[Lee Stewart]

America Is the Freest Country in the World

"It's a free country" is a mantra most kids probably hear before they even get to school. The reality, however, is that many countries are considered freer than the United States. The Human Freedom Index ranks America No. 17 on its global list (dropping nine notches in a year to tie with the United Kingdom), based on government size, religion, labor, trade, rule of law, and basic freedoms such as movement and association — and the average is pulled up significantly by economic freedoms. On personal freedom, the country ranks at No. 29.