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realtonygoodwin
02-27-2011, 08:05 PM
So, in the future I would like to be able to run for office, whenever I am out of the military. They will move me pretty much anywhere in the US I want to go.

I am wondering if there is some place where liberty-oriented cities are ranked? Maybe they could look at percentages of people that voted for Ron Paul in the primaries, how well the Libertarian and Constitution party candidates do on average,or something like that?

I am thinking way ahead, I know. But, if there is an Air Force base nearby, there is a good chance I could get stationed there and get to know the area a little to see if I would like it...

Does anyone have such a list, or know where I might find one? Or even just suggestions of places to live? So far my top choices are Virginia and Colorado. (for multiple reasons)

low preference guy
02-27-2011, 08:08 PM
Your post reminds me of a recent post by BuddyRey comparing the two Carolinas. Maybe it will help.



See, this is why South Carolina is peaceful and prosperous while North Carolina is drowning in debt, recession, and gang violence in the major cities. Every time I cross the state border into SC, I notice a night-and-day difference. If this law passes, I'm about 90% sure I'll end up buying a house there.

This is referring to the fact that they seemingly will pass a law allowing concealed carry w/o permit.

Anti Federalist
02-27-2011, 09:08 PM
Freedom Index of all fifty states:

http://www.statepolicyindex.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/map.png

http://www.statepolicyindex.com/?page_id=143#figures

We find that the freest states in the country are New Hampshire, Colorado, and South Dakota, which together achieve a virtual tie for first place. All three states feature low taxes and government spending and middling levels of regulation and paternalism.

New York is the least free by a considerable margin, followed by New Jersey, Rhode Island, California, and Maryland.

April1775
02-27-2011, 09:23 PM
Well, "Free State" is relative. There are no truly free states. And which state is "most free" to you depends on what you're looking for, what your indicators of "freedom" are.

To someone who mainly cares about guns and lower taxes (like me), Wyoming is a good choice.

To someone who likes gay marriage and weed, Wyoming would be a pretty horrible choice. Massachusetts would be much better.

If you like guns and weed but don't care about gay marriage, Arizona, Montana, Colorado and Alaska would be the best choices.

If you only care about being able to gay marry and being able to legally carry a gun, but don't mind high taxes and nanny-"progressive" socialist liberals, Vermont would be the best place in world.

As for running for office, Wyoming, as the lowest-populated state, would statistically be the easiest in which to win, especially in state rep seat. Each district is 8000 people, so you only need a few thousand to win. Though I think it would be a very difficult state for a "carpetbagger" to win in. almost everyone in government here grew up here, and the average joe is very wary of "outsiders". Most of the state reps are ranchers. We call 'em "ranchislators." Also, while they're big on gun liberty (both houses just passed permitless concealed carry), homeschooling and lower taxes, they are very against gay marriage, drug decriminalization, and many other 'indicators" of true libertarianism.

New Hampshire may be a little better politically, if you're interested in running for office. I think the Free State Project people there have gotten a couple folks into office.

April1775
02-27-2011, 09:31 PM
Wyoming has an air force base. But our Libertarian Party is a joke. tiny, and they run candidates who are truly not libertarian. the two real libertarians in state government (Cale Case and Sue Wallis) run as Republicans. There was a Constitution Party-type guy who ran as an independent and recieved a fair share of votes for govonor this time, but he didn't win. This guy:
http://www.haynesforgovernor.com/Haynes_for_Governor/Home.html

if you wanna know what plays well politically in Wyoming, here's a commercial I made for a guy who won. He won by 500 votes, and he says that this commercial playing on TV won him the election. We knocked out a REALLY progressive democrat, a lady who was to the left of Nancy Pelosi, so that's a good thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66WHlT713DE

speciallyblend
02-27-2011, 09:38 PM
WE WELCOME you with open arms COLORADO BABY!!!!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lLmYLw0WRI

AZKing
02-28-2011, 01:36 AM
I've found that Arizona is pretty open to libertarian values. With little convincing, it is easy to make people realize that drugs and the welfare state are big contributors to illegal immigration. And we just legalized medical marijuana through a proposition vote, so that's good.

realtonygoodwin
02-28-2011, 03:12 AM
Freedom Index of all fifty states:

http://www.statepolicyindex.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/map.png

http://www.statepolicyindex.com/?page_id=143#figures

We find that the freest states in the country are New Hampshire, Colorado, and South Dakota, which together achieve a virtual tie for first place. All three states feature low taxes and government spending and middling levels of regulation and paternalism.

New York is the least free by a considerable margin, followed by New Jersey, Rhode Island, California, and Maryland.

Oh very helpful! If I could combine this info somehow, with voting statistics from the last several elections (maybe going back at least to the 2000 Presidential elections, if not a couple elections farther back), I would be all set!

realtonygoodwin
02-28-2011, 03:17 AM
Well, "Free State" is relative. There are no truly free states. And which state is "most free" to you depends on what you're looking for, what your indicators of "freedom" are.

