Welcome to Wyoming Success
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365 Reasons to Vote for Wyoming
This list is mostly for fun. Although, it tells much about Wyoming history, population numbers, voter numbers, and other interesting details. It was written shortly after a similar thread called 201 Reasons to Vote For NH was written. Both of the reports are mostly for fun and in responses to the 102 Reasons to Vote For Montana report. So please, put on a smile when you read this report as it can be quite exciting :)
1. Known
as the Equality State. First to allow women to vote (1869).
2. First woman Justice of the Peace.
3. First all woman jury.
4. First woman bailiff.
5. First woman elected to a statewide office (Superintendent).
6. First woman governor.
7. First town to be governed entirely by women.
8. First
national park (Yellowstone).
9. The first ranger station (established in Wyoming in 1891).
10. First national monument (Devil's Tower).
11. First national forest.
12. First national forest to be returned to a state for management purposes.
13. It is a central western state. Not too far N, S, E, or W (unlike others)
14. Borders with six states (SD, NE, CO, UT, ID, MT)
15. Surrounded by many liberty-friendly states.
16. No coast or Canadian border subject to Federal ?security? forces.
17. Yellowstone NP, a world class tourist gold mine.
18. Grand Teton NP which is icing on the cake to Yellowstone).
19. Devils Tower which draws people from all over the world.
20.
Wyoming is an exact rectangle, easy to survey longitude and latitude.
21. Its mean elevation of 6,700 ft is exceeded only by Colorado.
22. Torrington gets very little snow but has high humidity in the summer.
23. Goshen county has a concentration of dairy farms.
24. Named ?Wyoming? which girls and boys can be named after (few states have
this advantage).
25. Covered with nutritious grasses on soils rich in minerals.
26. Picturesque erosion buttes and mesas.
27. Absaroka's Mtns: world renowned hiking.
28. Big Horn Mtns: world renowned hiking.
29. Wind River Mtns: world renowned hiking.
30. Medicine Bow Mtns (Snowy Range): an extension of Colorado.
31. The only low, easily crossed passage through the Rockies.
32. Crossed by the Oregon Trail
33. Crossed by the Union Pacific Railroad.
34. Crossed by the first telegraph line to the Pacific from the East.
35. Includes the back door to the Black Hills.
36. The highest summits and valleys can be used for glacial water storage.
37. Headwaters of four major rivers: Missouri, Snake, Colorado, & Platte.
38. Hot springs at Thermopolis and Saratoga and other places: geothermal
resources.
39.
Wyoming has no public zoos -- other than the entire state.
40. Wild horses
41. Wilderness birds of prey: hawks, bald eagles, and esp. golden eagles.
42. Deer (both mule deer and white-tails)
43. Antelope
44. Elk
45. Moose
46. Black bear
47. Grizzly bear
48. Wolves
49. Mountain lions
50. Mountain sheep
51. Mountain goats
52. Excellent trout fishing (Mouseborg testified to that)
53. Cutthroat trout
54. Brook trout
55. Rainbow trout
56. Brown trout
57. Mackinaw trout
58. Golden trout
59.
Rodeo (informal community to professional state, first rodeo and even a topless
rodeo)
60. Skiing (classic western powder)
61. Kayaking and Canoeing (whitewater to lakes)
62. 1,000 yard shooting ranges, even 10,000 yard shooting ranges!
63. Wide open spaces so you don't get the feeling of being closed in.
64. Lots of dark sky so you can actually see many stars and aurora too.
65. Average precipitation of 14 in./yr.: not too wet, not too dry.
66. Cool, low humidity summer days in the mountains.
67. Heritage from four annexations: Oregon, Texas, Louisiana, Mexico.
68. First dude ranch in the west near Sheridan by the Eaton Brothers.
69.
Republican except voting for FDR, Truman, & LBJ (but see below)
70. Gave Goldwater 43% of the 1964 vote (against LBJ).
71. Supports the “man” rather than the party - even to electing Democrats.
72. Voted 71.5% for "Small Gov't" candidates in 2000 General Election.
73. State constitution gives each county one Senator and one Representative.
74. Governor has line item veto in appropriation bills.
75. Only FSP candidate state without a budget deficit.
76. State supreme court justices are elected to eight-year terms.
77. State district court justices are elected to six-year terms.
78. To qualify to vote requires ability to read the Wyoming Constitution -- in
English!
79. Has the least number of people of any state -- only 498,703 in 2002.
80. Has the least number of people of voting age of any state.
81. Wyoming's population is not concentrated in one massive liberal/socialist
area.
