Most likely none, as the pomp and circumstance associated with nationalistic pride outweighs the actual facts on the ground.
The Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom for 2010 shows the United States falling to 8th place, and for the first time EVER, out of the standing as a "free" economic society to a "mostly free" society - joining such countries as Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Botswana, and Chile. That is right. The Leader of the Free World has been demoted to a second rate economic society, ranking slightly higher than Mexico (who is gaining much economic traction on the world stage, though currently "moderately free") and, yes, ranking lower than Canada (who is classified as "economically free").
In our lifetime, and under the charging banner of the Federal Government of these many states, the United States has officially surrendered her freedom, losing rank and credibility both regionally and throughout the world.
The image displays the change in ranking from 2009 to 2010. The United States is losing ground in every ranked category, less 'trade freedom' (which improved by one tenth of one percent, and 'Fdm. from Corruption' (though we will lose ground next year due to TARP, as stated in the report).
Regarding our lowest ranking, Government Spending:
Total government expenditures, including consumption and transfer payments, are relatively high and rising rapidly. In the most recent year, government spending equaled 37.4 percent of GDP. Spending increases totaled well over $1 trillion in 2009 alone, an increase of more than 20 percent over 2008. Stimulus spending set for the next three years is estimated to equal 5 percent of 2009 GDP.A summary of rank changes is as follows:
Business Freedom: -0.6
Trade Freedom: +0.1
Fiscal Freedom: no change
Government Spending: -1.6
Monetary Freedom: -5.9
Investment Freedom: -5.0
Financial Freedom: -10.0
Property Rights: -5.0
Fdm. from Corruption: +1.0
Labor Freedom: -0.3
Another piece of information that has been largely unreported by the mainstream media, nor discussed at large, nor regarded as important to the powers that be. Looking for the silver lining on this is like trying to polish a ... well... you know.
We the people, in the land of the mostly free, have allowed ourselves to slip further into historical obscurity... an experiment gone horribly wrong...
