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USA 10th For Global Economic Freedom In 2013
When institutions protect the liberty of individuals, greater prosperity results for all. Economist Adam Smith formed this theory in his influential work, The Wealth of Nations, in 1776. In 2013, his theory is measured by the Index of Economic Freedom. The world average score of 59.6 was only one-tenth of a point above the 2012 average. Since reaching a global peak in 2008, the WSJ and Heritage note, economic freedom has continued to stagnate.
From North Korea (the least 'free') to Hong Kong (the most 'free') the following heatmaps break down the 177 countries covered across 10 specific categories: property rights, freedom from corruption, fiscal freedom, government spending, business freedom, labor freedom, monetary freedom, trade freedom, investment freedom, and financial freedom. On the plus side, average government spending scores improved. Unfortunately, this was matched by a decline in regulatory efficiency, as a number of countries hiked minimum wages and tightened control of labor markets. The world’s most-improved country is Georgia, and the country that saw the biggest decline was Belize (we blame McAfee).
Overall Score:
See Full List of Country Rankings
The United States, with an economic freedom score of 76, registered a loss of economic freedom for the fifth consecutive year, and its lowest score since 2000. Its score is 0.3 point lower than last year, with declines in monetary freedom, business freedom, labor freedom, and fiscal freedom.
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FREE = SERF on my secret decoder ring that I got when I sent in my Bazooka Joe wrappers...
If you were to combine the GDPs of all the top nine regions, they wouldn't even account for half of the American GDP.
Rough times.
I agree.
But we'll eventually get our shit straight.
http://angrysinner.blogspot.kr/2013/01/yesterday-dragon-lady-served-beef-and_10.html
Um, they might want to add in "under the table" business that runs rampant with little or no penalty in a lot of those countries, then redo the maps.
I guarantee the US won't look quite as good.
So, do they hate us less now?
When we have no economic freedom we will be adored.
I look forward to the day.
NOW YOU KNOW HOW THE FOUNDING FATHERS FELT PRIOR TO WRITING AND SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
Now, it is time to find out if anyone in the USA measures up to those brave souls.
It is time for another Tea Party. a fucking real one.
Grow some nuts, bitchez.
If my memory serves me properly... The word "despotism" is written on that hemp...
~~~
So when I look around & see peeps with EBT cards they can get cash for at strip clubs & liquor stores, Obamaphones, & dick-for-brains cheering for a '1500' handle on the S&P... I can't see much TEA PARTY 'despotism' around...
Besides ~ Obama just appointed a new Treasury Secretary [who will undoubtedly have the interests of MANY on his agenda & whose name is much shorter to spell than Rubin, Summers, Paulson, or Geithner]... Just think of the 'INK' savings that will represent in the near future when it's printed on the currency du jour... Salvation is just around the corner...
I wonder whether free hospital care counts for or against Australia in these rankings. State-run hospitals can work.
Meet me in Mauritus! (#8) (???)
I wonder what the freedom of the Rothschilds banking web would look like... probs all red.
USA #1 in talking about freedom
#1 in freedom for illegal aliens
#1 in freedom for rich socialists to enforce capitalist hunger games for the. Rest
#1 in freedom for banksters like Corrine
#1 in freedom for dogs
# 1 in freedom to be droned.
Given that Americans and Japanese are the only nations in the world to tax permanent expats on foreign earned income, I'm honestly not sure how America is even anywhere in the top half. You can live abroad for 20 years, never setting foot in the USA and still owe taxes every year.
Furthermore, US citizens permanently living abroad are subject to FACTA which requires them to disclose all foreign bank account holdings to the US government and (unbelievably) all foreign banks on foreign soil comply with this, actually reporting you to the US government.
And given that US citizens who *relinquish* their nationality are still liable for taxes for years AFTER they give up their nationality, and foreign banks can dock accounts and will remit taxes to the US government with or without your consent -- I actually don't understand this study at all.
The United States literally treats its subjects as property. You are all serfs, no matter where you go or where you live. You will always be owned by your master.
Anyone thinking gold confiscation won't happen really doesn't understand how expats are already treated. Americans are the owned "property" of their government.
Financial freedom? Seriously, whoever did this study has absolutely no idea what they're talking about.
Do those colors mean we're fer it, or again it?
