Freedom Rankings of the 50 States

[60Shock]

Very interesting, plus a few surprises here. Interactive maps.

http://thecrux.com/interactive-freedom-map/

[shox1989]

Very interesting, plus a few surprises here. Interactive maps.

http://thecrux.com/interactive-freedom-map/

According to these rankings, Kansas has gotten a lot less free in the last 4 years dropping from 14th place to 26th place.

Oklahoma is in the top 5 and Missouri ranks #7. With Colorado and Nebraska coming in at #19 and #22, Kansas now has a worst freedom index of any state that borders Kansas.

[SB Shock]

According to these rankings, Kansas has gotten a lot less free in the last 4 years dropping from 14th place to 26th place.

Oklahoma is in the top 5 and Missouri ranks #7. With Colorado and Nebraska coming in at #19 and #22, Kansas now has a worst freedom index of any state that borders Kansas.

Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas overall ranking have got worse (Colorado has went from 4 to 19, Nebraska 15 to 22 and KS 7 to 26). The declines are predominantly due to fiscal policy (It also looks like they overall ratings are weighted toward fiscal policy). Kansas Fiscal policy is ranked 37. It says to much spending on highways and education and to much local and state tax burden. Though it admits it did not account for the Brownback tax cuts because they come after the closing of the study. But with the Kansas supreme court - don't look for any cuts to education.

Kansas does have favorable ratings in Personal and Regulatory freedom though things like passing the smoking ban,gambling policies, and not passing a gay marriage law have hurt the state, but 2nd amendment rights legislation has offset that. Kansas is ranked 13 in Personal and 10 in Regulatory freedom.

Fiscal
Oklahoma 3 (-9)
Missouri 9 (+0)
Colorado 21 (+14)
Nebraska 34 (+5)
Kansas 37 (+11)

Regulatory
Nebraska 5 (+1)
Kansas 10 (+8)
Oklahoma 17 (-17)
Colorado 22 (+3)
Missouri 26 (+8)

Personal
Colorado 6 (-9)
Missouri 8 (-15)
Kansas 13 (+7)
Nebraska 22 (-5)
Oklahoma 28 (-15)

Kansas is in the Top 5 of:
Property Rights
Finding a Job
Home Schooling
Right to Work

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

A little OT, but repor from Louisiana states that the state gives out $3 in aid for every dollar that comes in via taxes.

Im not an accountant, but that seems bad. Will link article when I get to a computer.

[shox1989]

These rankings may not reflect all of Kansas's cuts to education in the last 5 years either. According to the Kansas Center for Economic Growth, Kansas has cut education spending by $745 per pupil since 2008 (8th biggest education cuts in the nation). But many of those cuts might have happened after 2011. http://realprosperityks.com/policy/k...ducation-hole/

[SB Shock]

These rankings may not reflect all of Kansas's cuts to education in the last 5 years either. According to the Kansas Center for Economic Growth, Kansas has cut education spending by $745 per pupil since 2008 (8th biggest education cuts in the nation). But many of those cuts might have happened after 2011. http://realprosperityks.com/policy/k...ducation-hole/

Odd, I looked up actual Kansas spending on Education and found that it has been increasing every year except for 2 (the recession of 09/10 years) and since has increased again for the last 4 years.

Since '98 spending has almost doubled (+93%) and has been growing on average of +4.2% per year.

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[60Shock]

One would think when we see that states are spending more on education than previously that it is a good thing. But since transportation is one of the major budge expenditures, this could simply all be just for maintenance of vehicles and increased fue cost, and has nothing to do with improving the quality of education for our children.

[Dave Stalwart]

http://m.kansas.com/?cu=spreed%3A%2F2035591%2F31946556

Who is this "Bill" character and why is he so mean

[wu_shizzle]

One would think when we see that states are spending more on education than previously that it is a good thing. But since transportation is one of the major budge expenditures, this could simply all be just for maintenance of vehicles and increased fue cost, and has nothing to do with improving the quality of education for our children.

When you look at the percentage of spending growth that goes to administration, I would be surprised if very little of what's being asked for budget-wise will improve the quality of education.

The United States is the poster child for high-cost, low-return education value.