82. Western individualist culture.
83. Western respect for and demand for privacy.
84. Greatest percentage of Black Americans in FSP states except DE & AK.
85. Great tolerance of diversity in Cheyenne -- courtesy of USAF base.
86. Only 42.5% of Wyoming's population is native.
87. Only Alaska has a higher percentage of residents who were born out of state.
88. Balanced males/females over age 18 (37.0% female vs. 36.9% male).
89. Ample wind for “renewable” wind power for electricity, power, heat.
90. Extensive coal reserves.
91. Extensive oil reserves.
92. Extensive oil shale reserves.
93. Extensive natural gas reserves.
94. Extensive uranium reserves.
http://doe.state.wy.us/lmi/0498/0498a2.htm
95. World’s largest trona reserve (soda ash is a refined product of trona).
96. Platinum & Palladium reserves
http://www.wsgsweb.uwyo.edu/metals/
97. Extensive forests of spruce, fir, and pine
98. Close to the booming Colorado Front Range, but not too close.
99. Wyoming is a right-to-work state.
100. Second smallest state government (by number of employees) (2nd to VT).
101.
State government has a $1.8 billion surplus fund (from mineral royalties).
102. Term limits effective now for governor and in 2004 for legislature.
103. The Wyoming Legislature only meets for 60 days one year and 30 days the
next.
104. Governor is commander-in-chief of all the military forces of the state.
105. Wyoming militia consists of all able-bodied qualified residents between 17
and 70.
106. The people have the “indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish the
government”.
107. The people may propose and enact laws by the initiative.
108. The people may approve or reject acts of the legislature by the referendum.
109. Least populous legislative districts (2nd to VT house, 2nd to ND senate).
110. New counties can be formed with a minimum of 1500 residents and a vote
thereof.
111. Cities may adopt “Home Rule” charters which exempt them from many state
statutes.
112. No personal or business income tax.
113. Only state under consideration by the FSP that does not have a corporate
income tax.
114. Lowest property taxes.
115. State property tax limited to 4 mills on the dollar (except to pay public
debt & interest).
116. County property tax limited to 12 mills on the dollar (except to pay public
debt & interest).
117. City property tax limited to 8 mills on the dollar (except to pay public
debt & interest).
118. Lowest NEA membership, period (of all 50 states) only 5,713.
119. Only state to not allow teacher unions monopoly bargaining or forced dues.
120. Greatest proportion of population in “Urban Clusters” (of FSP candidates)
121. Half of Wyoming's population lives in the fourteen most populated cities
and towns.
122. Seventy-one percent of Wyoming's population lives in its 109 cities as of
1996.
123. Wyoming has the least restrictive smoking laws in the NATION.
124. Green Party not able to even get on the ballot in Wyoming.
125. Libertarian Party has “major party” status.
126. Wyoming was the first state to authorize Limited Liability Corporations.
127. Wyoming has the most liberal LLC laws in the country.
128. Worldwide reputation for being business-friendly (shared only with DE)
129. Adequate jobs for Porcupines (projected growth during FSP move is 36,300)
130. Within commuting/shopping distance (half hour) of Fort Collins, Colorado.
131. Access to Ft. Collins MSA’s 215,000 new jobs between 1997 and 2010.
132. Lots of land for building homes and subdivisions for Porcupines.
133. Enough water to support triple Nevada’s population (up to 6 million).
134. Most libertarian Congressional delegation in the entire nation.
135. Small l libertarians: US Senator Michael Enzi and state Senator Keith
Goodenough.
136. Homesteads are exempt from forced sale under any process of law.
137. Assisted Suicide is legal.
138. There are no state acupuncture regulations in Wyoming.
139. The people of Wyoming, and the state House, support medical marijuana.
140. Second lowest percentage and lowest number of welfare recipients.
141. Lowest federal dependence in the West.
142. State legislature repeatedly challenges federal agencies and laws.
143. Wyoming has no statewide land-use planning laws.
144. “Code of the West” implemented in advice to newcomers.
145. Allows most class C fireworks.
146. Best hunting laws.
147. Legal open carry of firearms.
148. Highest rate of gun ownership in the nation (88% of homes).
149. Wyoming has "peaceable journey" laws.
150. Wyoming towns cannot pass gun laws that are more strict than the state
laws.
