Finance Xpress

Differentiating between wants and needs can be difficult for many people, and if you can’t tell the difference, it may hold you back and prevent you from learning how to save money.

The average person has a lot of debt. They might have credit card debt, loans on furniture, a mortgage payment, a car payment, and more.

However, if you want to improve your financial situation, whether this means getting out of debt or to stop living paycheck to paycheck, you are going to have to face one major thing – distinguishing between wants and needs.

Some items are needs, but many of the things we buy are actually wants. And, confusing wants with needs may be causing you a lot of financial stress.

Remember, the only things you actually need include a place to live, a certain amount of clothing, and food and water.

To quickly determine the difference between a want and need, think of a need being something required for survival. Needs are water for drinking, food to eat, clothing to keep you warm, and shelter to live in.

On the other hand, a want is everything else. Wants are there to make life a little more enjoyable.

And, we should all be enjoying our lives.

Recommended reading:

• 15 Reasons You’re Broke And Can’t Save Money
• 30+ Ways To Save Money Each Month
• How To Ditch The Revolving Debt Cycle
• How To Make Extra Money

However, some people think cell phones, massive homes, gym memberships, cable, going out to eat, and so on are all necessary. But, they really aren’t. If you cannot afford to save money or find yourself going into debt for your wants, then you need to start cutting these items out of your budget and your life, at least until you get your financial situation and spending under control.

It is normal to want things, and it’s not a bad thing.

You may want to take a trip around the world, get the latest iPhone, and so on. Whatever you want, though, be realistic and first figure out if you can afford it. If you can't afford it, then stop before going any further. Remember, it’s just a want!

Learning to make better choices and to differentiate between wants and needs will help you stay out of debt and reach financial freedom sooner. Learning how to control your spending will help you for years into the future, even as your income grows.

By realizing what are wants and what are needs, you'll be able to cut some unnecessary spending and improve your financial situation.

Here is how you can lower your spending by telling the difference between wants and needs.

 

Be happy with what you have.

If you're reading this blog, then you probably have a better life than many other people in this world. It’s important to realize that not everyone has access to a computer, an internet connection, or a comfy spot to read from.

So, the next time you think that you can't survive without something, be honest with yourself about whether or not that’s actually true.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy life and have a good time.

The power of frugality means that you can still live a great life while on a budget. Money doesn't have to dictate how much fun you have and neither do confusing wants with needs.

There are plenty of ways to live an awesome life while saving money. Yes, you can still see your friends, have fun with your loved ones, and more – all while staying on a realistic budget.

 

Don’t let your needs turn into wants.

One of the problems in understanding wants and needs is realizing that sometimes our needs can cause us to spend more than we should, meaning needs can turn into wants.

Here are some example of basic needs turning into wants:

• Water- To stay hydrated, all you need is water. However, this need can turn into a want with things like bottled water, soda, coffee, etc.
• Food- Food can come in many forms, and the healthier the better. But, going out to eat all the time turns this need into a want and can cause you to spend more than necessary.
• Shelter- The place you decide to live doesn’t have to break your budget. You can rent a room from someone, live in an apartment, a tiny home, a mobile home, etc. But this need becomes a want with overspending and thinking you need something way above your means.
• Clothing- Clothing needs are things such as pants, shirts, and underwear so that you can go out into society and not be naked and put in jail. You can get affordable clothing by shopping at a thrift store (such as Goodwill or Plato's Closet) or buying items that fit within your budget. But, wants are expensive clothing and shoes, such as Louis Vuitton, $10,000 suits, etc. You don't need these items in order to survive.

 

Think before you buy.

Before you buy something, you should stop and think about whether the item is a want or a need.

You should ask yourself questions such as:

• Do I need this to survive?
• Why do I need or want this item?
• Do I already have something similar?

By first asking yourself these questions, you'll waste less money and even prevent clutter from taking over your life.

 

Wait before you purchase.

If you are still confused about whether or not you need something, then I recommend going home and thinking about the purchase for at least a day. If it's a really big purchase, then perhaps wait at least a week.

Doing this will allow you time to research the item and if you will actually miss not having it.

In most cases, you'll probably forget about the item and end up not purchasing it.

 

Evaluate what you're currently spending money on.

Most of the things you are currently spending money on are probably just wants. This is even true if many other people have it, think latest cell phone, new car, etc.

