Texas Has the Fewest Personal Freedoms

Ex-Texan here.

It's a wonderful place to be a straight, white, Christian, middle-class male.

For every one of those things you are not, it gets worse.

And they may be quite determined to give those last few freedoms away in a bid to defend themselves from the imaginary threats.

As a persone who lives in TX, i can confirm anyone who has a " Don't Tred on Me" or a "Come and Take It" sticker, flag, or shirt likes to be treaded on and will willingly give it up

The Cato institute dissing Texas is actually hilarious. Republican infighting is the gift that keeps on giving.

Never trust anything the Cato Institute says, as a rule. It's almost certainly garbage.

For real freedom, move to Scandinavia.

But they let you have guns, cheap oil, and the premise you should mock other states for not being Texas.

In the overall freedom rankings, New Hampshire rated number 1, followed by Florida and South Dakota, while New York was dead last, with Hawaii 49th and California 48th. For personal freedoms, Nevada came tops followed by Arizona and Maine, with Wyoming 48th and Idaho 49th

Florida ranks number 2 for overall freedom? Not sure how much I trust the Cato institute’s methodology.

But don't they have the gunz and the low taxez?!!!?

It's like raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiinnnn...

But muh freedoms?

All that sweet, sweet economic freedom causes Fled Cruz.

Gun owners and WASPs: the irony!

Land of the oppressed.

It's not too surprising given that Texas was founded as a slave republic.

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I suppose things might be mitigated, though:

women who need abortions can go to New Mexico for such (that and more regular use of pregnancy tests).

maybe get a driver's license out of state and use it in Texas—I also wonder if one can use fake fingerprints.

maybe have open-carry marijuana protests on Hitler's Birthday.

Here’s the full report, (https://www.freedominthe50states.org/). Perhaps some folx are not all that concerned with TX.

How is number 17 the lowest? According to their list it is NY. https://www.freedominthe50states.org/

Ironic.jpg

Should be noted that one of the reasonings for this rankings that Texas does not have school voucher programs. That's something that Democrats and even rural Republicans greatly disapprove of. Something the Republican Governor is trying to force through with frankly tyrannical actions at times. I can't help but think this article is actually trying to push that same endeavor more than being a haha look at this kind of thing. Some of y'all need to read past the headline.

Only way they'll get any back any time soon is through legislation on the national level.

But since Texas' problems are Red State Problems, Democrats don't give a shit on the national level.

It's why cannabis is still illegal at the federal level. It's why the federal minimum wage wasn't increased. It's why Democrats didn't bother to codify Roe. If it's a Red State Problem, it's not a problem. It's "got mine, fuck you" writ large.

And when everyone who can leave states like Texas does, it will cement Republican majorities in those states. It will make it harder for Democrats to get majorities at the national level. When the same backwards legislation that is just a Red State Problem that Democrats can't be bothered with right now is imposed on blue states, Why shouldn't I do what Democrats in blue states do when people who can't flee red states suffer under Republican policy? Why shouldn't I laugh and act like they deserve it?

This is the best summary I could come up with:

The methodology looks at issues from taxation to debt, as well as eminent domain laws, occupational licensing, drug policy and educational choice.

In the overall freedom rankings, New Hampshire rated number 1, followed by Florida and South Dakota, while New York was dead last, with Hawaii 49th and California 48th.

The state outlaws the use of recreational or medicinal marijuana, and anyone who possesses up to two ounces of weed may face Class B misdemeanor charges.

The largest issue for Texas, when it came to its low personal freedom score, concerned its criminal justice system, the study's researcher said.

While Texas has limited freedom on the personal level, it's unlikely to make a difference because the state has a solid housing and jobs market, with the exception of Austin.

"So far, Texas hasn't had a problem attracting people with lower housing costs and a good job market," Sorens said.

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