151. Third-highest rate of gun retailers in the nation (147 per 100,000
residents)
152. Second-highest rate of machine gun ownership.
153. Wyoming has the highest rate of gun shows, per-capita.
154. Third best homeschooling laws (of the FSP states).
155. Third-highest percentage (14.3 %) of children enrolled in private schools.
156. Second least-religious candidate state - 20% of “no religion” (VT with 22%)
157. Only FSP state without hate crimes laws.
158. Helmets not required for adult motorcycle operators.
159. Open containers permitted for auto passengers.
160. They don't have DUI checkpoints in Wyoming
161. Fiscally conservative, socially liberal federal circuit court.
162. The last state in the country to raise the minimum drinking age to 21.
163. Not until 1947 did Wyoming have Drivers License’s or Exams.
164. High speed limits (75mph).
165. Highly individualistic society.
166. Third best for marijuana laws.
167. Liberty and FSP-friendly statewide newspaper,
168. Casper/Cheyenne 1st and 2nd for "cost of doing business".
169. "America's Wealth-Friendliest State".
170. "America's Best Tax Climate for Businesses".
171. Third most "small business friendly" state, nationwide
172. Second for renting costs, "economic freedom," and "general livability."
173. Low housing, land prices, and cost of living
174. Closer to large urban areas than any other Western state
175. Highest median household income after adjusted for cost of living
176. County sheriffs are in charge -- even with federal agents.
177. Wyoming counties have more power than New England towns.
178. County commissionerships are mid-level stepping stone to state legislature.
179. Niobrara County (Only 2,407 people)
180. Hot Springs County (Only 4,882 people)
181. Crook County (Only 5,887 people)
182. Sublette County (Only 5,920 people)
183. Weston County (Only 6,644 people)
184. Johnson County (Only 7,075 people)
185. Washakie County (Only 8,289 people)
186. Platte County (Only 8,807 people)
187. Big Horn County (Only 11,461 people)
188. Converse County (Only 12,052 people)
189. Goshen County (Only 12,538 people)
190. Lincoln County (Only 14,573 people)
191. Carbon County (Only 15,639 people)
192. Teton County (Only 18,251 people)
193. Uinta County (Only 19,742 people)
194. Park County (Only 25,786 people)
195. Sheridan County (Only 26,560 people)
196. Albany County (Only 32,014 people)
197. Campbell County (Only 33,698 people)
198. Fremont County (Only 35,804 people)
199. Sweetwater County (Only 37,613 people)
200. Natrona County (Only 66,533 people)
201. Laramie County (Only 81,607 people)
202. Cheyenne MSA: ONLY 81,607 people
203. Casper MSA: ONLY 66,533 people
204. Cheyenne: ONLY 53,011 people
205. Casper: ONLY 49,644 people
206. Laramie: 27,204
207. Gillette: 19,646
208. Rock Springs: 18,708
209. Sheridan: 15,804
210. Total of above cities: ONLY 184,017 people.
211. Total of above MSA's: ONLY 148,140 people
County
vote totals for the party with the most votes
212. Niobrara County 2002 primary voters (with Lusk) = 988
213. Hot Springs County 2002 primary voters (with Thermopolis) = 1,708
214. Sublette County 2002 primary voters = 1,880
215. Crook County 2002 primary voters = 1,989
216. Platte County 2002 primary voters (with Wheatland) = 2,034
217. Carbon County 2002 primary voters (with Rawlins and Saratoga) = 2,252
218. Weston County 2002 primary voters (with Newcastle) = 2,316
219. Goshen County 2002 primary voters (with Torrington) = 2,454
220. Washakie County 2002 primary voters (with Worland) = 2,584
221. Johnson County 2002 primary voters (with Buffalo) = 2,740
222. Lincoln County 2002 primary voters (with Kemmerer) = 2,922
223. Converse County 2002 primary voters (with Douglas and Glenrock) = 2,931
224. Uinta County 2002 primary voters (with Evanston) = 2,958
225. Albany County 2002 primary voters (with Laramie) = 3,434
226. Bighorn County 2002 primary voters (with Lovell) = 3,514
227. Sweetwater County 2002 primary voters (with Rock Springs and Green River) =
6,159
228. Campbell County 2002 primary voters (with Gillette) = 8,308
229. Natrona County 2002 primary voters (with Casper) = 10,455
230. Laramie County 2002 primary voters (with Cheyenne) = 11,115
231. To get a majority of Senate and House seats in recent primaries = 46,385
232. Amount of people we need to convert to our ideas for this majority = 1 to 2
each
2000
Primary Election
County GOP Total Votes Cast
233. Albany 2,510 4,666
234. Big Horn 2,667 3,193
235. Campbell 5,279 6,041
236. Carbon 1,709 3,376
237. Converse 2,347 2,863
238. Crook 1,535 1,861
239. Fremont 6,876 9,903
240. Goshen 1,760 2,398
241. Hot Springs 1,183 1,501
242. Johnson 1,709 1,855
243. Laramie 9,259 15,368
244. Lincoln 2,155 2,851
245. Natrona 8,670 12,949
246. Niobrara 776 847
247. Park 5,745 6,515
248. Platte 1,744 2,686
249. Sheridan 4,008 5,413
250. Sublette 1,579 1,697
251. Sweetwater3,506 9,836
252. Teton 3,220 3,594
253. Uinta 2,522 3,961
254. Washakie 2,166 2,768
255. Weston 1,738 2,096
256. Totals 74,663 108,238
257. To win 51% of the GOP votes which would eventually mean around 2/3 of the
state offices = 38,079 votes
258. Percentage of the 2000 primary vote for the GOP 69%
259. Number of estimated votes each FSP activist will need to convert = 1 to 2
Quotes
from the Wyoming GOP 2002 Platform:
260. Believes we should work to continue to develop, maintain and improve a
favorable climate for business.