Freedom? Doesn't really exist anywhere...
Introducing the 9-step process bankers use to force global slavery upon humanity
http://www.planbeconomics.com/2013/01/11/the-9-step-process-bankers-use-...
They do this even after you give up citizenship? Are there any countries that don't comply? I knew that Bush signed an exit tax and I knew that they tax you abroad while you're a citizen, but I thought this ended once you renounced.
The general pattern is that rich countries comply with FATCA. Much of the Third World doesn't, since it is not a magnet for offshore capital anyway.
Popo,
I'm agreeing with you. How can the expat rules not put the usa further down the list?
"Seriously, whoever did this study has absolutely no idea what they're talking about. "
Oh yes they did. Apparently you aren't part of the 1%, though.
I think France is #1 for dog freedom. You can bring your pooch into a fine dining establishment and that's every American dog's dream.
Just to be clear, Australia has a mix of public and private health care, with most middle class Australians having health insurance (paid for by themselves) which allows them to access private hospitals, and to be attended by doctors working in the private sector (though many private sector doctors also do sessions in public hospitals). There are a lot of competing health insurers and, since it is their own money, people do shop around.
Visits to the doctor are mainly covered by government Medicare, though in some cases a co-payment is necessary.
The public hospitals are run by the state governments, though the national government increasingly shoehorns itself in to tell the states what to do, adding bureaucracy and cost but no value.
adding bureaucracy and cost but no value = GOVT
Beat me to it...what a perfect description of government.
Hmmmm Australia's ranking is largely because Australia does government very professionally, reasonably and pretty cheaply. Too much to explain here, but I can start by pointing to the United States' plethora of self-perpetuating alphabet soup agencies.
you people just don't know how socialism works in all-white countries. It actually DOES work and in many cases very well.
The swedes actually pay their UN parking tickets and don't abuse their positions in government. They actually don't steal from the public.
the problem comes when they assume everybody is like they are, and if not, then those people are just lacking "empowerment" or "education" or one of the other magic potions that will turn people who are not like them into like them.
Are dark pools and off balance sheet items counted?
I love how the US is voted "up there" in "Freedom from Corruption" How far from the truth is that?
That was my double take. In this case the must not consider ank control of government as corrupt since technically, tricks like TARP or robbing your muppet clients are legal.
That is impossible to know. Much corruption is unknown. It's bad question because the very nature of it means you are asking:
What is the comparison of one unknown to another unknown?
That fallacy is that one looks at crime data and assumes it is a broad accurate sampling of a given region which is false.
Jon Corizine here, FREEDOM ROCKS!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20981874
The US was 10th? It was THAT high?
They didn't include freedom from regulation.
heritage is full of beans
And buzzsaw99 is the excrement that comes out after you eat the beans
You're welcome ;-)
10th is generous.
10TH - is inflated.
So Goldman Sachs can sell off the whole country as an IPO to the Chinks.
While they short the IPO in the back end, fuck all the middle class Chinks out of their retirement, and live happily ever after.
What goes around, comes around.
Bitchez.
Nobody "junked" you for typing 'CHINKS' [twice]...
~~~
Clever ~ I see what you did there...
[Oops ~ upon later review, my initial observation was 'antidoted' by the Ministry of Truth ~ sorry that I inadvertently was responsible for harshing your buzz]...
I junked you for writing chinks.
You and sawyer follow the same troll pattern: Say things you think people here want to hear, then add insults and divert the conversation into the topic of hating foreigners. That's evidently the pattern we're supposed to fall for.
You serve Sunstein well.
Nope ~ Instead, I say things THAT I FUCKING WANT TO SAY... [See what I did there?... I used the word 'fucking'... It had nothing to do with whether or not I paused & reflected on what CH1 or any other ZH entity might or might not be influenced by... It was my emotion at the moment ~ which I expressed with the the proper adjective to reflect that]...
It's called exercising my individual FREEDOM [which is EXACTLY what this thread is about]... So there were basically no 'diversions' until you showed up...
