Answer: Because this list is what we are supposed to be all about.

Though it was originally announced in January, I came across an article about the Index of Economic Freedom at AccountingWeb.com. The ultimate source, though, is The Heritage Foundation, which publishes an annual Index of Economic Freedom. Thought I’m obviously late in reporting it, the information is still valuable. Here’s the Index’s top 10 for 2006:
1. Hong Kong
2. Singapore
3. Ireland
4. Luxembourg
5. Iceland tied with United Kingdom
6. Estonia
7. Denmark
8. United States tied with Australia and New Zealand

The big surprises on the list to me are Denmark’s presence and the UK finishing ahead of the US. For yet another surprise, consider that Canada and Finland finished barely behind the trio the US is in.

A review of the underlying criteria for scoring indicates that the areas where the US could improve would be cutting government spending, reducing the top marginal income tax rates, and reducing tariffs on imported goods.

Here’s an excerpt from a great Rebecca Hagelin column about the index and what it means:

The Index is really about people and their struggle to overcome barriers. And not just any barriers, but the ones their own governments erect to limit how much money they can make and how much they can keep – barriers that limit what they can do with their money and how far it can go.

To see how people are affected by such barriers (or the lack thereof), consider the relationship between economic freedom and per capita income.

The Index editors grade each country on a numeric scale that places it in one of four categories: free, mostly free, mostly unfree or repressed. Not surprisingly, the freer a country is economically, the higher the per capita income its citizens enjoy. People in “repressed” and “mostly unfree” economies have a per capita income that averages about $4,000. But those in “mostly free” countries have a per capita income of about $13,000. And those in “free” countries? More than $30,000.

What does that tell you? That when governments constrain economies, real people and families suffer. Parents around the world have the same hopes dreams that you and I do. They have the same desire to work hard, play fair and benefit from their labor. They want to see their children have better lives. They want to see their communities thrive and their neighborhoods be safe and prosperous.

Yet these same people are thwarted — their dreams crushed, their hopes dashed. Many factors can do it, as a trip through the Index shows. Inflation may be out of control in their country. Tariffs and other trade barriers may be so high that they can’t even begin to compete in the world market. Taxes, both on corporations and on individuals, may be so high that much of their income goes straight to government. Regulation may be so heavy that starting a business is unthinkable. Foreign investment in their economy (which helps many “free” economies thrive) may be all but prohibited.

Here’s a good one — The French are doing it:

Amnesty for ‘thousands’ of illegal immigrants

PARIS, July 6, 2006 (AFP) - French officials said Thursday that thousands of illegal immigrant families with children enrolled at French schools are to be given legal status, following a grassroots campaign against their deportation.

“We know that we are going to grant residency papers to several thousand families,” Paris police chief Yannick Blanc said in an interview appearing in Le Monde newspaper.

A nationwide protest movement has sprung up over plans to expel thousands of illegal immigrant families whose children are in French schools, with left-wing politicians, media and sports stars among tens of thousands to sign a petition pledging to protect them from what they call a “manhunt.”

The children are from families who entered France illegally and were facing expulsion with their parents at the end of the school year, but campaigners say that most of them know no other country and that deportation would be inhumane.

Bowing to pressure last month, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy - the centre-right frontrunner for next year’s presidential election - told regional authorities to reconsider cases on the basis of new criteria, such as whether a child has “strong ties” to France.

Even the “centre-right” minister Sarkozy, who earned a bit of a tough guy reputation during last year’s riots, wouldn’t dare fight it. Well, at least they have the decency to call an amnesty what it is.

It’s worth a visit to the link to see some of the arguments supporters of the amnesty were using. I suspect you’ll see a replay here if there is ever a serious attempt to enforce an immigration law with teeth.
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Considering what he did, it seems quite appropriate:

House blaze rescue PC in awards

A POLICEMAN who rescued a boy from a burning house in Blackburn is in the running to be named Britain’s bravest bobby.

If PC Neil Cookson wins at the 11th annual Police Bravery Awards it will be the third honour he has been given for saving the life of 12-year-old Jordan Barton.

Already PC Cookson, 44, has been awarded the William Garnett Cup Lancashire’s highest award for bravery and a Chief Constable’s commendation.

Now he has been put forward by the Lancashire Police Federation for the country’s most prestigious police bravery awards.

In the early hours of January 29 last year, PC Cookson, who is married and lives in Chorley, was heading off duty to buy a sandwich when a call came over his radio about a woman screaming outside a house in Dukes Brow, Blackburn.

PC Cookson, who was in the area, went to check out the report and found Jordan’s mum lying outside the house, distressed and unable to speak.

He looked inside the house and saw a pair of child’s shoes by the door and went inside, despite a blaze raging in the living room.

PC Cookson crawled on his hands and knees up the stairs and found Jordan asleep in the last room he looked in. He carried the boy to safety in a duvet.

PC Cookson said he was no hero and added: “Anyone in my position would have done the same.

“The house was extremely smoky and I just knew there was a little person inside and I had to get him out. I just happened to be there that’s all.”

Steve Edwards, chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation, said: “Neil’s decisive and selfless actions on that morning undoubtedly saved the life of a young boy.

“His nomination recognises his courage, determination and commitment to serving the public and yet again demonstrates the risks that police officers take on a daily basis.

“The public of Lancashire should be proud of his actions, we are extremely proud of him and wish him well.”