261. Supports only essential governmental regulation.
262. Supports public and private partnerships.
263. Encourages the responsible development of all Wyoming’s natural resources
by promoting new exploration, new production, enhanced recovery, processing and
the expansion of markets.
264. Believes the laws of Wyoming must be sufficient to punish criminal
behavior, regardless of the motive. (added by me, they support Wyoming's stance
on not having hate crimes laws)
265. Embraces the concept “government which governs least, governs best.” We
believe good government is based on individual rights and responsibilities
without excessive government regulations.
266. Supports our rights as stated in the U.S. and Wyoming Constitution as the
fundamental guarantees of free speech, to keep and bear arms, private property
rights and protection from an oppressive government while ensuring allowance for
difference of opinion and personal preference.
267. Supports continued pursuit of responsible reduction in spending,
elimination of unnecessary or ineffective programs, and maximum utilization of
existing financial resources.
268. Opposes a State Income Tax.
269. Supports the Right to Work law.
270. Supports promoting the transfer of federal lands within Wyoming to the
State of Wyoming.
271. Believes taxation should be equitable and predictable, and state and local
government must work together to ensure a fair and accurate tax system.
272. Supports an individual’s right to die with dignity and continues to support
their right to refuse medical treatment.
273. Welcomes all individuals on both sides of all issues, encourages their open
discussion, solicits their active participation in the Party.
274. Supports adoption as a preferred alternative to abortion, and supports
“Regan’s Basket” legislation where the parent would be immune from prosecution.
275. Supports the concept and practice of no net loss of private lands through
acquisition by Federal and State agencies through the designation of special
interest areas, including roadless, the purchase of development rights and other
easements.
276. Advocates for the protection, strengthening and defense of private property
rights.
277. Supports a policy of no introduction, reintroduction, or protection of any
wildlife or wild plant species without local and state participation and
consideration of the associated economic impacts.
278. Believes that parents have the primary responsibility for their children’s
education and should have the right to choose the type and method of schooling
for them.
279. Encourages a system that rewards teachers who meet/exceed education goals,
and opposes the continuing contract/tenure system for teachers.
280.
Ranches to work on.
281. Horses to ride the wide open spaces on.
282. Cattle to work with and care for.
283. Colts to raise and become friends with.
284. Mining. Really! Talk to hard rock miners who love their job.
285. Forests to cruise. Being a forest ranger in the old sense.
286. Timbering. Another dream of kids with chainsaws and axes.
287. Being a hunting and fishing guide.
288. Being a roughneck. Oil field workers are a proud breed.
289. Geologist for mining and oil and just knowing this earth.
290. Being a naturalist guide for gov’t or private outfits.
291. Being a sheepherder out in the middle of nowhere.
292. Trucks and cars last forever (even in the “humid” bottoms down near the
Platte)
293. Guns hardly need oiled or cleaned (rust and corrosion happen slow if at
all).
294. Dry food stores forever (if you keep the critters out of it).
295. Syrup doesn’t mold, it dries out. So does honey (it sugars instead).
296. No drying of dishes, just put ‘em in the rack wet, they’ll be dry in an
hour.
297. Fresh cut firewood seasons in weeks instead of months.
298. Fresh cut hay dries in a day or two. Could cut in the morning and bale by
nightfall.
299. If it does rain on hay, it’s not a disaster (unless its a deluge). Wait a
day or so.
300. You can get rained while working and dry out even before sun comes back
out.
