Once all over again, the world wide web will come by with one more silly listing that is enjoyment to argue about specifically mainly because it is pointless to do so.

Indiana, we are instructed by the web site WalletHub, is the sixth-worst condition in the union for the independence of its citizens, better only than the awful quintet of Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina and Alaska. Employing a set of metrics which include the state’s dependence on federal cash, individuals’ terrible behaviors (these types of as opioid abuse and social media dependancy) and the charges of bankruptcy and foreclosure, the web-site suggests we Hoosiers are just not a self-enough lot.

Utah, the exact survey mentioned, is the most self-adequate condition, which struck me as odd. Just this morning, that state’s governor was on Television set, boasting to a smarmy news reader about how happy she was of the state’s COVID-regulations compliance and lengthy-selection plan to combat local weather change. That seems like sucking up equally to Washington and the total planet at the exact time.

Outraged on behalf of my beloved Hoosier point out, I went hunting for other rankings.

According to cheatsheet.com, which considers only the share of a state’s normal income that will come from the federal authorities, North Dakota is the most impartial point out at 16.8%. Indiana does not do so effectively on that listing, either, position 10th-worst at 38%. Probably Governor Holcomb will continue to keep that in head the next time he’s inclined to gripe about federal interference. Strings, governor, strings.

At thetopten.com, a unique criterion is employed: How would a state do if slash off from the relaxation of the place? Texas, with a robust economy, varied and energetic inhabitants and a National Guard that could defeat quite a few countries’ armies, arrived out on leading adopted closely by California and New York.

Will make sense. Even bigger is greater, now make any difference how a great deal their recent politics may possibly be screwed up.

Each intrigued and puzzled, I then sought the position of states on libertarianism, which seems to me would be the guiding philosophy of an autarky.

The Cato Institute suggests the most libertarian state, based mostly on the degree of individual and financial freedom its citizens get pleasure from, is Florida, adopted by New Hampshire and — hooray for us! — Indiana. On the Mises Institute checklist, Florida and New Hampshire are to start with and next, but Indiana falls to 10th, still not bad.

How can Indiana be the two a single of the least impartial states and a single of the most libertarian?

For the reason that, keep in mind — silly and pointless. Self-reliance is, by definition, a little something possessed by or missing in people, not a good quality that can conveniently be applied in the combination to a entire persons.

And it’s a condition of head. Most of the points that give most of us a sense of independence are, ironically, issues that also connect us to many others, this kind of as our automobiles and the ubiquitous clever cell phone. Since my parents had to invest in so considerably on credit history, I really feel bare with out a sure amount of money of hard cash in my pocket, hardly ever thoughts that my debit card is practically universally recognized.

But what if we ended up abruptly cut off from everybody like, well, like Texas or California adrift from the union?

My brother has the appropriate idea. He has various weeks’ value of h2o and emergency foodstuff provides laid in, and he’d likely drop his head if any individual spirited it absent.

The Federal Crisis Administration Company recommends we all have at the very least a 3-day disaster package at home, such as foodstuff and water and all the things from a flashlight and battery-operated radio to a initial-help package and rubbish bags. How quite a few of us do? How about an emergency kit for the car in situation it breaks down in the middle of nowhere in the middle of winter season?

Display me that checklist — of who is emergency ready and who is not — and I’ll notify you irrespective of whether the point out is “independent” or not, silly while it may be.

And keep in mind, there is a wonderful line in between “self-reliant” and “self-defeating.”

In other terms, if I could refer to an aged Twilight Zone episode, if you do not have a fallout shelter, you definitely ought to be buddies with a neighbor who does.

Leo Morris is a columnist for The Indiana Policy Overview. Call him at leoedits@yahoo.com. Ship opinions to awoods@tribtown.com.