So, if you are trying to cut back on your budget, then you may want to get rid of some “wants” that you already have, such as:

• Cell phones
• Internet
• Cable
• Netflix
• Gym membership
• A car
• Toys
• Going out to eat

Now, some of these things, like the internet or cell phone, are much more important to those who need these things in order to work. The key here is to evaluate what you actually NEED.

Spending on wants is okay. However, it's all about being realistic with your spending and your income. No one should go into debt for something they don’t actually need in order to survive..

Do you understand the difference between wants and needs? What wants and needs do you have in your life?

The post You Don’t Need Everything – Do You Know The Difference Between Wants And Needs? appeared first on Making Sense Of Cents.

from Making Sense Of Cents


via Finance Xpress

Posted by: Unknown

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/36567/geochart.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2tjdVHB;  

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Effective	Annual	Difference	Annual	Adjusted
1	Alaska	5.69%	$3,066	-46.85%	$4,237	6
2	Delaware	6.02%	$3,246	-43.74%	$3,830	1
3	Montana	6.92%	$3,728	-35.37%	$3,561	3
4	Wyoming	7.45%	$4,015	-30.40%	$4,312	2
5	Nevada	7.72%	$4,161	-27.86%	$4,028	7

Ask the Experts < >

• Timothy L. Hamilton Assistant Professor of Economics at University of Richmond
• Stacey Swearingen White Chair and Professor of Urban Planning at University of Kansas
• Sharon Moran Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Leader of the Environmental and Natural Resources Policy (ENRP) Doctoral Program at SUNY
• Sabrina McCormick Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at George Washington University
• Philip E. Graves Professor of Economics at the University of Colorado Boulder
• Maxine Burkett Global Fellow in the Environmental Change and Security Program at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars & Professor of Law at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
• Laura A. Bakkensen Assistant Professor in the School of Government and Public Policy at University of Arizona
• John (Jack) Williams Professor of Geography and Director of the Center for Climatic Research at University of Wisconsin - Madison
• Jessica Hellmann Director of the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota on the Environment at the University of Minnesota
• Jason Scorse Director of the Center for the Blue Economy and Associate Professor & Chair of the International Environmental Policy Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
• Gary Bauer Professor of Law in the Cooley Law School at Western Michigan University
• Dave Marcouiller Professor and State Extension Specialist in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at University of Wisconsin
• A. Dan Tarlock Professor of Law in the Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Institute of Technology
• Austin Troy Professor and Chair of the Department of Planning and Design at the University of Colorado Denver