Note: Generally ~ when I'm out in public, I don't shout "FUCKING", nor do I use words like "chinks", or "joobux"... So yeah ~ I'm just a pussy who hides behind an ANON avatar on a blog... That should make you feel completely safe [because 'harmful words', whether they have any truth or not are never reaching the delicate ears of women & children....... & puppies, don't forget the puppies]...
that just makes you a pussy
Which I admitted to by saying:
~~~
"So yeah ~ I'm just a pussy who hides behind an ANON avatar on a blog"
nobody's perfect
Freedom from Corruption my ass. The US is green?????
Two fuckin words make that a bald faced lie.
Jon Corzine!!!
Want justice? Hang a bankster.
exactly. green my ass.
Have you spoken with any foreigner about their government?
Makes George bush to be a saint with all of the dictators, kings, military rulers, etc.
I know what you mean. I had a Chinese friend lose his apartment over there because the local police chief lived on the same floor, and decided he wanted all the other apartments empty so he could have the floor to himself. Pretty soon my friend and his family had a trumped-up charge that drove them out of their own home.
I know it's bad here, but expropriation by lower officials is a lot more common elsewhere. IMO it's the last few good things we've got going here, but should that go I don't see much other reason to be here: Poor economy, increasingly paranoid government, etc.
expropriation by lower officials is a lot more common elsewhere.
maybe not for long my friend.
when the US is majority brown in 2050 or whatever, this will change.
People who live in certain cities dominated by certain groups already get to experience shit like you describe.
I mean, how many successive Newark or Detroit mayors have gone to prison for corruption?
Why bother to go all the way out of state when you have Baltimore & Washington to take pride in?...
Have you spoken with any foreigner about their government?
Makes George bush to be a saint with all of the dictators, kings, military rulers, etc.
George Bush was the dictator's, king's, and miltary ruler's best friend. Just because it is at arm's length don't be fooled into thinking that foreign economic oppression isn't fully supported by the usa ptb.
When you have the word "honorable" in front of your name you're above corruption. Or is that above the law? It's late and I'm confused. I think I'll pour another glass.
Honorable = Hola boner.
:)
Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen... MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHaa
I never would have guessed that the US and the Eurozone are amongst only a handful of places on earth where people are free from corruption.
Thank you, Heritage Foundation, for setting me straight.
That one did make me laugh out loud too
I marvelled at simultaneously having top ratings for being corruption-free and having union freedom. What a joke!
USA property rights. Should be in single digits after what has been exposed these past 5 years.
lol at "property rights" anywhere. HAHAHAHAHA. Goodness, what a joke.
Try not paying your "property" taxes and see how much longer you "own your property."
Serf's up brah.
One of the problems of being a leading ratings agency is the risk of retaliation.
That said, there is something to be said about the fact that the USA was #1 and a "free" country for a long time, and has been sinking for years even under generous terms from Heritage. Other studies done on this topic rank the US even lower in both real and relative terms, but the key to this study among others is that there is no objective measure anywhere that shows the USA to be a "free" country. We are now just one mixed economy among many.
Our skyscraper penis is bigger than Burj Khalifa US debt subsidized paper holders. China will build a new 2,749 feet building using the derivatives US dollar liability assets to build a new prefab house of cards in 90 days.
Skyscraper Index egg timer countdown begins /\.
Basel Convention| Switzerland, 21 - 23 January 2013 <===========
We beat Somalia. That's something.
I think Hank Greenberg et al suing the taxpayer for 25 billion is going to be a big time game changer. I am hopeful our Federal Judiciary far from dismissing the case out of hand hears out our "Plutocrats" in full. I then hope they will agree in full with the Plaintiffs...but then stick them with 50 billion in court costs which "they will pay out of pocket." I hate to think that our Government...especially the Judiciary...has forgotten what TRULY large numbers are...especially since we are in the middle of a war and of course in proceeding with this case Hank Greenberg has "nothing but the full interests of our soldiers on the battlefield in mind."
Another anti-US scale much like what PISA is for education.
Banana republic watch:
Rolls-Royce set a global sales record in 2012 selling 3,575 cars, making it more popular than ever before: http://cnb.cx/13m3Yne .
In a biflationary economy, the rich get massively richer. That part of the economy has reached "escape velocity". The rest of the economy has one wheel stuck in the ditch and another spinning hard in the mud.
S
Those who do not understand interest are doomed to pay it. And pay, and pay, and pay!
