Last week I posted about Haiti and its place on the Index of Economic Freedom calculated by the Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Institute; I compared it with the US's ranking -- there is, obviously, no comparison.

Here's more on the US's ranking on the Index.

From NRO, where there is more:

Even worse, for the first time, the Index rates America “mostly free.” From a perfect “Freedom Score” of 100, the U.S. slid from 80.7 points in 2008 to 78 in 2009, thus dropping from the “free” category to “mostly free.” Denmark and Chile complete the top ten. So, at least, America is freer than they are.

America’s 2.7 percentage-point decline was among the steepest recorded. Only eleven economies deteriorated more rapidly. These include such Marxian paradises as Bolivia, Ecuador, Libya, and Venezuela. Not even Cuba, Zimbabwe, or North Korea (rated Nos. 177 to 179) slipped as much, although they already sat at the bottom of the list.

So, what went wrong?

Authors Kim Holmes, Anthony Kim, and Terry Miller explain that, for America, “Economic freedom has declined in seven of the ten categories measured in the Index.” These include “notable decreases in financial freedom, monetary freedom, and property rights.” Specifically:

“Uncertainties caused by ongoing regulatory changes and politically influenced stimulus spending have discouraged entrepreneurship and job creation, slowing recovery. Leadership in free trade has been undercut by ‘Buy American’ provisions in stimulus legislation and failure to pursue previously agreed free trade agreements with Panama, Colombia, and South Korea. Tax rates are increasingly uncompetitive, and massive stimulus spending is creating unprecedented deficits. Bailouts of financial and automotive firms have generated concerns about property rights.”

Last year, “government spending equaled 37.4 percent of GDP. Spending increases totaled well over $1 trillion in 2009 alone, an increase of more than 20 percent over 2008.”

“Government interventions in financial markets and the automotive sector have raised concerns about expropriation and violation of the contractual rights of shareholders and bondholders.”

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Comments:

Though I’m sure that you’re right about it being Canada’s fault, I don’t see any reference to Canada in this posting. Now I’m a married man, so I understand the concept of a certain person in a relationship being “at fault by default,” and I’m a Canadian, so I fully accept the blame, but still wonder whether maybe I’m missing something…

[1] Posted by Michael D on 02-04-2010 at 10:39 AM • top

Michael D -

I believe that the US moved from a slot or two ahead of Canada to a slot or two behind them in the current ranking.

[2] Posted by Positive Phototaxis on 02-04-2010 at 11:18 AM • top

I would suggest that the Obama administration and the Congress (need I remind the reader that the latter appellation is the explicit opposite of Progress) had best be extremely careful about their “buy American” measures. Should they decide that such applies to whisky (particularly single malt Scotch whisky), they will have earned the deserved, perpetual, and virulent animosity of at least one commenter to this site.

Pax et bonum,
Keith Töpfer
_________________________
“The common belief that whisky improves with age is true. The older I get, the more I like it.”—[Ronnie Corbett]

[3] Posted by H. Potter (aka Martial Artist) on 02-04-2010 at 12:20 PM • top

I think this analysis is right on. Ecconomic freedom is essential for growth and prosperity. The Marxist doctrine that is comming into our nation will harm both the poor and rich, poor more than rich. Marxist egalatarianism would rather everyone be poor than that some prosper more that others. Rising tide lifts all ships. It is the rich that create jobs and opportunity. I know many in business who have the money, but are sitting on it and not expanding or making new hires until they can be sure they won’t be punished or raided like they see already happening. Maybe by this November, they will see some hope and come out of their shells. IMHO

[4] Posted by PROPHET MICAIAH on 02-04-2010 at 04:23 PM • top

Does anyone share my outrage at the persecution of the Idaho Baptists in Haiti and the failure of the American government to protect our fellow-citizens?

[5] Posted by TomRightmyer on 02-05-2010 at 01:25 AM • top

Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free….

[6] Posted by obadiahslope on 02-05-2010 at 05:04 AM • top

Does anyone share my outrage at the persecution of the Idaho Baptists in Haiti and the failure of the American government to protect our fellow-citizens?

Attempting to take minors across political boundaries without the permission of parents or the local govt. is just plain dumb, however well intentioned.

[7] Posted by AndrewA on 02-05-2010 at 05:39 AM • top

Back to the main topic: I’m a little confused as to how Canada, with a health care system far more state controlled then anything that Obama has propossed (much less passed) ranks higher than the US in terms of economic freedom.

[8] Posted by AndrewA on 02-05-2010 at 05:42 AM • top

I agree, #7. We have to remember, when going to another country, however chaotic, that we are covered there by their laws, not ours, and that just being American does not cover failure to comply with local law. And seriously, even in America, you can’t just take children without papers and court orders. I assume these Baptist missionaries had sterling intentions. They weren’t thinking.

[9] Posted by Katherine on 02-05-2010 at 08:44 AM • top

[9] Katherine,

Congratulations. Your comment

…you can’t just take children without papers and court orders. … They weren’t thinking.

has been nominated as a candidate for the 2010 Blog Comment Understatement of the Year Award. Results may (or may not) be announced in early 2011.

Pax et bonum,
Keith Töpfer

[10] Posted by H. Potter (aka Martial Artist) on 02-05-2010 at 10:26 AM • top

Tom (#5), yes, I do share your outrage. It’s strange that, with violent criminals roaming through the country from the ruined prisons, the only people the police can find to imprison are American church people, apparently acting on conscience. Granted that they had to stop them (if the children were not documented), but I read they are held in very bad conditions and can be held for three months even before a decision about prosecution. It’s stranger that our government and even the media and even our citizens seem so indifferent.

[11] Posted by Paula on 02-06-2010 at 03:35 AM • top

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