Do You Live in One of the 10 Freest States in the United States or One of the Least … North Dakota Named the Most Free

“Where Liberty Dwells, there is My Country” – Benjamin Franklin

The Blaze announces the 10 freest states and the 10 least … which one doe you live in? In order to calculate these scores, they weight public policies according to the estimated costs that government restrictions on freedom impose on their victims. The fill report can be read here, at “Freedom in the 50 States”.   Many of the most free states are so because of low taxation and fiscal policy. North Dakota was named the most free, New York state comes in dead last.

1. North Dakota: VIDEO
2. South Dakota – VIDEO
3. Tennessee – VIDEO
4. New Hampshire – VIDEO
5. Oklahoma
6. Idaho
7. Missouri
8. Virginia
9. Georgia
10. Utah

North Dakota is the freest state in the U.S., followed closely by South Dakota, Tennessee, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma, according to the Mercatus Center at George Mason University’s third annual “Freedom in the 50 States.”

The 223-page report “scores all 50 states on their overall respect for individual freedom, and also on their respect for three dimensions of freedom considered separately: fiscal policy, regulatory policy, and personal freedom,” the study explains. Surprisingly, Texas did not make the top 10 and was ranked the 14th most free state.

The bottom 10 are 41. Mississippi, 42. West Virginia, 43. Vermont, 44. Maryland, 45. Illinois, 46. Rhode Island, 47. Hawaii,  48. New Jersey, 49. California and 50. New York.

Mississippi Passes ‘Anti-Bloomberg Bill,’ Banning Limits on Portion Sizes & Posting of Calorie Counts Requirements … Well, I hope [Mayor Bloomberg] will remember, A Southern man don’t need him around anyhow … “

MISSISSIPPI BURNING BLOOMBERG’S PORTION SIZES AND CALORIE COUNTS …

Mississippi lawmakers have overwhelmingly passed a bill  called the  ”anti-Bloomberg bill.” The bill does just the opposite from what the liberal mayor of NYC has inflicted upon the Big Apple. The “anti-Bloomberg bill” would ban communities from requiring restaurants to post calorie counts on menus or limit portion sizes. It is not up to the government to tell an individual what to eat or drink or to prevent one from doing to. Is it smart to eat healthy and use some common sense on what one eats, yes. However, it is about personal choice and personal responsibility.

Lawmakers in Mississippi — the most obese state in the nation — have overwhelmingly approved what they’re calling the “anti-Bloomberg bill.”

It would ban communities from requiring restaurants to post calorie counts on menus or limit portion sizes, as Mayor Bloomberg tried to do with his proposed ban on large sodas.  Also forbidden: any local rule banning toys from being distributed with kids’ meals.

The governor is expected to sign it.

When asked about the law, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg was highly critical of the bill and called it a farce. Guess what Mayor Bloomberg, no one cares what you think in Mississippi. It may not quite be Lynyrd Skynyrd’s  ’Sweet Home Alabama,’ but Mississippi is singing, “Well, I hope [Mayor Bloomberg] will remember, A Southern man don’t need him around anyhow … “

Mr. Bloomberg was highly critical of the legislation when he was asked about the bill this morning in an interview on CBS.

“You know, Saturday Night Live couldn’t write this stuff,” Mr. Bloomberg exclaimed. “How can somebody try and pass a law that deliberately says we can’t improve the lives of our citizens? It’s just farce. Nobody would believe it if you wrote it in the book.”

Mr. Bloomberg proceeded to tout his efforts to improve public health.

How do we say this politely? Mayor Bloomberg, it’s none of your F’n business what people are eating. Especially in Mississippi. It is not your place to tell some one what they can and cannot eat. Worry about your 80% illiteracy reading rate for high school graduates in NCY. THAT IS YOUR JOB! Personal responsibility and personal choice is not.

