Economic Decline

[woodchip]

Seems America, that once upon a time shining beacon on a hill, is losing it's economic freedom. From the Wall Street Journal:

"World economic freedom has reached record levels, according to the 2014 Index of Economic Freedom, released Tuesday by the Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal. But after seven straight years of decline, the U.S. has dropped out of the top 10 most economically free countries. "

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1 ... 28066.html

At least as we sink into the abyss, we will be breathing purified air.

[callmeslick]

interesting article.....I note:
1. no real definition of 'economic freedom'
2. no defense of why such 'freedom' automatically implies growth or more importantly benefits to the public as a whole
3. no rationale as to whether tempering freedom might have benefits
on and on. Sort of a knee-jerk piece from a place that celebrates naked capitalism, with no flesh as to WHY.

[Spidey]

Funny, I have said the same kind of thing about many “indexes” that have been posted here.

[callmeslick]

yup, Spidey......most of those things(especially from partisan 'think-tanks' on either end of the political/economics spectrum)have an inherent message, but the thoughtful person will consider other aspects. Really, would you rather live in the US or, say, Moldavia, or Hong Kong for that matter?

[Spidey]

I don’t know where I would want to live if I hadn’t been born here.

[callmeslick]

I don’t know where I would want to live if I hadn’t been born here.

like I said, my time is a bit pinched today, but wouldn't that be a fascinating thead topic in and of itself?