Timothy L. Hamilton Assistant Professor of Economics at University of Richmond What should people look for in choosing a beach property? Property markets tend to be well informed and do a good job of pricing that information. If you want great properties with great amenities, you’re likely going to pay for it. Decide what you like and what you’re willing to pay. A major uncertainty in what are often quickly growing beach communities is future development. It’s important to pay attention to zoning laws and commercial trends to help predict what type of development might take place in town or on neighboring lots. Local property taxes can also be important. High property taxes could deter commercial development and signal the community’s commitment to investment. Is it better to live in a beach town that has a large year round population compared to those with a more seasonal population? This all depends on what type of lifestyle you’re looking for. If the town lacks a considerable year-round population, full-time job opportunities will be hard to come by. Housing markets tend to be a bit thin in these towns as well, so resale will be a little more difficult. Towns with a year-round population tend to have better infrastructure and non-beach related services/amenities. What affects the value of beach properties over time? How can someone determine if a given property is a good investment for the long term? Determining whether any property is a good investment is always a bit tricky but any financial profession should be able to walk you through a few calculations. The only real difficulty is determining how much the property will appreciate/depreciate in the future. This depends on residential/commercial development in the town, economic growth in the surrounding area, and any changes that could impact natural amenities (i.e., climate change). In general, there’s a limited amount of coastline so one would expect a coastal price premium well into the future. How might beach-front real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change? Climate change poses a very serious threat to beach-front real estate. Rising sea levels are well-understood and will likely cut off some quality property. The potential for an increase in storm surges is less well-understood but is real danger. Rising premiums in flood insurance markets are a good indicator of expected future risks. The best mitigation strategy from a homeowner’s perspective is to look at any changes over the last 20 years and understand that those will likely continue into the near future (and perhaps into the distant future). Of course, rising sea levels do not mean that beach-front property is disappearing, it’s just moving. Stacey Swearingen White Chair and Professor of Urban Planning at University of Kansas What should people look for in choosing a beach property? A starting assumption is that anyone purchasing property on or near a beach is investing in an asset for the long term, perhaps to share with family now and into the future. If I were investing in a beach property, I would be asking myself these questions: 1) Am I planning to live in this property year-round or seasonally? 2) How important is it that this property be part of my family for generations to come; 3) How important is it for the property to maintain or increase its value; 4) Might my goal of beach property include lakes as well as oceans? These questions reflect my own sense of concern and uncertainty over climate change impacts in coastal areas. Is it better to live in a beach town that has a large year round population compared to those with a more seasonal population? The answer here depends in large part on the first question indicated above. If I intend to live year-round in my new beach property, then a town with a year-round population would provide better amenities (e.g., nearby shopping, health care and so on). It would also provide opportunities for community involvement and activities that make being a resident in any community more appealing. While a year-round population does not rule out being a seasonal resident, conflicts between the “locals” and the “tourists” are possible, and some additional investigation over the current town climate would be important. Seasonal populations have their own opportunities for community-building, as families return to the same places over the years. What affects the value of beach properties over time? How can someone determine if a given property is a good investment for the long term? How might beach-front real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change? I’m combining my responses to the last two sets of questions, as I see them as closely related. Before browsing even a few online listings for beach properties, my very first step would be to consult the most recent projections for sea level rise in the area(s) I am looking. There is no doubt that certain areas of the U.S. are already seeing the adverse impacts of sea level rise. Recent news coverage of cities like Miami demonstrates the dilemmas some beach towns will face in the very near future, dilemmas that include the possibility of abandoning existing housing stock in inundated areas. Climate change is here and we will be seeing its impacts far into the future. Given this inevitability, and acknowledging the inexact nature of predicting climate change impacts, determining a property’s investment value is challenging. It is for this reason that asking oneself about the importance of maintaining or increasing property values is so critical. If you view a beach property purchase similarly to paying for the same beachfront rental property over time, then you have more freedom to take a risk. If you intend to purchase a primary residence, however, or are more risk-averse, then you might well want to ask yourself whether the ocean is the right place for you. Property off the coast or lakefront property may provide many of the same desired qualities with more investment potential. Finally, homeowners and local authorities can do a number of things both to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts. Beyond the steps that all of us can take to limit our production of greenhouse gases, avoiding or preventing new development in flood-prone areas is one obvious way to avoid future problems. Maintaining beachfront vegetation, reducing impervious surfaces, and elevating property above anticipated storm surge levels are all steps that homeowners can consider and local authorities can require or incentivize. Sharon Moran Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Leader of the Environmental and Natural Resources Policy (ENRP) Doctoral Program at SUNY What should people look for in choosing a beach property? Anyone even considering buying a second home should be ready for a second set of hassles: the second mortgage payment, the second roof that might fail unexpectedly, the second lawn care guy that might accidently mow down your new berry bushes, etc. But in exchange for that extra effort (and plenty of cash, which might have been moldering away in some bland investment), there’s the payoff: a sweet spot that’s yours and yours alone, where you can have respite, and inhabit a place that is dedicated to your leisure. People are passionate about beaches. And coastal communities offer so many different activities that they are popular with people who want something-for-everyone. Lots of people want vacations where they can “make memories,” and having a range of activities, active and otherwise, works out well for families juggling varied interests and abilities. If your preferences include solitude, open space and nature, you'll want to consider less-developed