LIBERAL LOGIC: IT’S CONSIDERED PERSONAL CHOICE TO HAVE AN ABORTION BUT NOT TO SUPERSIZE SIZE A MEAL.

President Barack Obama Says He Won’t Balance Budget ‘Just for the Sake of Balance’ … In Other Words, He Will Never Balance It!

File the following under something we did not know … Barack Obama has no intention of ever balancing the budget.

In an exclusive interview with ABC News, President Barack Obama rejected calls to balance the federal budget, as set forth by Rep. Paul Ryan (WI-R) in his recently released budget, in the next ten years and instead argued that his primary economic concern was not balancing the budget, but rather growing the economy. HUH? Growing the economy, how does this socialist, anti-capitalist, over-regulating president plan on doing this? What a shock, Barack Obama has returned back to his fear mongering and smear tactics after Paul Ryan released a responsible way to provide growth and reduce the budget. Let’s face it, Obama has no idea what he is doing with the economy and does not plan to reduce the deficit, because he is the one who has mainly helped in creating this $16 trillion and counting debt. The only growth that Obama knows is the record number of Americans on food stamps.

 Obama, I plan on balancing the budget this much.

My goal is not to chase a balanced budget just for the sake of balance. My goal is how do we grow the economy, put people back to work, and if we do that we are going to be bringing in more revenue,” he said. Obama rejected a proposal put forth by Rep. Paul Ryan today that would balance the budget in ten years, saying the Republican House member’s plan “slashes deeply” at programs like Medicaid.

Instead, Obama went back to his more comfortable demonization and “Divider” in Chief, community agitator mode and told George Stephanopoulos that Ryan and Republicans are attempting to balance the budget on the backs of the poor, the elderly, students. So much for the “offensive charm”, welcome back the blame and division of America. So I guess Obama is trying to destroy America on the fronts of the poor, elderly and students? Just wondering, what ever happened to shared sacrifice and everyone is supposed to have skin in the game, including the poor, elderly and students?

We’re not gonna balance the budget in ten years because if you look at what Paul Ryan does to balance the budget, it means that you have to voucher-ize Medicare, you have to slash deeply into programs like Medicaid, you’ve essentially got to — either tax — middle class families a lot higher than you currently are, or you can’t lower rates the way he’s promised,” the president told me. “So it’s really, you know, it’s a reprise of the same legislation that he’s put before.” “If we controlled spending and we have a smart entitlement package, then potentially what you have is balance — but it is not balance to, on the backs of the poor, the elderly, students who need student loans, families that have disabled kids. That is not the right way to balance,” he said.

 As we are reminded by the WAPO, Obama plans to release his own budget plan in April, two months after the president is required to announce his budget priorities to Congress. Far be it from Obama to actually perform the required duties of his office. Yet another case of leading from behind as Obama will first see the Ryan and Senate Democrat plan before he puts together his own. Like he would know how to create a budget in the first place. With this deficit $trillion spending president, it is akin to an alcoholic penning his own “what I will not drink today” plan.

State Supreme Court Judge Stops Mayor Bloomberg’s Ridiculous Ban on Sale of large Sodas in only Certain Restaurants and Venues … Determined “arbitrary and capricious”

If you thought you would be no longer allowed to buy a ‘Big Gulp’ in New York City as on Monday night, you would be wrong … NY state Supreme Court Judge Cans Imperial Mayor Nanny Bloomberg’s large soda ban.

New York state Supreme Court Judge Milton Tingling has put a dent into NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s overarching agenda. Yesterday Judge Milton quashed Bloomberg’s plan to ban the sale of large sodas in the city’s restaurants and other venues. Bloomberg  ban would have prohibited restaurants, mobile food carts, delis and concessions at movie theaters, stadiums or arenas from selling sugary drinks in cups or containers larger than 16 ounces. However, other outlets would be allowed to sell the same size drinks. As reported at NewsBusters, the “State judge halts New York City’s ban on large sugary drinks, calling the ban ‘arbitrary and capricious’”   Judge Tingling also determined that Bloomberg exceeded his authority by sidestepping the City Council and placing the issue before the city’s Board of Health. The ridiculousness of this soda ban is that it would just force individuals to buy two sodas, instead of one. But of course Mayor Bloomberg Mc Cheese knows better.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was dealt a stinging blow on Monday when a state Supreme Court Judge quashed his plan to ban the sale of large sugary drinks in the city’s restaurants and other venues.

