United States has slipped to 18th in Economic Freedom

Politifact says "mostly true"

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter ... ts-ssdi-o/

archer wrote:

FredHayek wrote: So every time the Dems here scream bloody murder about any rollback on benefits, the long term trend has increased. 1 in 20 Adults are on disablility.

It didn't occur to you that it is sad that 1 in 20 adults are disabled (if your numbers are correct)?......it is good that they get disability rather than being homeless and living on the streets.

I am not saying it isn't. But I am saying the safety net continues to expand no matter who is in office. I am a little concerned to see that a significant number on disability only joined up after their unemployment benefits ran out.
It would be much better to see them getting jobs before their unemployment benefits run out but we all know that isn't happening.

And seeing ads on late night TV from attorneys offering to get clients approved for disability.

FredHayek wrote:

archer wrote:

FredHayek wrote: So every time the Dems here scream bloody murder about any rollback on benefits, the long term trend has increased. 1 in 20 Adults are on disablility.

It didn't occur to you that it is sad that 1 in 20 adults are disabled (if your numbers are correct)?......it is good that they get disability rather than being homeless and living on the streets.

I am not saying it isn't. But I am saying the safety net continues to expand no matter who is in office. I am a little concerned to see that a significant number on disability only joined up after their unemployment benefits ran out.
It would be much better to see them getting jobs before their unemployment benefits run out but we all know that isn't happening.

And seeing ads on late night TV from attorneys offering to get clients approved for disability.

If you have ever talked to someone who has applied for disability you would not be surprised at those ads. I have a friend who has been waiting for almost 2 years to get hers approved, meanwhile she has been unable to work to support her family because of some terrible side effects from chemotherapy. She finally borrowed some money from her parents to get an attorney who specializes in disability claims and her case is moving along much better, she should be getting payments in a few more months. I don't think her experience is an exception....Like many Americans she paid into the system for just such an emergency......

Democracy4Sale wrote: Of course, you have a link to back up that "1 in 20 Adults are on disablility"....? Sorry, FauxNews, Breitbart, WorldNutDaily and TheBlaze are not sources...

Democracy4Sale wrote: I'm still waiting for a source to prove that "1 in 20 Adults are on disablility"....?

You let me know when you have one...

Democracy4Sale wrote: I didn't ask you for a quote from some nutbag GOTP politician... I asked for a source of PROOF for the statement that: "1 in 20 adults are on disability"

Raees wrote: Politifact says "mostly true"

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter ... ts-ssdi-o/

Oopsie! Don't you get tired of being wrong LJ?

Actually Disability is no small matter and needs to reformed and made to work for it's intended purpose. And made solvent.

Libs do not understand Facts. jus mo gubment to splain it to em.

LOL wrote:

Democracy4Sale wrote: Of course, you have a link to back up that "1 in 20 Adults are on disablility"....? Sorry, FauxNews, Breitbart, WorldNutDaily and TheBlaze are not sources...

Democracy4Sale wrote: I'm still waiting for a source to prove that "1 in 20 Adults are on disablility"....?

You let me know when you have one...

Raees wrote: Politifact says "mostly true"

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter ... ts-ssdi-o/

Oopsie! Don't you get tired of being wrong LJ?

She wasn't wrong. She just asked for a source. Finding a source doesn't make her wrong.

I suspected this subject would be too deep for any serious discussion, and that it would go off course with the usual personal distractions.

Here is a link to the actual study with the components they rated broken out into categories (Size of government, legal system and property rights, sound money, freedom to trade internationally and regulation.). There is also a consistent correlation between economic freedom and economic growth and prosperity, as one would expect.

http://www.freetheworld.com/2012/EFW2012-ch1.pdf

This year is the 100th anniversary of Milton Friedman’s birth. Milton Friedman was
the godfather of Economic Freedom of the World. He believed that, if economic freedom
could be measured with greater accuracy, it would be possible to isolate its
impact on the performance of economies and other factors of interest. This led to
the Economic Freedom of the World project, headed by Milton and Rose Friedman
and Michael Walker, then executive director of the Fraser Institute.
Since our first publication in 1996, numerous studies have used data from
Economic Freedom of the World to examine the impact of economic freedom on
investment, economic growth, income levels, and poverty rates. Virtually without
exception, these studies have found that countries with institutions and policies
more consistent with economic freedom have higher investment rates, more rapid
economic growth, higher income levels, and more rapid reductions in poverty rates.

Today's Topic.
Introduction.
What is Economic Freedom?

"The key ingredients of economic freedom are:
• personal choice
• voluntary exchange coordinated by markets;
• freedom to enter and compete in markets; and
• protection of persons and their property from aggression by others.
These four cornerstones imply that economic freedom is present when individuals are
permitted to choose for themselves and engage in voluntary transactions as long as
they do not harm the person or property of others. While individuals have a right
to their own time, talents, and resources, they do not have a right to those of others.
Thus, individuals do not have a right to take things from others or demand that others
provide things for them. Use of violence, theft, fraud, and physical invasions are not permissible but, otherwise, individuals are free to choose, trade, and cooperate
with others, and compete as they see fit. In an economically free society, the primary
role of government is to protect individuals and their property from aggression by
others."

http://www.freetheworld.com/2012/EFW2012-ch1.pdf