To someone who mainly cares about guns and lower taxes (like me), Wyoming is a good choice.

To someone who likes gay marriage and weed, Wyoming would be a pretty horrible choice. Massachusetts would be much better.

If you like guns and weed but don't care about gay marriage, Arizona, Montana, Colorado and Alaska would be the best choices.

If you only care about being able to gay marry and being able to legally carry a gun, but don't mind high taxes and nanny-"progressive" socialist liberals, Vermont would be the best place in world.

As for running for office, Wyoming, as the lowest-populated state, would statistically be the easiest in which to win, especially in state rep seat. Each district is 8000 people, so you only need a few thousand to win. Though I think it would be a very difficult state for a "carpetbagger" to win in. almost everyone in government here grew up here, and the average joe is very wary of "outsiders". Most of the state reps are ranchers. We call 'em "ranchislators." Also, while they're big on gun liberty (both houses just passed permitless concealed carry), homeschooling and lower taxes, they are very against gay marriage, drug decriminalization, and many other 'indicators" of true libertarianism.

New Hampshire may be a little better politically, if you're interested in running for office. I think the Free State Project people there have gotten a couple folks into office.

Low or no income tax, less gun control, are what are pretty important to me. Gay marriage is a non-issue for me.

April1775
02-28-2011, 03:23 AM
Wyoming has no state income tax. Property taxes are low. Sales tax is low. You can open carry a loaded gun on your hip. (You can in many states, but people very rarely get hassled for it here, unlike in other states.) I've open carried a rifle with no problem, in town. Our state reps just passed a bill for permit-less concealed carry, the governor will likely sign it, and if so, it will go into effect July 1st. Concealed carry permits are shall-issue if you want one (they're valid in many other states.) Population is low. People are nicer than a lot of places I've been. And the hunting is great, if you're into that.

It's also cold as heck in winter (was 29 below one night last week), and often very windy. An 18-wheeler blew over in Casper a couple months ago.

April1775
02-28-2011, 03:28 AM
Like I said, running for office here would be tough for an out-of-stater, but your military service record would undo some of that. Wyoming is overall extremely proud of military folk.

April1775
02-28-2011, 03:34 AM
I've never lived in Colorado, but do visit fairly often. Colorado is pretty gun-friendly, but you cannot open carry in the cities, and it gets more looks and comments in rural places than it does in Wyoming. And Colorado cops there have busted people for legal guns, run them through jail, court, legal fees, etc..., full-well knowing the guns were legal. Taxes are higher in Colorado than Wyoming, and it's got a lot of lefties. Still beats the hell outta California or New York.

I used to live in Charlottesville and Arlington Virginia. Nice places, taxes way higher than Wyoming, and the proximity do DC brings a lot of political spill over to Arlington, as well as some real-city crime. Charlottesville is beautiful, but totally leftie....influence of the college.

realtonygoodwin
02-28-2011, 03:44 AM
Other factors to consider: my family is mostly along the east coast, from NC to ME...the college I want to go to post-grad is in VA...my wife's family is mostly all in TX (where we lived for 10 years or so). I will also need a place that will have jobs available for me. We like suburby type locations, not very rural, but not Big City either. In TX we were in a town of 200,000 or so and that was fine. I like the weather and stuff in AZ, but I don't think my wife would lol. So hard to find the "perfect" place... :)

April1775
02-28-2011, 03:59 AM
Lol....the biggest city in Wyoming is 50,000 people and there are only two that size.

Live Free or Die
02-28-2011, 01:00 PM
Of course, I am a fan of New Hampshire. :)

No income tax- unless you make $2500.+ in interest/dividends individually, $5K joint (I'd assume not).

No sales tax - but a "rooms & meals" tax, which includes restaurant meals. Property tax rates differ by town, I think they average out to around 5.3%. My town is lower but some towns close to & bordering on MASS are way higher. Hellooooo, Derry! Gee, I wonder why?

Open carry, and a Shall-Issue CCW, which you SHALL receive within 10 days unless you are a felon, etc.

As far as Air Force bases, and I apologize if National guard bases aren't the same (they were listed on Military.com?) but here are a few with no commute to a 1-hr commute if you are living IN New Hampshire.:
New Boston AFS (New Boston, NH)
Pease Air National Guard Base (Portsmouth, NH)
Hanscom AFB (Bedford, Massachusetts)

Running for office and getting elected in New Hampshire is not difficult, and is pretty much a done deal for "Liberty" candidates in New Hampshire. It is more difficult in the southern, Massachusetts-influenced towns, but that has changed for the better in the past couple years.

Liberty-oriented cities... You know, I saw a great breakdown for RP votes in '08 (as well as Badnarik in '04) might have been at the FSP forums. Check them out for that info, or PM me and I will find it for you- I know I saw it and may have even saved it. Your best bet would be a TOWN, though, and not one of our cities. Our cities are still full of ex-MA welfare drains who moved up here when MA cut off their benefits. Plus the resettlement of refugees. So that's a big NAY on NH cities.