At a late afternoon news conference, Mr. Bloomberg and the city’s top lawyer, Michael Cardozo, said they believed the judge erred in his ruling and vowed to appeal. The decision was both lauded and criticized by city officials and others.

“It would be irresponsible not to try to do everything we can to save lives,” said Mr. Bloomberg, who earlier in the day called for jurisdictions across the nation to follow suit. 

From Reuters: At a press conference, Bloomberg said the judge’s ruling was “totally in error” and promised to keep pressing his effort to combat a growing obesity epidemic linked to heart disease and diabetes. So is Bloomberg going to go after everything else that is linked to obesity, heart disease and diabetes? If that is the case, the super market shelves and restaurant menus are going to be pretty baron. More so, the PJ Tatler nail it by saying that beyond the legal issue, it is a common sense one. The ban contained the double whammy of being unhelpful in keeping people from becoming obese and ruinous to the city’s retail business community.

From CNN, Bloomberg vowed to appeal the decision, countering that the city’s health department has the legal authority to use the ban to fight an obesity epidemic. Maybe Bloomberg would like to tackle the blemishes in NYC that he is actually responsible for, like the education of school children where 80% of high school grads can’t read. Then again, this bizarro Mayor actually thinks that individuals who own private jets are responsible for the filling up of NYC’s homeless shelters.

Paul Ryan: GOP Budget Blueprint Includes Repeal of Obamacare (Obamatax Job Killing, Budget Increasing) Disaster

This weekend on FOX News Sunday, Rep. Paul Ryan (WI-R) stated that the budget blueprint he plans to unveil on Tuesday will promote repealing Obamacare.  Let’s hope that both Ryan and the GOP are sincere and have a spin and the conviction to go through with this. As we continue to learn every day, Obamacare will bankrupt the United States and destroy jobs. We need healthcare reform in the US, Obamacare is not it. Obamacare is not providing any of its promises, in fact it is doing just the opposite.

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, said Sunday that his new budget includes the repeal of President Obama’s health-care reform law known as ObamaCare.

Ryan told “Fox News Sunday” that the new proposal will make enough cuts to balance the federal budget in 10 years, compared to his previous one that tried to achieve that goal in 25 years.

“We think we owe the American people a balanced budget,” the Republican congressman said.

Ryan said the focus of the ObamaCare repeal would be to stop the expansion of Medicaid, the federal program that provides medical services to low-income U.S. families.

“Our budget does promote repealing ObamaCare and replacing it with a better system,” said Ryan, who did not say whether his 2014 budget is based on a full repeal.

Florida Bill Introduced by Democrat State Sen. Audrey Gibson would Require Anger Management Classes for Individuals Who Buy Bullets

The liberal Democrat insanity continues …

State Sen. Audrey Gibson (D-Jacksonville) has introduced a bill in Florida that would require all individuals who buy bullets to first take anger management classes. You read that correct, she is serious. This is not a SNL skit or a story from The Onion. This fool wants to require law abiding citizens to first take certified anger management courses before they can buy ammunition. The Democrat State senator stated that this is not about guns. Why of course it isn’t … NOT!!! It’s just about the ammunition that makes the gun lethal, otherwise you are holding a broom in your hands or I guess you could throw your hand gun at your attacker. Everyone predicted that Democrats would do an end run around the Second Amendment and go after the bullets claiming you have a Right to Bear Arms, not a right to bullets. I dare Democrats to challenge this obvious backdoor attack on the US Constitution in the Supreme Court.