areas, but don't be surprised when picking up a quart of milk requires a vehicle and the better part of an hour. But if having gourmet options for dinner are the highlight of the week, make sure you target villages and towns that offer those options. Owning a second home means more responsibility, financial and otherwise, and anyone who doesn't relish that might consider other forms of ownership. These could include: condominiums, fractional ownership, and timeshares, among other things, and these forms of ownership involve less expense and responsibility, but at the cost of control and independence in decision-making. Also, some near-coast properties include deeded beach rights, thus providing some of the benefits of owning waterfront property without higher taxes, greater risks, and special management hassles of being right on the water. The insurance industry has been tracking threats for years; in some places, premiums are reduced when property owners take proactive steps, such as raising a home in a flood prone area. The bottom line: until you're certain about exactly what you want, and what your options are, it's always smarter to rent before you buy. Is it better to live in a beach town that has a large year round population compared to those with a more seasonal population? In contrast to seasonal communities, those with a large year round population offer more conveniences: they will have more options for shopping, healthcare, and entertainment, for example. Consider how important these things are to you, and whether you need to have them in your immediate environment or not. But there’s a minor trade-off: beach towns that are year round may not have the same celebratory spirit as those seasonal communities where people are collectively aware of the limits of their time together. Another thing that shapes how people inhabit beach towns is where they are located. Beach towns located near major cities have their own distinct weekend patterns: spend time on Cape Cod or in the Hamptons and the traffic alone will underscore how people move back and forth when they are able to get away from work. However, the way people choose to handle their work-life balance is changing, especially with more options for telecommuting. What affects the value of beach properties over time? How can someone determine if a given property is a good investment for the long term? There's a website that lets you enter a property’s address and see whether it would be underwater, given different sea level rise scenarios. Find it here. Lots of key information has been aggregated and made more user-friendly, and site-specific queries yield local maps with projections and even some street views. Investment managers snicker at people who think that second homes are a two-for, combining income and fun. While it’s not out of the question, it can only work in specific circumstances. Owning beach property in order to make a profit involves different strategies, and most people are not interested in becoming a landlord (although Airbnb is making it easier to help people have test run). Beach properties are no small expense, however with careful planning, some families managed to take advantage of rental opportunities and tax benefits, and enjoy property typically available only to those with higher levels of wealth and income. A more realistic way to approach it would be as an investment that holds its value over time and provides tangible (though non-material) benefits in the meantime. The details make-or-break the options, so people need to consult their financial planners to know what might work for them. How might beach-front real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change? No one really knows what lies ahead. Climate change can affect coastline communities lots of ways. While sea level rise is the most well-publicized, some other impacts could include: increases in frequency and severity of storms, changing erosion patterns, problems with wastewater and storm water drainage systems, threats to water supplies (especially with salt water intrusion into aquifers), and increased cost for repairing and/or replacing infrastructure, such as bridges and docks. Local authorities will bear most of the responsibility for managing these impacts; as we have seen in case of Miami, Florida (where a forward-thinking mayor is grappling with properties that flood during the moon tides), alert managers working at the local scale can help address immediate problems, even if elected officials at the state and national levels practice denial and insist on keeping their heads in the (shifting and eroding beach) sand. Communities with capable and effective local government are better positioned to adapt to changing circumstances than those lacking in capacity for self-management. Still, there's nothing that secures a community’s future more than active citizens who feel personally invested and are actively engaged, through environmental groups, planning boards, town councils, etc. Sabrina McCormick Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at George Washington University What should people look for in choosing a beach property? Most people look for beauty and ocean access. That's fair if you're only going to be visiting briefly. If you're going to purchase a home, your considerations should have a longer time horizon and therefore consider the risks. What affects the value of beach properties over time? How can someone determine if a given property is a good investment for the long term? One important factor for a home buyer to be thinking about is both short and long-term flood risk. The flood risk maps by the Federal Emergency Management Agency do not account for sea level rise or the short-term risks that have been increased by highly variable weather patterns falling outside of historic norms. So, you have to do that legwork yourself. In many areas, insurers are already thinking about that risk and often not offering flood insurance. That's critical since a flooded home without insurance is a huge financial liability. How might beach-front real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change? There are many countries where building or living in flood zones is simply not allowed. I think this is wise, considering it reduces the risk for both the homeowner herself, as well as the broader pool of the insured who end up covering other people's losses through increased rates. Areas that are prone to flooding events are particularly risky, and should really be out of the question when you're thinking of investing in a purchase. Does this mean you'll end up with a home that doesn't have a view? Not necessarily. However, it may mean that you have a home whose value increases when those closer to the beach decrease due to their being too risky. Philip E. Graves Professor of Economics at the University of Colorado Boulder What should people look for in choosing a beach property? This depends on whether one is purchasing to live at the property or whether it is an investment property. In the first case, eccentric/individual preferences matter much more; in the latter case, the concern must be with the average preferences of others. The presence of the ocean amenity will have value in either case. As a general statement, the choice of beach property will be guided by the same concerns as with the choice of an inland property. Is it better to live in a beach town that has a large year round population compared to those with a more seasonal population? Again, if this property is to be lived in by the owners, that would depend greatly on individual preferences . Some would look forward to the down season, while others would like the continuity