You can't realistically base the degree of freedom on the right to carry a
deadly weapon.... no matter how much I agree with the fact that freedom to
carry should be available..... it's the will of the majority that denotes a
democratic state.

You do have the right to move to an area that allows it..... but that area
may require to sacrifice other freedoms to allow the one you seek.

CM



"Bart Senior" wrote in message
...
I didn't see anything about gun ownership. If you factor that in, the US
would move
back up to number 1.

"John Cairns" wrote

Economic freedom is the measure of the roadblocks governments put in
place that prevent their citizens from achieving success. Not
surprisingly, countries with the greatest economic freedom enjoy strong
economic growth. Unfree countries, conversely, do not.

Long a symbol of economic prosperity, America for the first time no
longer ranks among the top 10 free nations of the world, according to The
2005 Index of Economic Freedom, just released by the Heritage Foundation
and the Wall Street Journal.

Now in its 11th edition, the Index is the most up-to-date and
comprehensive source of data on taxes, tariffs, regulations, monetary
policy, and the burden of government around the world.

Out-of-control government spending is partly to blame for America's
standing, but so is competition, writes Heritage's Marc Miles in his
introduction. "The U.S. is resting on its laurels," he explains, "while
innovative countries around the world are changing their approaches and
reducing roadblocks."

The U.S. must make a choice, concludes Miles. "Is it to remain the symbol
of economic freedom in the world that was, or is it going to take the
steps needed to regain the leadership in the world that is and will be?"

http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/

All thanks to junior!

John Cairns