Sen. Audrey Gibson went on to ramble in defense of this ignorant bill that its about safety and we all see road rage on the highways these days. HUH?It is simply criminal that these moon bat Democrats automatically presume that some one has “anger management” issues who would buy bullets. She mentioned road rage so why isn’t she claiming that all people before they get a drivers license pass anger management classes as well? I would like to introduce a bill of my own … any one who introduces such a bill like Audrey Gibson is required to be put in a straight jacket with ties in the back.

A Florida legislator wants anyone trying to buy ammunition to complete an anger management program first, in what critics say is the latest example of local lawmakers reaching for constitutionally-dubious solutions to the problem of gun violence. The bill filed Saturday by state Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, would require a three-day waiting period for the sale of any firearm and the sale of ammunition to anyone who has not completed anger management courses. The proposal would require ammo buyers to take the anger management courses every 10 years. “This is not about guns,” Gibson said. “This is about ammunition and not only for the safety of the general community, but also for the safety of law enforcement.”

The anti-Second Amendment bill would do the following if passed:

Gibson’s bill does not offer a threshold for the amount of ammunition needed to necessitate the need for anger management courses. “It is unlawful to: A) Sell ammunition to another person who does not present certification that he or she has successfully completed an anger-management program consisting of at least 2 hours of online or face-to-face instruction in anger-management techniques,” the bill reads. “The certification must be renewed every 10 years. B) Purchase or otherwise obtain ammunition by fraud, false pretense, or false representation.” Those in violation of the bill, if passed, would face a second-degree misdemeanor charge. Anyone found in violation a second time within a year of a prior conviction would face a first-degree misdemeanor charge.

President Barack Obama, “I am not a Dictator … ” Hmm, Could Have Fooled Me

President Barack Hussein Obama stated, “I am not a dictator. I am the president.” Really? It’s been my experience in life when ever some one has to tell you who they are not, they usually are.

Isn’t it dictators who disregard the will of the people and cram their agenda down the throats of those they rule, such like Obamacare? Isn’t it dictators like Nicolae Ceausescu, Saddam Hussein, and Fidel Castro who also released criminal prisoners? Isn’t it dictators who play class warfare and keep its citizens at each others throats so that they can rule by fiat? Isn’t it a dictator who threatens the media to keep them in line so that they will operate as their propaganda tool? Isn’t it a dictator who wants to keep the people dependent upon the government and food stamps, and cause individuals to struggle as median incomes fall? Isn’t it a dictator who makes false promises to their people to keep them in line when they knew all along it was a lie? Isn’t it a dictator who would consistently show contempt for the US Constitution whose sole purpose was to define federal authority and the rights of the People?

Isn’t it a dictator who would watch millions of Americans struggle, lose their jobs, homes and businesses while they go on vacations, weekly gold outings and live the life of Riley?  All the while they say they care, but do nothing but keep the citizenry at conflict with one another. Isn’t it a dictator who would over-regulate business in order to control and suppress the economy? Isn’t it a dictator who blames everyone one else for the ills of society, when they are the one who is in control? Isn’t it a dictator who would want to control an individuals entire life from birth to death? All in all, I would say you are a dictator.

Sorry, I know tyranny when I see it.

 ”I am not a dictator. I am the president.” “So, ultimately, if Mitch McConnell or John Boehner say that we need to go to catch a plane, I can’t have Secret Service block the door way, right?”

Dr. Benjamin Carson Addresses National Prayer Breakfast and Lectures Barack Obama on Obamacare … “When a person is born, give him a birth certificate, an electronic medical record, and a health savings account” (Update: Left Goes Mental Over the Truth & Carson’s Comments)

Barack Obama gets an earful on Obamacare from famed Baltimore neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson.