of services that would be present in year-round destinations. As an investment, annual rentals would make much more money for year-round destinations, but seasonal population destinations would have higher monthly rents during the high season. In the latter case, the owner could enjoy the property at other times, but acquire much higher monthly income during high season (e.g., "snowbird" rentals). What affects the value of beach properties over time? How can someone determine if a given property is a good investment for the long term? The value of an asset of any type is determined by the flow of services that asset delivers over time, combined with whether that asset is a "normal" good, an "inferior" good, or a "superior" good. The ocean housing asset "bundle" (the combination of house quality and locational attributes) is likely to have the property that rising national incomes result in greater demand, hence property value gains. Locations with "inferior" amenities (e.g., Detroit, Flint, Buffalo) will have declining values over time, as rising income reduces the demand for such locations. Oddly, buying a place where values are expected to fall (e.g., rustbelt) can be just as profitable as buying a place where values are expected to rise (e.g., sunbelt), because the current selling prices will embed the expectations. How might beach-front real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change? This greatly depends on very specific traits of individual properties. The one on a hill, other things equal, will sell for much more than the one five feet above sea level. There is, in this context, a very intractable problem of individual versus collective action. This is discussed in great detail here. Maxine Burkett Global Fellow in the Environmental Change and Security Program at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars & Professor of Law at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa What should people look for in choosing a beach property? To be quite honest, I would avoid beach property altogether. According to what we understand from the observed and forecast sea level rise, beach property is uniquely vulnerable to extreme high tide, flooding, and erosion -- among other things. And, to the extent that you can protect your own property, it might be at the expense of your neighbors’. Of course, like most things, all events are local so the nature of the coastline for the east or west coast -- north or south -- will vary. So, too, will the vigilance of the local leadership in making their coastal communities more resilient. Either way, it’s a risky proposition. Updated sea level rise forecasts are never better than the prior one. One would do well to fully understand and appreciate the risks before choosing to commit to beachfront property. What affects the value of beach properties over time? How can someone determine if a given property is a good investment for the long term? As mentioned above, these questions regarding investments are all about risk -- current assessments of existing and future risk to the property, as well as one’s aversion to that risk. I would certainly seek to gain a better understanding of natural hazards coupled with the increased risk climate change introduces -- extreme weather events, including storms and coastal flooding, and rising seas. I would also consider the insurance industry’s capacity and waning appetite for more frequent and greater losses resulting from these events. How might beach-front real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change? Each coastline is unique and the resilience measures of each locality are equally so. The local impact of sea level rise and coastal flooding will differ from place to place, but a rise in nuisance flooding and heightened sea level is more or less shared across coastal communities in the United States. And, yes, some areas are more vulnerable than others -- because of coastal geology, existing built infrastructure, among other things. It is also important to remember that vulnerability is not just determined by your proximity to the coastline or if you are in a hurricane alley. Often times one’s ability to recover will depend as much on the level of preparedness at the individual level, as well as the state and local levels of government. There are, for example, numerous guides on disaster preparedness for homeowners, like NOAA Sea Grant’s Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards, and policy tools for local authorities to protect their citizens and assets, like those laid out in Georgetown Climate Center’s Adaptation Toolkit: Sea Level Rise and Coastal Land Use. Laura A. Bakkensen Assistant Professor in the School of Government and Public Policy at University of Arizona What should people look for in choosing a beach property? A rich literature on hedonic analysis shows us that properties are made up of many characteristics, each with different values. Thus, people should consider what aspects are important to them, personally, and how much they are willing to pay for each property. Some people enjoy proximity to beaches or expansive views. Others prefer to live near business centers or reduce commute times. Another important aspect is the flood risk of a property. Is it better to live in a beach town that has a large year round population compared to those with a more seasonal population? There would, of course, be differences such as employment and business opportunities as well as differences in traffic, etc. What affects the value of beach properties over time? How can someone determine if a given property is a good investment for the long term? In perfectly competitive markets, the value of a property reflects the present value of the future stream of net benefit from that property over time. However, sometimes properties are undervalued or overvalued by the market. Thus, a potential buyer can see if the current price is worth it to them. It’s also important to accurately assess a property’s current and future characteristics. New research has shown that people may pay too much for a house if they are not properly assessing future property risks, such as flood risk. How might beach-front real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change? Loss of land due to both the slow but persistent sea level rise as well as inundation from coastal storms can negatively impact coastal properties. Risks from both these saltwater threats are, indeed, different across space. In addition, vulnerability includes the level of preparedness of individual properties and communities. Some tips to increase resilience include staying informed about the potential threats (such as accessing your flood risk zone according to the National Flood Insurance Program) and assessing the costs and benefits of potential protection strategies such as building a sea wall. John (Jack) Williams Professor of Geography and Director of the Center for Climatic Research at University of Wisconsin - Madison How might beach-front real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change? Climate change and rising ocean levels are a long-term problem for beach-front real estate -- they can be expected to exert a negative drag on housing prices in coastal areas and to raise insurance rates. Current rates of ocean level rise are modest, 3.1 +/- 1.4 cm/decade (Dangendorf et al. 2017 PNAS). However, sea level rise is irreversible, and may accelerate in the future -- much depends on the rate of melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. I personally would be very cautious about making long-term investments in coastal real estate. The areas of greatest vulnerability to sea level rise are:

