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Old 11-13-2011, 06:51 PM
 
Location: In Denial
688 posts, read 1,247,100 times
Reputation: 557

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Well, well. From the frying pan into the fire.

According to the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Maryland ranks a terrible 43 out of 50 in overall freedom, 28/50 in economic freedom and 50/50 in personal freedom.

Maryland | Mercatus
  • #43 Overall
  • #28 Economic
  • #50 Personal
Larger numbers indicate a less-free state, smaller numbers a more free state.

Analysis:

Maryland’s impositions on personal freedom include the second-strictest gun laws in the country,

fairly harsh marijuana laws (except that the first offense of high-level possession is a misdemeanor, and there is a weak medical-marijuana law),

extensive auto and road regulations, tight gambling laws, a law allowing police to take DNA from certain felony arrestees,
burdensome homeschooling laws (curricula must be approved by the government), high drug-arrest rates, and lack of same-sex partnerships.

On the regulatory side,
centralized land-use planning is very advanced,
labor regulation is severe,
health insurance coverage mandates add a whopping 50.9 percent to the cost of policies,

occupational licensing is much more pervasive than average,
and eminent domain abuse is almost totally unchecked.

Total smoking bans were enacted recently, and cigarette taxes have been hiked dramatically.

However, taxes on beer, wine, and spirits are fairly low, and overall Maryland has one of the least restrictive alcohol control systems in the country.

Policy Recommendations
  1. Legalize same-sex civil unions.
  2. Strengthen the medical-marijuana law and decriminalize low-level possession.
  3. Roll back occupational licensing. Examples of licensed professions not always licensed elsewhere include audiologists, occupational-therapist assistants, private investigators, bartenders, tree trimmers, embalmers, well-drilling journeymen, fire-alarm and security-system installers, and boiler operators.

Last edited by marska; 11-13-2011 at 06:52 PM.. Reason: spelling
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Old 11-13-2011, 07:58 PM
 
Location: Sneads Ferry, NC
13,371 posts, read 27,034,756 times
Reputation: 6980
Quote:
Originally Posted by marska View Post
It's an interesting link, but not all would agree with their analysis. The most free states are New Hampshire and South Dakota.
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Old 11-14-2011, 04:36 AM
 
2,991 posts, read 4,288,616 times
Reputation: 4270
^^ Nor with their policy recommendations.
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Old 11-14-2011, 01:41 PM
 
Location: Central Maryland
72 posts, read 150,968 times
Reputation: 85
Allowing same sex marriage only boosts the 'personal' freedoms of a comparative few. Everybody wouldn't benefit from that. That's special interest group garbage.

It figures that would lower the personal freedoms average. Sounds a little like an agenda driven viewpoint.
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Old 11-14-2011, 03:22 PM
 
Location: Fort Worth, TX
9,394 posts, read 15,690,230 times
Reputation: 6262
The net gain in freedom or whatever would still be positive though, unless you consider "freedom from gays marrying" to be a legitimate freedom lol.
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Old 11-14-2011, 07:14 PM
 
Location: Central Maryland
72 posts, read 150,968 times
Reputation: 85
Quote:
Originally Posted by HurricaneDC View Post
The net gain in freedom or whatever would still be positive though, unless you consider "freedom from gays marrying" to be a legitimate freedom lol.
There are many issues that count for far more, that's the point. Freedom from social engineering and people being told what they should/be forced to accept is a small start.
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Old 11-14-2011, 07:24 PM
 
Location: Macao
16,258 posts, read 43,185,236 times
Reputation: 10258
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Wanderlust View Post
Allowing same sex marriage only boosts the 'personal' freedoms of a comparative few. Everybody wouldn't benefit from that. That's special interest group garbage.

It figures that would lower the personal freedoms average. Sounds a little like an agenda driven viewpoint.
Same with smoking pot, or the ability to drill wells, or install fire alarms without a license.
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Old 11-14-2011, 08:02 PM
 
Location: Central Maryland
72 posts, read 150,968 times
Reputation: 85
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiger Beer View Post
Same with smoking pot, or the ability to drill wells, or install fire alarms without a license.
Oh well, I guess I'm not as enlightened and open minded as some, for shame.

BTW, it's a truly funny coincidence that gay marriage belongs on the list with fire alarms and well drillers, if you think about it a minute.
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Old 11-14-2011, 09:10 PM
 
Location: Montgomery County, MD
3,236 posts, read 3,937,731 times
Reputation: 3010
That study doesn't really make sense, should probably be a Bible belt state like Mississippi or Alabama where the lawmakers pretty much try to turn their states into little Christian versions of Iran. Definitely a biased right wing study, you can tell that since it comes out of George Mason University.
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Old 11-14-2011, 09:37 PM
 
Location: Central Maryland
72 posts, read 150,968 times
Reputation: 85
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhenomenalAJ View Post
That study doesn't really make sense, should probably be a Bible belt state like Mississippi or Alabama where the lawmakers pretty much try to turn their states into little Christian versions of Iran. Definitely a biased right wing study, you can tell that since it comes out of George Mason University.
You should really make a point to read or reread the policy recommendations. Not 'right wing' bias at all.
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