Last week during the National Prayer Breakfast, neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson criticized President Barack Obama, Obamacare  and the governments intrusion in healthcare. All the while as President Obama sat in the audience. It is too bad that Obama could probably not hear a word of what this educated man was saying. After listening to Dr. Benjamin Carson all I could take from him is why is not this man the president of the United States? His discussion on the dangers of “political correctness”. He stated PC was dangerous as it because the unanimity of speech and though is bad. This country was founded on freedom or thought and freedom of expression. PC muzzles people and keeps people from discussing important issues. With Obama less than 5 feet away, Dr. Carson criticized Obamacare and encouraged a program where newborn babies are given health savings account as an alternative to Obamacare.

If you have never watched one YouTube video, you need to watch this one.It is fascinating, informational and inspirational. Carson’s discussion on education is tremendous. Think back to slavery, it was illegal to educate a slave. Why was that? Because,  to educate a man, liberates a man. Amen brother. What he is talking about is to have a public educated, so that they never become victims and dependent upon a government.

Simply amazing, as Barack Obama looked on, Carson basically dismantled Obama’s class warfare and “fairness” doctrine before his very eyes. Oh to have really known what Obama was thinking as Carson ripped Obama’s ridiculous and divisive ”hurt the rich” and “class warfare” … “Some people say, ‘Well that’s not fair because it doesn’t hurt the guy who made $10 billion as much as the guy who made 10.’ Where does it say you’ve got to hurt the guy? He just put a billion dollars in the pot”.

From Real Clear Politics:

DR. CARSON: What we need to do is come up with something simple. And when I pick up my Bible, you know what I see? I see the fairest individual in the universe, God, and he’s given us a system. It’s called a tithe. We don’t necessarily have to do 10% but it’s the principle. He didn’t say if your crops fail, don’t give me any tithe or if you have a bumper crop, give me triple tithe. So there must be something inherently fair about proportionality. You make $10 billion, you put in a billion. You make $10 you put in one. Of course you’ve got to get rid of the loopholes. Some people say, ‘Well that’s not fair because it doesn’t hurt the guy who made $10 billion as much as the guy who made 10.’ Where does it say you’ve got to hurt the guy? He just put a billion dollars in the pot. We don’t need to hurt him. It’s that kind of thinking that has resulted in 602 banks in the Cayman Islands. That money needs to be back here building our infrastructure and creating jobs.

[...]

DR. CARSON: Here’s my solution: When a person is born, give him a birth certificate, an electronic medical record, and a health savings account to which money can be contributed — pretax — from the time you’re born ’til the time you die. When you die, you can pass it on to your family members, so that when you’re 85 years old and you got six diseases, you’re not trying to spend up everything. You’re happy to pass it on and there’s nobody talking about death panels. Number one. And also, for the people who were indigent who don’t have any money we can make contributions to their HSA each month because we already have this huge pot of money. Instead of sending it to some bureaucracy, let’s put it in their HSAs. Now they have some control over their own health care.

 It is really too bad that this man is not more prominent than he is. His thoughts and vision is remarkable. He is an individual who should be considered a hero, not sports athletes , singers or actors. This man is the real deal. Carson’s role model was Jesus.  Dr. Benjamin Carson for President!!!

UPDATE I: Looks like the LEFT considers Dr. Carson a racist for daring to question and criticize Obama, the first black president. Oh Wait, Dr. Carson is a man of color as well.

The Libs at CNN did not take too much time in trying to attack Dr. Benjamin Carson for his comments and come to the aid of their liberal savior and daddy, President Barack Hussein Obama. As reported at Mediaite,  on Sunday, the panel guests on CNN’s State of the Union weighed in on whether it was appropriate for Carson to use the forum of the prayer breakfast to advocate for free market reforms to healthcare and a flat tax code. What’s the matter, the liberal and bias MSM cannot stand some one calling out Obama’s divisive, class warfare doctrine? Especially when the individual who did it was black? I guess this makes Dr. Carson a racist. Isn’t anyone who dares differ with Obama considered a racist? How sad that Democrats just not get the message that its better to teach an individual to fish, rather than just give some one fish. The fact that the Democrat on the panel made this about partisan politics, rather than the common sense that Dr. Carson was espousing just shows what Democrats are really after … class warfare and a dependent government class of people who are uneducated and forced to remain on the Democrat plantation.