• Those subject to hurricanes or other strong storms (the worst impacts of sea level rise come from the enhanced exposure of coastal areas to flooding from storm surges);

• Areas where the land is sinking (sinking land plus rising ocean is a bad combination; see New Orleans);

• Areas of low topographic relief (i.e., Florida and much of the U.S. southeastern coastline);

• Areas without coastal barrier islands, salt marshes, or other natural barriers to storm surges (always best to have something between you and an incoming storm).

Homeowners and local authorities can achieve solutions in two general areas: First is climate stabilization, which attacks at its root the chain of rising greenhouse gases -- rising temperatures -- melting ice -- rising sea level. Specifically, invest in wind and solar installations. Installation prices have been dropping rapidly, they have near-zero greenhouse gas emissions, and wind and solar systems are rapidly deploying around the world. Coastal areas are great places for both -- lots of wind on a regular basis, often lots of sunlight. Not everyone likes the aesthetics of wind towers, but they are better than watching your beachfront go underwater. Second is coastal adaptation, which seeks to improve the resilience of local communities to rising sea level and other climate-change effects. These are almost always good ideas, because they focus on protection from hurricanes and other storms, regardless of whether they are enhanced by sea level rise. A few examples:

• Raise and toughen beachfront houses so that they can withstand storm surges.

• Invest in protection and restoration of coastal salt marshes and barrier islands, where possible. These are a low-cost natural barrier to storm surges.

• Develop long-range plans to move critical infrastructure (e.g., emergency services, hospitals) out of storm surge zones.

