A recent study shows that Wyoming ranks as the third worst state in the U.S. for personal freedoms, according to the Cato Institute, a Libertarian think tank. While the state scored well on economic freedom, ranking 16th overall for freedom, its personal freedom score was significantly impacted by issues in education, drug laws, and high incarceration rates.
Wyoming’s personal freedom score was lowered because of its strict policies on education, cannabis and salvia (a psychedelic drug), and the state’s high rates of arrests and imprisonment. The study ranked states that allowed more school choice, decriminalized or legalized marijuana, and had lower arrest rates higher. Wyoming’s ranking in incarceration was 44th, which contributed to 20% of its personal freedom score.
Tyler Lindholm, a former state legislator, agrees with the study’s findings. He believes Wyoming has a lot of freedom in some areas but struggles with others, particularly when it comes to education. He wants parents to have more control over how public education funds are spent, an area Wyoming still lacks.
State Representative Karlee Provenza, a police reform advocate, was also not surprised by the findings. She criticized the state’s stance on cannabis, which prevents veterans from using it for medical purposes, and said controlling substances used in private homes leads to more arrests.
On the positive side, Wyoming did well in certain areas. It ranked 8th for gun rights, 4th for tobacco freedom, and 15th for asset forfeiture.
Education is another area where Wyoming has room for improvement. In March, the state passed a bill to create educational savings accounts ESAs, which would help some families pay for private schooling. However, Tyler Lindholm says that Wyoming still doesn’t offer enough school choice options. He believes that private education is too expensive for most families unless they are very wealthy or very poor.
Governor Mark Gordon vetoed parts of the ESA bill that would have made it available to more families. He raised concerns that it might not align with Wyoming’s constitution, which limits state funding to support the poor.
The study also compared the states with the highest and lowest personal freedom scores. Most of the states with high freedom scores were located in the West and Northeast, while the states with the lowest scores were mainly in the South and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Wyoming performed much better in economic freedom, ranking 6th in regulatory freedom and 13th in fiscal freedom. Wyoming is known for low taxes, especially its lack of a personal income tax, and its low property tax rates. However, it ranked poorly in government consumption and government employment, finishing near the bottom in both areas.
The study points out that lower taxes don’t always mean more overall freedom, and some people believe that focusing too much on economic issues without considering things like religious freedom can create a distorted picture of freedom.
Rep. Provenza added that a state’s ability to provide good jobs and affordable housing can help reduce crime and substance abuse. She believes that Wyoming’s lack of focus on these issues is contributing to the state’s problems.