U.S. drops to 18th in economic freedom rankings

[padcrasher]

It's a lame ranking put together by a Conservative US think tank

Critics such as Jeffrey Sachs have contested the Index's assumption that economic openness necessarily leads to better growth. In his book The End of Poverty, Sachs graphed countries' ratings on the index against GDP per capita growth between 1995 and 2003, claiming to demonstrate no correlation between a country's rating and its rate of economic growth. Sachs pointed out, as examples, that countries with good ratings such as Switzerland and Uruguay had sluggish economic performances, others, like China, with poorer rating had very strong economic growth.

an economic freedom index merely measures corporate and entrepreneurial freedom from accountability. Upon examination, the index turns out to be a poor barometer of either freedom more broadly construed or of prosperity." According to Left Business Observer, the Index has only a 33% statistical correlation with a standard measure of economic growth, GDP per capita.

Right wingers want lower to the burden on rich to pay their share of the Federal budget so they come up with this bogus index to try to convince US voters it is in their interest to give corporations more power and cut middle class benefits.

[TriMT7]

Yeah, because Qatar and Bahrain are models for the world. Now if only EVERY country was sitting on a heap of oil that far exceeded their domestic demand....

[nzrugby]

Originally Posted by cw30000

Unfortunately, those 17 places don't want American. Try to open an bank account aboard and show your US passport. They will say "Thank you, but sorry we cannot do business with you".

Australia, normal Democrats would be welcome, those who cling to their firearms and bibles would have neither the education nor culture to fit into Aussie life.
And no Americans have no right to settle in Australia unless they have skills we want and Need.