Not sure if you've ever read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover, but being about halfway through the book I've come to realize just how brainwashed we (Americans collectiely) are to willingly put our hands through the shackles to buy things we don't need. The irony, of course, is that all the stuff you buy is the reason the creditor is getting rich while the buyer is getting poor, until the buyer finally defaults and the credit runs out.
I say, bring on the defaults. As fast as possible.
Did anybody check with Simon Black for accuracy on this? I read once or ten times that he has gold and a ranch on every free nation on earth.
This Is The Most Massive Wealth Redistribution Scheme In The History Of The World: The Federal Government Hands Out Money To 128 Million Americans Every Month!
http://investmentwatchblog.com/this-is-the-most-massive-wealth-redistrib...
Disagree with the chart:
Property rights: there are no rights in Canada, property wise. The charter only protects citizens against “cruel treatment or punishment”.
Monetary Freedom- None. Bank of Canada shares are held in right of the queen, even CMHC mortgage bonds are "CMHC is an agent of Her Majesty in right of Canada"
Labor freedom- Canadian government can tell you to work- Unions getting forced back to job, etc.
Not free.
Property freedom in the US?! Dude, where's my mortgage....
Off topic....Would love Tyler to comment on this article tomorrow from the NYT. Is this possible?
Back From the Fiscal Abyss, California Balances Its Budget
I'm surprised by the ranking of the following: Chile, Israel, India, Venezuela, Liechtenstein.
Liechtenstein of course is where you drive your money to, when it has to leave Switzerland.
I'd have expected India and Israel to rank higher. Impressed with Chile's ranking.
Expect Chavez to be looberated, and Venezuela and its oil to be liberated soon. It'd be the right/American thing to do.
Bahrain is #12 on the list and Austria is #25...Methinks the metrics are a tad unbalanced.
It's because the entirety of the charts presented here are horseshit. According to the corruption chart, the west is completely free of corruption.
Yup
I wouldn't necessary say that but anything that Heritage puts out is a bit suspect in my book especially on foreign policy where they represent the 'endless war/mindless warmongering' approach to just about every foreign policy issue. They have become more and more idealogically-motivated the past 10 years too. With DeMint taking over, I almost wonder if they won't venture into the slightly lucridious direction.
Gotta electrify the fences, let the cattle know that the slaughterhouse is a chill place. If word breaks out that there is an 'other side,' there might be a bigass stampede, and the owners won't have no cattle to milk dry no more.
When the illusion fades, of the neo-American-dream shit everyone around the world has been lustin at, that's when the fun begins. It's going to be a shitshow, and everyone's invited...
low level corruption is rare in the West, don't try to bribe the highway police. Ok in some countries,with low official salaries.
Exactly. You have to read the definitions for each term, and with corruption I think it's specifically referring to crooked cops. I know the "financial freedom" term may be dubious to a ZHer as I believe it refers to fewer restrictions on the issuance of credit i.e. debt. And of course, easy credit combined with bank bailouts would not be my definition of financial freedom.
According to the corruption chart, the west is completely free of corruption.
_______________________
Corruption is assessed from a standard.
'Americans', that is people who behave the 'american' way, can not be corrupted by 'american' standards.
They start to turn corrupted when they cease to behave the 'american' way.
A duplicitous guy is not corrupted in an 'american' society. He simply acts according to the 'american' norm.
When he shows signs of honesty or sincerity, yep, at this moment, the issue of corruption can be risen.
Get your lesson from a fine 'American', namely Lance "where is the syringe?" Armstrong...
Sanitation is assessed from a standard.
Chinese citizenism citizens, that is people who behave the roadside-shitting Chinese citizenism way, can not be corrupted by American Standard flush toilets.
They start to turn and crap on the roadside when they refuse to behave the 'american' way.
A poopticious guy is not corrupted in an 'american' society. He simply sharts according to the Chinese citizenism norm.
When he shows signs of hygeine or sanitation, yep, at this moment, the issue of corruption of his eternal Chinese citizenism nature can be risen.
Get your lesson from a fine Chinese citizen, namely Bob "where is the roadside upon which I may deposit my nightsoil?" AnAnonymous ...
C'mon akak, give it a rest. It's getting stale. Debate the guy instead of stalking him like a trollguard.
