Check out Idaho's ranking!!! (Boise: 2009, home, school)

[elousv]

Any wonder we want to move from kalifornia???

DC Republican Examiner: What is your state's Freedom Ranking?

[jufrbo]

Very cool, I had never heard of that website. I'm surprised Alaska and Montana aren't ranked higher. You're welcome to come to Idaho, just leave the big government in California.

[Trace_Rinaldi]

Im not suprised about Idaho, but I gotta question Colorado being ahead of it by 2 spots.. Heck you cant hardly ride a an ATV off pavement there now..
I dont think you can ride one on pavement either!ha.. Colorado has been hit by the California factor too, unfortunately it seems to be where the most liberal Californians seem to migrate.. Idaho is a bastion for the conservative/libertarian type Californians for the most part IMHO..

When you come from California, and you go to Idaho you can REALLY see the freedoms you have lost.. First time I saw a rifle rack in a truck, I just got a big grin on my face..

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

That kind of bites that we're all the way down to the #4 spot. We need to work on bringing that up. I need to read the whole article and see what the criteria was.

[boisefan88]

Originally Posted by Trace_Rinaldi

Im not suprised about Idaho, but I gotta question Colorado being ahead of it by 2 spots.. Heck you cant hardly ride a an ATV off pavement there now..
I dont think you can ride one on pavement either!ha.. Colorado has been hit by the California factor too, unfortunately it seems to be where the most liberal Californians seem to migrate.. Idaho is a bastion for the conservative/libertarian type Californians for the most part IMHO..

In regards to the above, it has more to do with population and usage than it does with any secret "liberal agenda." It has nothing to do with "freedom." Put simply, too many people use the trails and riding areas, tear them up in various ways, and it had to be policed.

It will happen to Idaho really quick, as more and more people use and abuse our BLM and USFS lands with off-highway vehicles.

A classic example is taking place in the Boise foothills. Too many people are using them, the impact is too much for the area, especially during certain times of the year. Regulation is going to happen.

It is what it is. Enjoy it while it lasts (responsibly).

[yyz1]

I'm afraid many of my fellow Californians aren't going to like this one bit! We're ranked WAY too high in this poll, especially for those in the bay area. If they catch wind of this, they'll be prompted to do something about the "right wing facism" that still pervades this state. Look out NY, we got your number!

What's up with Wyoming? I thought it would be higher than it is

[Jarndyce]

It looks like the wealthy states are situated near the bottom and the poorer states nearer the top....fwiw.

[sfrancis]

I see you live in Valencia. Im in Lancaster. We're moving to Idaho too, and counting the days. Only 2,555 more to go! LOL!

[3~Shepherds]

Originally Posted by Trace_Rinaldi

Im not suprised about Idaho, but I gotta question Colorado being ahead of it by 2 spots.. Heck you cant hardly ride a an ATV off pavement there now..
I dont think you can ride one on pavement either!ha.. Colorado has been hit by the California factor too, unfortunately it seems to be where the most liberal Californians seem to migrate.. Idaho is a bastion for the conservative/libertarian type Californians for the most part IMHO..

When you come from California, and you go to Idaho you can REALLY see the freedoms you have lost.. First time I saw a rifle rack in a truck, I just got a big grin on my face..

When we first moved here from Calif. the kids had racks in their trucks and guns loaded. Ready for hunting, right after school. Since the Columbine shooting they have all been removed. Now they all must go home and get their rifles and then take off.

I live in central Idaho, unfortunately, we are seeing the Fish and Game close more and more of our forest roads.

We have played on State Land for 15 years. It's just a 1/4 mile out of our backyard. My husband and a buddy where up just fooling around in there Jeeps, when they were approached by forest officials, with guns, that told them they were on private property, since when did State Land become private property.

[Sandpointian]

Jarndyce,
A VERY astute observation.

The question before us is: as we grow in size and affluence, will we be able to maintain our sense of liberty and freedom? I hope so. The trick is not to let government become complacent. I believe that government must be disproportionately restrained as we get bigger and wealthier. Why? Because the temptation will be to grow services beyond essential and towards an intrusive, social engineering.

I am reminded of tax discussions. As I wrote earlier, "...One thing that does raise an eyebrow is that tax-wise, the state is not terribly committed to a more liberty oriented philosophy but has show up as a low tax state on account of our lower structure of income. Perhaps it is time for Idaho to look toward New Hampshire and enshrine its freedoms on a more institutional basis so that it can remain a beacon for freedom-loving Americans."

Liberty is not the lack of progressive policy. Rather liberty is the active promotion and manifestation of freedom & responsibility.

We need an active freedom and an engaged freedom. Should we fail to commit or demonstrate our zeal in practical and pragmatic terms, we should expect no exemption from the same tempting fates that has befallen those in Washington and California. Besides, I would rather be over protective of freedom than to fall asleep on the job and abandon this state to death by self-inflicted socialism. This way, my kids get a taste of what I had as a kid--no self-imposed limitations on what life can offer.

S