April1775 wrote "I think the Free State Project people there have gotten a couple folks into office." Try OVER 80. ;) Most of them aren't FSP "members" because they already lived in NH, and some may be friends of the FSP but have avoided the connection because of the antics of some FSP members in Keene who tend to piss off libertarian-minded natives from time to time. Visit NHLA's website for information on Liberty candidates and scores of all elected officials: http://www.nhliberty.org/liberty_rating

What kind of job market are you looking for? NH has a low unemployment rate, yet many work in Massachusetts. But then there's paying MA income tax. :(

As far as your preferred living goes, here are a couple examples of our largest cities: Manchester is the largest city, around 130K. You would have your choice of inner-city, crowded suburb, roomy suburb, crowded rural and rural-rural housing. Plus, there are "planned" suburbs, natural suburbs, gated communities & HOA's (if you like that) and 55+ HOA communities. Seriously, a 5-minute drive from inner-city, section 8 apartments yields cow pastures and maple syrup farms. It's weird, but good. Nashua is similar, but closer to the Massachusetts border with more Massholes* crowding the shopping areas for the tax-free goods.

Here is a link to the FSP's site which should answer any questions you have about New Hampshire.
"To address the most common needs of those considering a move to the "Live Free or Die" state, the FSP NH Information Center provides these pages:..."
http://freestateproject.org/nhinfocenter

Some comparison data between NH and CO & VA (take everything with a grain of salt, seems like old data):
http://www.nheconomy.com/uploads/CO.pdf
http://www.nheconomy.com/uploads/VA.pdf

I wouldn't want to be considering a move right now. I think it's very wise of you to be thinking ahead, and you should definitely take advantage of the military moving you. Good luck in whatever you decide.


*An often derogatory but sometimes affectionate nickname for Massachusetts residents, used by natives of NH, VT, upstate NY (and sometimes CT, ME, RI... and the rest of the country)

realtonygoodwin
02-28-2011, 01:23 PM
I would love NH...I was born in Maine and have some family in East Washington, NH still. Also my dad was born in NH...my roots are there (kinda)! Unfortunately, it may be difficult to convince my Texas born-and-raised wifey to go that far north...but it is definitely on my personal dream list!

Johnnybags
02-28-2011, 01:27 PM
New Hampshire #1. Cheaper to run there too. Move to Keene and run for Mayor. Have your sidearm on for all to see.

malkusm
02-28-2011, 02:05 PM
http://freedom.robocourt.com/ - You can re-weight the variables according to what you care about most/least.

When I re-weighted I got this top 5:

1) New Hampshire
2) Colorado
3) South Dakota
4) Texas
5) Michigan (?!)

JVParkour
02-28-2011, 05:11 PM
Dude, SC is where its at. (How is that for a completely non-factual post lol)

April1775
02-28-2011, 06:43 PM
Michigan ? total police state.

pacelli
02-28-2011, 07:32 PM
I'm going to skip plugging my state or region, and give you the obligatory, "join the free state project, move to keene" message.

Seraphim
02-28-2011, 09:58 PM
The best place to live is in your mother's womb. After that...it's all downhill.

realtonygoodwin
03-02-2011, 05:10 PM
I doubt I could fit my whole family in there though...

Chieppa1
03-02-2011, 05:53 PM
I actually had this discussion with my friend who's moving back to the US from South Korea. She and I might end of moving together. Both from Jersey, so anywhere would be an upgrade. I told her my choices are Colorado and New Hampshire. But honestly, New Hampshire is too fucking cold for me.

This is really my focus at the moment. Where to move, how to do it, what job to get.

eduardo89
03-02-2011, 05:56 PM
Apparently British Columbia is the best place on earth


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo61MTRtmqk

It's even the provincial slogan

realtonygoodwin
03-04-2011, 05:11 AM
Hmmm, I will be staying in the United States, thanks!

I am leaning strongly toward Colorado Springs, CO or Woodbridge, VA...any thoughts on those in particular?

malkusm
03-04-2011, 07:53 AM
Hmmm, I will be staying in the United States, thanks!

I am leaning strongly toward Colorado Springs, CO or Woodbridge, VA...any thoughts on those in particular?

My old college roommate grew up in Woodbridge. There are nice parts and parts that aren't so nice. Personally, if I were to live anywhere in Virginia (and job availability weren't a consideration), I'd probably live in the Richmond area. Northern VA is alright, but there's still a lot of DC influence.

realtonygoodwin
03-04-2011, 08:26 AM
I have heard it referred to as Hoodbridge. My sister (who lives in Arlington) said it isn't really THAT bad, there is just a large military presence there. Since we are military, we are fine with that. The biggest reason for choosing Woodbridge over somewhere else in NoVA is cost-of-living. The houses I saw online looked pretty decent for the price, considering what I was seeing for the rest of the area.

realtonygoodwin
03-05-2011, 07:51 PM
So, I am definitely leaning toward Colorado Springs now... will update my dream sheet Monday.

Thanks for everyone's input!