Tompooz, I can understand your annoyance and impatience, but in case you are new here you should know that debating this troll factually and logically has been tried on numerous occasions, by myself as well as by many others, with predictably zero meaningful results --- all one receives in reply for their efforts is more blind, tiresomely repetitious and frankly retarded anti-American broadbrushing bigotry, and more insane circular arguments that go absolutely nowhere. He is immune to all facts, all logic, all rational debate, and all honest challenges. THAT is why we respond to him as we do --- because there is no other way TO respond to a spiteful and malicious troll other than by throwing his lunacy back in his face.
akak, I'm not new, but others are on ZH. All they see now is "tiresomely repetitious and frankly retarded" anti-Chinese broadbrushing bigotry. There comes a point that bad arguments are better ignored than responded to. And sometimes, just sometimes, he does have a point, if he means that "americanism" is not limited to the USA, but is equally rife in China.
AnAnonymous craption is assed on the roadside as a standard.
Best. This video of AnAnonymous in native habitat:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2c9_1328304616
AnAnonymous 'propagandans', that is people who behave the Chinese citizenism way, refuse to crapted in American Standard, or any other brand, flush toilet.
They always turn to crapted on roadside with ease, behave the AnAnonymous way.
A duplicitous AnAnonymous guy is roadside crapted and then blames 'american' society. He simply blames 'americans' according to the AnAnonymous norm.
Never showing signs of honesty or sincerity, yep, at any moment, the foul stench of his roadside craption can be risen.
Get your lesson from a fine 'propagandan', namely AnAnonymous "I pooped my pants again" Chinese citizenism citizen.
Agricultural freedom should be on there too. As long as people are being thrown in jail for growing and using a non-toxic plant, all this drippy bullshit about "freedom" from the War Street Journal and The Harridan Institute is just more of their usual...bullshit.
Economic freedom is based on agricultural freedom. Any kulak will tell you.
Next year we will rank right up there with England in 2nd ammendment freedom.
Casey likes Argentina, says it is the freest place on earth The map says otherwise. Singapore is quite high on the list, Jim Rogers lives there, notice he never says a word about the place. Maybe a little thing about freedom of the press! Freedom of speech.
Chinese bus drivers there recently went on strike and were deported back to China! The UAE, is a real slave state for Indians, and other South Asians, etc.I have been to quite a few of the countries, get a feel for the place.I have been to Uzbekistan, a real police state. Chile seems about right.
The Second American Revolution, neighborhood by neighborhood, inch by inch.
It's all about territory, human energy, and a lot of heart - FiSHeS.
I'd gladly join. But, just like my ancestors previously, I had to check on certain people in order to make sure they do not escape from the little business I run.
Good ole habits never die, so they say.
Signed: an American.
I'd gladly join the Chinese citizenism Long March of Insanitation and Hypocritizenism. But, just like my ancestors previously, I had to check on certain 'foreign devils' (i.e., Tibetans) in order to make sure they do not escape from the little communaughty business I run.
Good ole running dog imperialistic blobbing-up habits never die, so they say.
Signed: a Chinese citizenism citizen.
I'd gladly join. But, just like my ancestors previously, I can't be diverted from the roadside because down my leg excretory business now run:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2c9_1328304616
Good ole habits never die, so they say.
Signed: AnAnonymous
We'll do quite fine without you.
I had no doubt about that. Just as our ancestors did well without all the fine Americans who chose to stay patrolling the plantations for fear some slaves might run away.
When sought by Americans, Freedom is never out of reach. Today, just as it was yesterday.
Signed: your bro, an American.
It is funny how 'americans' are used to shaping ad hoc categorizations.
An 'american' trait:
There:
Freedom is an unalienable human right. One is a slave to 'americans' so one is not a human being.
Here:
So as the US is perceived as struggling (for the sake of the show only), the rankings will be adjusted ad hoc to show that well, it all comes from a loss of so called of certain virtues.
The observations are so shameless they grow funny.
A thief has no respect for property rights. But a thief who has thieved it all is forced to face a reality now: he is left with nothing to thieve, and theft can only go at its expense.
The situation of the US among some other nations...
All the chinks are squattin' the same old crap now
Come on baby, do AnAnomotion
You'll like crapping on the roadside if you give it a chance now
Come on baby, do AnAnomotion
My adopted Chinese sister can do it with ease,
It’s easier than shartin' in your BVDs,
So come on, come on, do AnAnomotion with Mao...
