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| Subject: Gov. Little says Idaho is the land of the free. Then why are so many Idahoans caged? Sat Dec 04, 2021 5:06 am | |
| Gov. Brad Little recently touted Idaho’s ranking in the Freedom in the 50 States report.
“There is a reason this sought-after report says Idaho is one of the most economically and socially conservative states in the country. Idaho prides itself on minimizing the role of government in the lives of citizens and in the operation of businesses,” Little said in a news release.
It’s worth digging into this report. What Little says is partly true, but the report also gives Idahoans reason to despair at their governance.
The CATO Institute, which prepared the report, is a libertarian think tank founded and funded by the billionaire Koch brothers. The institute’s work is consistent with that ideology. You can’t count on it for a good evaluation of the quality of the state’s education system, for example, since it will in all cases view less spending on education, and more privatization of education, as better, regardless of student outcomes.
The report can nonetheless provide some insights into certain aspects of government policy, taken for what it is. And there was one important insight to be gleaned from the report Little touted: Your taxes are low. Your state doesn’t have much debt. But you would enjoy more personal freedom living in nearly any other state, since Idaho ranks at 42 of 50.
.https://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article256293337.html
_________________ Anarcho-Capitalist, AnCaps Forum, Ancapolis, OZschwitz Contraband “The state calls its own violence law, but that of the individual, crime.”-- Max Stirner "Remember: Evil exists because good men don't kill the government officials committing it." -- Kurt Hofmann |
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