Freer markets is key for decreasing the number of Kentuckians on disability

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A new report from the same group that named Kentucky the worst-managed state in the nation recently found that Kentucky ranks No. 4 in residents on disability.

This is unfortunately yet another reminder of how dependent Kentuckians are on the welfare state, and how dependent Kentucky is on our federal masters.

According to the release, 19 percent of Kentuckians lived in poverty in 2011, a year that saw Kentucky's unemployment rate soar to 9.5%, No. 5 highest in the nation. What's worse, only 61.5 percent of denizens of the Bluegrass State were considered part of the labor force, ranking No. 10 in the nation.

It's statistics like these which show how important it is for Kentucky to embrace freer markets and smaller governments in line with the Bluegrass Institute's core principles.

By allowing for true school choice in the commonwealth, our children will have more of the human capital needed to succeeded in a marketplace that's always evolving, breaking the cycle of dependency seen in so many parts of rural Kentucky. By allowing Kentucky's Energy and Environmental Cabinet to weigh the costs and benefits of our energy sector instead of bureaucrats at the EPA, Kentuckians will best be able to take advantage of all the natural resources and energy sources found in our soil for the benefit of business and the environment alike. And by following the Bluegrass Institute's 16 solutions toward true pension reform, Kentucky's abysmal credit rating and unfunded liabilities will be alleviated, allowing greater prosperity for Kentuckians.

Being the worst-managed state in the nation and No. 4 in residents on disability is not acceptable. Kentuckians deserve and expect more from our elected officials.