Live free or move to the coast

Thank goodness for small blessings:

A new study from George Mason University ranks Indiana as the third freest state in the nation. But the definition of “free” divides Indiana lawmakers. The “Freedom in 50 States” from George Mason's Mercatus Center ranks states on their public policies promoting individual economic, social, and personal freedoms, awarding points to states with less regulation and docking those with many regulatory laws

[. . .]

Only New Hampshire and South Dakota rate as being “freer” than Indiana in the study. California, New Jersey and New York rate as the three most restrictive states.

It's a "small" blessing because our relative freedom is in comparison to current conditions in other states, not to the freedom we've historically had or what the ideal would be. And of course there's no pleasing everybody:

But Bloomington State Rep. Peggy Welch, who worked at IU Health Bloomington, points out that light regulation in the public welfare and hospital sectors can actually exclude certain Hoosiers.

Well, that's the eternal debate, isn't it? First we have to decide what's important to do do for each other, then decide how to do it. Accepting the responsibility of freedom means not skipping that second step, as so many are wont to do.