Live free . . . or move

There’s an interesting study that was just released by George Mason University.  It’s called Freedom in the 50 States.  It found that people in the United States are migrating from less free states to more free states.  Yeah.  Whether people are even conscious of why they’re doing it they’re moving to states with less government regulation, lower taxes and more freedom.

As it turns out, these are the states that offer the greatest opportunity, not only for finding a job but for increasing your quality of life.  This runs counter to what President Obama, himself, has been claiming.  He said, “They tell us if we just cut more regulations and more taxes – especially for the wealthy – our economy will grow stronger.  Here’s the problem.  It doesn’t work.”

Well, Mr. President, as it turns out, it does work.  One’s income growth potential is greater in states that lower taxes and regulation.  The trouble is, some of these transplants don’t even realize why they left the state they left.  These confused few seem to want to bring those same big government ideas with them.

I’ve watched Nashville, which has now been governed by three consecutive mayors from big government, high-tax states, transformed into the same model that has rotted many of the nation’s large cities from within.

As I’ve often said, there are really only three things that matter in a city: taxes, schools and crime.  Everything else is superfluous.  If that three-legged stool of low taxes, low crime and good schools isn’t solid then little else matters. 

The Office of Revenue Analysis of the Government in Washington released a study on taxes recently that showed a direct correlation between high taxes and high unemployment.  The cities with higher tax burdens tended to be the cities struggling with stubbornly high unemployment.

Trouble is President Obama and the Democrats in Washington want the entire country to look like that.  They truly believe that taxing – especially burdensomely taxing the rich – is the way to prosperity for the country.  They could not be more wrong.

And even though Mr. Obama won re-election, people are voting with their feet – and their moving vans.  People are shaking the oppressive big-government states for the more promising freer states.

And although Washington can’t seem to get the message those who operate the states certainly do.  Louisiana, Nebraska, Kansas and North Carolina are all considering eliminating their state income taxes in order to spur growth.  Even before this most recent study on free states and prosperity was published these states already had a handle on what needs to be done to grow an economy.  You cut taxes.

Now, granted, some of these states aren’t quite in the zone yet since their plans are currently revenue neutral but they’re heading in the right direction.

I grew up in North Carolina and one of the telling signs to me that the state had grown far too government-dependent was a recent radio ratings report that showed the number one station in Raleigh was public radio.  That’s emblematic of a whole host of problems.  First, too many people are getting their news from the liberal-leaning, state-run radio station.  It also indicated the dependence on the government in that state.

Name the top five reasons why you live where you live.  If more than a couple have anything to do with the government then you’re too dependent on the government.

Ever wonder why we spend so much time and money on dependency issues?  It’s because dependence on anything or anybody is not a good thing.  Being free means changing one’s mindset from dependence to independence.