Crowley turned to Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and asked if she found “anything offensive” in Carson’s speech.

“I think that there is a political correctness that he was trying to use to appeal to a conservative audience,” Schakowsky said. “I think it’s really not really an appropriate place to make this kind of political speech and to invoke God as his support for that kind of view.”

Schakowsky concluded by saying that Carson’s message displayed an “empathy gap” between where the American propel are and where Carson, and other conservatives, want the nation to go. “We need to have an economy that works for everyone,” she concluded.

Good Grief, Fireworks Canceled in Oregen Town Not Because of Heat & Dry Conditions … Canceled Amid Concearns for Sea Birds, Brandt’s Cormorant

UNREAL … FIREWORKS CANCELED BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARING BIRDS.

Fireworks in the coastal town of Depoe Bay were canceled this year for the first time in 19 years since the town started the tradition in 1993. Were the fireworks canceled because of the dry conditions and fires like what has plagued Colorado? Nope. Were they canceled like many towns and cities in the mid-Atlantic states due to damage from recent extreme weather? Nope. The fireworks were actually canceled amid concerns for sea birds.

 The coastal town of Depoe Bay is about to experience its quietest July 3 in 19 years.

Town officials this year reluctantly announced they were cancelling the annual pre-Independence Day fireworks show, following pressure from federal wildlife managers who said the noise disrupts protected sea birds.

Business owners, dependent on the popular show for foot traffic, are not happy.

“It’s a great loss to our community,” said Peggy Leoni, co-owner of Trollers Lodge, a small motel in Depoe Bay.

Read more

Incredible … Obama Admin Disability Regulations Call to Limit Slope Of Miniature Golf Holes & Require Businesses To Admit Mini Horses As Guide Animals

And you wonder why many small businesses fail under Obama?

The over-regulation by government is out of control. At some point one has to just say STOP! Regulation of the slope of miniature golf courses and allowing businesses to admit miniature horses on their premises as guide animals for the disabled. WHAT? This is insane. I am sorry, we are all for the disabled to be allowed to have access to as many things as possible, but at some point it just because a costly joke. At amusement parks there are height requirements for rides, yet some how there now has to be wheelchair accessible rides. If you ever wondered why there is no job recovery one needs to look no further than these ridiculous regulations that are nothing more than job killers.

So Obama will not cooperate with Arizona in to deal with illegal immigration, but by God they will go after the owner of a miniature golf coarse who breaks the law.

I think your slope does not meet regs …

Although the Justice Department has extended the deadline for America’s hotels to comply with regulations regarding handicap access to swimming pools, new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines are already being applied at miniature golf courses, driving ranges, amusement parks, shooting ranges and saunas.

Among the provisions in the “Revised ADA Standards for Accessible Design,” which went into effect on March 15, is one requiring businesses to allow miniature horses on their premises as guide animals for the disabled. Another limits the height of slopes on miniature golf holes.

“The new standards, for the first time, include requirements for judicial facilities, detention and correctional facilities, and recreational facilities,” Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez said during a conference in Baltimore on June 7.

UNBELIEVABLE … What is going to happen when some is destroyed or damaged? Is it any wonder why anyone would want to open a business in this country when they are assaulted every day by an out of control government.

“Similar to dogs, miniature horses can be trained through behavioral reinforcement to be ‘housebroken,’” it adds.

However, “Ponies and full-size horses are not covered.”

A business owner can deny admission to a miniature horse that is not housebroken, whose handler does not have sufficient control of the animal, or if the horse’s presence compromises “legitimate safety requirements.”