013/03/28/libertarians_name_north_dakota_most_free_state/

[sendero]

1. I would love to live in a state so free...

... that it was perfectly legal to bust the head of libertarians open, as being good for the general welfare. Let me know when such a state pops up.

Of course if said libertarian had enough money to summon a private ambulance and enough cash to pay a hospital their ridiculous non-contract fees, they could get their busted head patched up.

Seems like a perfect world to me.

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. Unless you're a woman.

[dsc]

3. or gay or transgendered

[octoberlib]

4. I thought I read somewhere that they don't even have seatbelt laws.

Don't know if it's true.

[Ron Green]

5. They have a State Bank.

Which seems to be a pretty good idea.

[olddots]

6. This will bring in all the "best" tourists

[Johonny]

7. So a group of people living in Virginia telling you how great it is to be living in North Dakota

I mean it's the most free state but the think tank thinks it is better to live elsewhere hmm...