NationStates Jolt Archive

Estonia is ranked #1 in the world in freedom. Who'd of thunk it. :D Go Estonia!

http://www.stateofworldliberty.org/report/rankings.html

The 2006 State of World Liberty Index is a compilation of data from four major freedom indices: The Fraser Institute and The Cato Institute’s "2005 Economic Freedom of the World" index; The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal’s “2006 Index of Economic Freedom"; Freedom House’s "2005 Freedom in the World"; and Reporters without Borders’ "Press Freedom Index". The SoWL Index scores and ranks 166 countries based on three criteria: individual freedom, economic freedom and government size and taxation.

I think we have a new "Leader of the Free World" here people! :D

I think we have a new "Leader of the Free World" here people! :D

America hasn't been leader of the free world since about ten minutes after it was founded.

Looks like the US is low because of its tax code. That thing is so messed up that it could be considered a form of oppression in and of itself...

I think we have a new "Leader of the Free World" here people! :D

Arnold Ruutel, leader of the free world!

Looks like the US is low because of its tax code. That thing is so messed up that it could be considered a form of oppression in and of itself...

Interestingly enough, George Bush II campaigned that he would cut the length of the Tax code by 20% or so and ended up extending it by 30%.

Estonia? Interesting, but then again businesses have been pumping money into the Baltic countries from here (fairly cheap, and they speak perfect swedish)...

America hasn't been leader of the free world since about ten minutes after it was founded.
Early America was as close to anarchy as was present in the world until around the Civil War, then Lincoln had to start dicking around with centralizing government power. Since then, every major war seems to be accompanied by a major turn for the tyrranical.

Interestingly enough, George Bush II campaigned that he would cut the length of the Tax code by 20% or so and ended up extending it by 30%.

It's pretty much a political law that any attempt to reform the bureaucracy ultimately increases its size equal to the amount of reform.

I would not be surprised if the added cost of compliance with the new tax laws is equal to or greater than the amount of money most Americans recieve as refunds thanks to the new tax law. We pay less tax, but the difference is made up in filling out the form.

I mean, here's what I have to do to as a single adult when I start my first job:

1. Fill out Form W-4 when starting
2. Recieve 5 copies of Form W-2 in January
3. Use Form W-2 to fill out Form 1040EZ (and "that's the easiest" one) and state/local taxes
4. Collect refund/pay taxes for federal/state/local taxes.

It's pretty much a political law that any attempt to reform the bureaucracy ultimately increases its size equal to the amount of reform.
"The beaurocracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding beauracracy" huh?

"The beaurocracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding beauracracy" huh?

Pretty much...no matter what, whenever anyone does anything to the bureaucracy it gets bigger and more complicated.

Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm,
kui kaunis oled sa!
Ei leia mina iial teal
see suure, laia ilma peal,
mis mul nii armas oleks ka,
kui sa, mu isamaa!

Sa oled mind ju sünnitand
ja üles kasvatand;
sind tänan mina alati
ja jään sull' truuiks surmani,
mul kõige armsam oled sa,
mu kallis isamaa!

Su üle Jumal valvaku,
mu armas isamaa!
Ta olgu sinu kaitseja
ja võtku rohkest õnnista,
mis iial ette võtad sa,
mu kallis isamaa!

Estonia is ranked #1 in the world in freedom. Who'd of thunk it. :D Go Estonia!

http://www.stateofworldliberty.org/report/rankings.html

Tis but a thin veneer.

http://uk.gay.com/article/4868

Tis but a thin veneer.

http://uk.gay.com/article/4868

A gang of 20 attacked a peaceful gathering of 500 with stones? OMG what a terrible, oppresive country such a thing would never be done in the west!
We'd get riot police to do a proper job of it.

The Internet is a constitution right in Estonia - cool, eh?

The Internet is a constitution right in Estonia - cool, eh?

Wow...

The Internet is a constitution right in Estonia - cool, eh?

Wow, I think Estonia is going on my list of backup countries, right next to Switzerland (guaranteed citizenship because I can prove Swiss descent).