301. If damp clothes are hurriedly tossed in a pile, they dry out instead of
mildew.
302. Clothes dry on the line almost as fast as they are hung up.
303. You really have to work at it to get sweat rash, crotch rot, or athlete's
foot.
304. Anti-perspirants? You won’t need ‘em. (Baby powder is sometimes good.)
305.
Great opportunity to share libertarian reform with millions of tourists who
visit Wyoming every year - over 6 million in 2002!
306. Between the state's $1.8 billion reserve fund and the $1 billion annually
generated by tourism, the state is not hurting for money and is not likely to
attempt tax increases.
307. Wyoming's unemployment rate was 4.2% in 2002, significantly lower than the
5.8% national average.
308. University of Wyoming at Laramie has a reputation for being one of the
more conservative institutions of higher learning in the U.S.
309. Wyoming didn't raise the drinking age to 21 until 1988.
310. First business west of the Missouri River (the Fort William trading post)
was established in Wyoming in 1834.
311. The first ranger station was established in Wyoming in 1891.
312. The first interscholastic, artificially-lit evening football game took
place in Wyoming in 1925.
313. Cheyenne Frontier Days is one the largest rodeo events in the US and
brings in a large number of tourists (and their spending money).
Primary
election totals:
314. 1996 Primary total votes 126,928
315. 1996 Primary GOP 85,283
316. 1996 Primary Democrat 38,763
317. 1998 Primary total votes 127,872
318. 1998 Primary GOP 89,335
319. 1998 Primary Democrat 36,169
320. 2000 Primary total votes 108,238
321. 2000 Primary GOP 74,663
322. 2000 Primary Democrat 30,765
323. 2002 Primary election total votes 135,983
324. 2002 Primary election GOP 95,590
325. 2002 Primary election Democrat 38,118
326. Total average = 124,755
327. GOP average = 86,217
328. Democrat average = 35,954
Selected primary races:
329. 1998 Democratic Primary for Governor, libertarian Keith Goodenough 9,033
330. 1998 Democratic Primary for Governor, libertarian Keith Goodenough was
9,021 votes away from winning the Democratic Party nomination for Governor
331. 1998 GOP Primary for Governor, Geringer won with only 56,015
332. 1998 GOP Primary Sec. of State, Meyer won with only 35,858
333. 1998 GOP Primary State Auditor, Maxfield won with only 41,731 and has
unopposed in the general election
334. 2000 GOP Primary for US Rep Cubin 54,946
335. 2000 Democratic Primary for US Rep 14,219
336. 2000 GOP Primary for US Senate Thomas 68,132
337. 2000 Democratic Primary for US Senate 16,530
338. 2002 GOP Primary for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Blankenship
28,162
339. 2002 Democratic Primary for State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Emmons 17,312
340. 2002 GOP Primary for State Treasurer Lummis 79,557 and ran unopposed in
General election
341. 2002 GOP Primary for Governor Bebout 44,417
342. 2002 Democratic Primary for Governor Freudenthal 19,732 and won General
election
343. 2002 GOP Primary for US Rep Cubin 75,169
344. 2002 Democratic Primary for US Rep Akin 20,068
General election totals:
345. 1998 General election total votes 178,401
346. 2000 General election total votes 221,685
347. 2002 General election total votes 188,028
348. Average = 196,038
Selected general election races:
349. 1998 General election State Treasurer in a 3 way race the LP got 10,024
votes or 6%
350. 1998 General election Governor Geringer won with only 97,235 votes
351. 2002 General election GOP for Governor Bebout 88,873
352. 2002 General election Democrat for Governor Freudenthal 92,662 but only had
19,732 votes in Primary
353. 2002 General election Libertarian for Governor 3,924
354. 2002 General election difference b/t GOP and Democrat for Governor 3,789
355. It's not New Hampshire
356. It doesn't practice "fusion voting"
357. It doesn't use multi-seat districts
358. More Land
359. Cheaper Real Estate
360. Higher percentage of Libertarian voters for president (i.e. the true
measure of how Libertarian a state is)
361. Doesn't have a 400 seat legislature
362. Pays elected officials a fair wage (instead of only $100/year which is
exclusionary towards those who aren't wealthy and invites corruption and
bribery)
363. It's in the west which was settled by the bravest, most rugged,
freedom-loving, independent, American pioneers in American history and that
spirit has remained unlike the east which was settled by the English.
364. More beautiful than New Hampshire, Maine, Delaware, or the Dakotas.
365. Offers the most opportunity for success for the FSP in many categories
including the single most important factor...population.
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