You’ve gotta spread your sphincter
Come on, squat down, jump up, wipe back...
Well I think youve got the nack,
Woah woah...
Now that you can do shit, lets make a stain now,
Come on baby, do AnAnomotion...
A brown and slimy lotion like the Beijing rain now,
Come on baby, do AnAnomotion...
Make shit loud and nasty now, shart like a horn
A little bit of rhythm and a lotta corn,
So come on, come on, do AnAnomotion with Mao...
Best. AnAnomotion call of doody:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2c9_1328304616
How wonderful that the birth of Mr. Han Kee was caught on video!
ROR! Mr. Han Kee, a Brown Baby Mao, will growing up to be fine Chinese shitizenism 'propagandan'.
All right! Top Ten! Congrats everyone.
http://silverliberationarmy.com
if one is a billionaire maggot then yes, the usa has lots of economic freedom. freedom to corrupt the gubbermint, lower tax rates, loopholes, offshore safe havens, protection from litigation and criminal prosecution, guaranteed profits. the vast majority of peons are income tax paying, property tax paying, sales tax paying, child support paying, student loan paying debt slaves. The average shmoe has zero protection from having all their assets seized at the whim of any number of institutions without trial. heritage is trying to make the usa look like bush's "shining city on the hill" when really it is a slum in the making.
You should have put a "Warning Heritage Foundation rankings" on this article. It may as well be from CNBC. Property rights should not be as high as they are, with Imminent Domain being abused like it is across the country, but that is what you get when you make an article out of these asswipes rankings. "Independent courts" to enforce property rights with a state practicing economic facism is a funny joke on us all.
Come'on Tylers, use /sarc next time you post propaganda. Doesn't the obvious ongoing manipulation of data indicate a major loss of freedom in the US?!
Looks like Australia is the place to be.....
(to any Americans reading... Australia is down in the bottom right hand corner of the map)
Just make sure you didn't pack your gun, before trying to enter the country... ;)
Thus, even as it is ranked 10th in economic freedom, the U.S. registers economic losses. The implication is that economic freedom leads not to greater prosperity but increasing debt.
How the hell did the US get a favorable score when it comes to political corruption?
see oldrepublic's comment here 3143571 - they try to measure the corruption that the citizen faces in his daily life from low-level burocracy, not the higher level above
We overpay our bureaucrats to do less. Only the mid to upper level bureaucrats get incentives beyond what the job pays here. So low level bureaucrats in our government get paid to do less, but still get paid more than they would in the private sector. Government unions are in bed with our politicians to make sure they continue to bankrupt the country by having its members be overpaid. So while it may not be direct pay offs, our bureaucrats are still corrupt.
They've got a big boy boss who does the theft job so well his little hands no longer have to perform the act by themselves...
That is the secret.
Freedom is slavery...
Obedience is Life!
Why pick on McAfee ? Turning Belize over to run away slave monkeys is the problem ! Zimbabwe, South Africa, Belize .... monkeys are incapable of promoting economic freedom .... many whites are just as hopeless ! I admire McAfee for getting the hell out of Belize .... and showing us all that Belize is no place to go with your wheelbarrow of hoard ! The Mexicans and Guatemalans are over running the place .... that may be an improvement over the ANC/Mugabe style Socialists ! Beware the Belize ! Begin the Beguine !
#1 in firearms freedom.
Mother of two blasts home invader while on the phone with her husband... http://abcnews.go.com/US/georgia-mom-hiding-kids-shoots-intruder/story?i...
Fuck you gun grabbers!
Hong Kong is not a free economic wonder. It is a city where most of the property is owned and controled by only a few very powerful individuals via their holding companies and all other services have cartel agreements between the players. There is no level playing field in HK.
Hong Kong is the epitome for cartel run.
Cartels are everywhere in HK.
'Americans' assessment on freedom is usually irrelevant.
What you might be interested in, coming from 'americans', how to assault freedom.
That is where 'americans' excell.
Learn from the best.
What about Greenland!? I never see data on them, on any chart, anywhere.
This report and its findings are so fucked up, I think AnAnonymous wrote it.
Another ranking was just published: for individual lfreedom. New Zealand and the Netherlands come up No 1 and 2, and the US was no 7 from memory.