A gang of 20 attacked a peaceful gathering of 500 with stones? OMG what a terrible, oppresive country such a thing would never be done in the west!
We'd get riot police to do a proper job of it.

Nah, Western mobs only attack when they have superior numbers. Obviously Estonia has more effecient mobs than us.

Wow, I think Estonia is going on my list of backup countries, right next to Switzerland (guaranteed citizenship because I can prove Swiss descent).

Dude you took the words right out of my mouth.

My Back-up country list in the event Britain is destroyed or deemed politically unstable:

Switzerland
Canada
Estonia

Wow, I think Estonia is going on my list of backup countries, right next to Switzerland (guaranteed citizenship because I can prove Swiss descent).

Off topic.
What does it take to prove Swiss ancestry and how close must the relation be?

I've been singing Estonia's praises for a while now, while much of Europe appears to be stagnating, Estonia is looking good for the future.

As for the gay issue, it is regrettable that people should feel that way. But it must be accepted that in a free society, citizens are free to express unfavourable beliefs, the fact remains though that this beliefs are not shared or endorsed by the establishment.

At least we got second!!

Saudi Arabia is freer than Russia. :confused:

I'm a bit surprised to find sweden and especially norway so far down...

I've been singing Estonia's praises for a while now, while much of Europe appears to be stagnating, Estonia is looking good for the future.

As for the gay issue, it is regrettable that people should feel that way. But it must be accepted that in a free society, citizens are free to express unfavourable beliefs, the fact remains though that this beliefs are not shared or endorsed by the establishment.

When did freedom become equivalent to anarchy? You're just leading me on here, aren't you?

I'm a bit surprised to find sweden and especially norway so far down...

Check the rating for economic liberty. That's what killed the overall rating. That's what happens in a socialist nation, though.

Check the rating for economic liberty. That's what killed the overall rating. That's what happens in a socialist nation, though.

Ironically, though, US businesses pay more in taxes than Swedish businesses because our tax code is so complicated and redundant...that's also one of the big things suppressing our economic freedom rating in this poll.

Saudi Arabia is freer than Russia. :confused:

A few of things...

A. Estonia =/= Russia

B. They dont chop your hands off for robbery in Russia, nor do they execute you for being a homosexual.

C. Russia allows you to worship pretty much whatever you want, they have a rather large Muslim population, not to mention a variety of Shamanistic religions.

D. You can get stone drunk in Russia. In Saudi Arabia, you get flogged for possessing alchahol at all.

So yeah, neither one is so hot on freedom of the press, but at least Russia treats MOST people like human beings.

Ironically, though, US businesses pay more in taxes than Swedish businesses because our tax code is so complicated and redundant...that's also one of the big things suppressing our economic freedom rating in this poll.
It's time ...

Abolish the income tax and the IRS. Corporations don't pay tax, anyway. Establish the Fair Tax, as proposed in HB 25.

I was just waiting for a lead in like that. Thanks.

It's time ...

Abolish the income tax and the IRS. Corporations don't pay tax, anyway. Establish the Fair Tax, as proposed in HB 25.

I was just waiting for a lead in like that. Thanks.

Anything that simplifies the current system is needed. Badly.

Thank God I'm only going to have to file 1040EZ or 1040A when I graduate college...

Having lived in Canada, Ireland and New Zealand ... I can say these ratings are a little bit messed up, and do not in any way reflect the degree of freedom I enjoyed in this countries.

Anything that simplifies the current system is needed. Badly.

Thank God I'm only going to have to file 1040EZ or 1040A when I graduate college...

In very short order, you will end up owning property, creating dependents, and looking for every deduction that you can find. Hopefully, you have invested in the market. How do you report the dividends on a 1040 Short form? You will become more familiar than you ever wanted to be with Turbotax and Quicken.

Harmonia Mortus Redux;11651292']
So yeah, neither one is so hot on freedom of the press, but at least Russia treats MOST people like human beings.

Chechnya?

edit: and go U.K

Chechnya?

edit: and go U.K

I did say 'MOST'.