For those looking to buy, consider lake front or river front instead of ocean front. Ocean level rise isn't a concern with most lakes. With rivers, make sure that you aren't in the floodplain. This is one of the reasons we have chosen to live in Wisconsin. Jessica Hellmann Director of the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota on the Environment at the University of Minnesota How might beach-front real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change? The world's oceans are rising for two reasons. First, the average temperature of Earth is increasing because greenhouse gases are increasing the amount of heat trapped near the Earth's surface. This warmer atmosphere warms the oceans, too. Warmer water takes up more space, and an expanding ocean leads to a higher sea level. Second, the amount of water in the ocean will increase when ice held frozen on land melts from rising temperatures, and this new water raises the sea level. The level of the oceans rises more slowly than temperature, however. How much the ocean rises depends on how quickly land ice melts (and it seems to be melting more quickly than scientists once thought). Our best guess about sea level rise will be 1.5-3.3 feet by the end of this century, by 2100 (if we continue releasing greenhouse gases). But the seas will continue to rise for hundreds of years thereafter as they equilibrate to the warmer climate. The ocean does not rise evenly in different places around the world. In some places, sea level is rising very little because the land itself is (still) rebounding from the end of the last ice age -- the land is rising while the seas are rising too. In other places, there are steep gradients near the coast, so that rising seas have relatively small effects on land. But in areas with little topography, a small amount of sea level rise slides relatively far inland. Parts of the eastern U.S. are like this -- such as southern Florida -- where a relatively small amount of sea level rise covers a very large area. In Miami, for example, a rise of just a couple feet would flood most of Miami Beach. Another concern about sea level rise is damage from storms. When sea level is higher, the damage from storms extends further onto land than it did in the past. There are several things that we can do about sea level rise. First, we can stop and slow down greenhouse gas emissions to keep the seas from rising -- or make sure they rise as little as possible. Second, we can block rising seas with a variety of artificial and natural techniques such as sea walls and coastal wetlands. Wetlands are particularly important to reduce the effects of storms, because wetlands absorb the force and damage of high seas. Land owners can work with government to put these strategies and assets in place, as well as working to protecting their own property. Third, we can retreat, moving key infrastructure and people away from the coast to protect them from rising seas. Cities, states and insurance companies will play an important role in helping land owners manage reconstruction and relocation. Jason Scorse Director of the Center for the Blue Economy and Associate Professor & Chair of the International Environmental Policy Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey What should people look for in choosing a beach property? Besides the usual, is it near sea level and at risk of storm damage? Is it better to live in a beach town that has a large year round population compared to those with a more seasonal population? Depends what type of lifestyle you want. What affects the value of beach properties over time? How can someone determine if a given property is a good investment for the long term? I don't think real estate is ever a particularly good investment relative to others, but make sure the property is not near sea level, eroding cliffs, or any area with lots of hurricane potential. How might beach-front real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change? Climate change is going to devastate much of the U.S. coastal real estate and many people are going to lose a lot of money. The question is when, not if. The best thing people can do is to vote for politicians who actually recognize climate change and want to do something about it, and don't build/buy in risky areas. Gary Bauer Professor of Law in the Cooley Law School at Western Michigan University What should people look for in choosing a beach property? As with any real estate, you need to be sure that you have a qualified inspector check to make sure that any of the modifications have been done in compliance with local building codes and zoning. Many of the beachfront properties have expanded the accommodations to house additional visitors or to rent the property to others during times when they are not using the property. As a result, additional baths might be added without proper permits and the septic systems or sewage systems are inadequate to service those additions. Another often-overlooked aspect of living on the water includes confirmation of legal boundaries. A seller might point to "apparent" lot lines from the placement of fences, trees or shrubs. They might get along with the neighbor bordering their property and you find after purchasing the property that when that good neighbor sells to someone else, that new owner might have a staked survey done and to your amazement, you own 10 or 20 feet less than what you thought. Get a staked survey by a licensed surveyor and verify the boundaries. I have seen many property line disputes arise on waterfront property. People are very jealous of their waterfront and every foot is precious to them. Make sure that what you think you are buying is what you are buying. Is it better to live in a beach town that has a large year round population compared to those with a more seasonal population? I am not so sure it matters as much as the strength of the local economy over time. If employment and the local economy is strong, you will have less trouble keeping your property values sustained through the tax base than if the permanent residents come and go with the ups and downs of the economy. What affects the value of beach properties over time? How can someone determine if a given property is a good investment for the long term? Buying a beach house for the purpose of investing is not, in my opinion, a good idea. I would say, if you like the property and can afford it, including all of the carrying costs, then if it increases in value, great -- but don't depend on it. During the recent real estate crash, waterfront property was not immune from downturns in the real estate market any more than any other properties. In fact, for many individuals, the second home proved to be unsustainable and many more of them went on the market depressing the market significantly. How might beach-front real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change? The federal government flood insurance program has raised rates significantly over the last 10 - 15 years largely because of the heavy losses sustained as a consequence of some rising sea levels. But this was also due to increased pressure on waterfront development over that time period without adequate protections in place to insure structural integrity during major storm events. As a result, the losses experienced under flood insurance through the federal government has been reassessed, and those losses factored into current rates. This has had a dramatic effect on the ownership of waterfront property in all venues and forced many people to abandon formerly buildable lots rather than carry the long term cost of insuring those properties. When they do build, the cost of building sustainable structures during major storm events has increased the cost of that housing and the replacement costs continue to go up as local building codes require greater structural engineering to withstand major flooding and wind damage. Dave Marcouiller Professor and State Extension Specialist in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at University of Wisconsin What should people look for in choosing a beach property? This varies widely. Items that are explanatory include:

• Proximity to primary residence;

• Quality of the water body;

• Existing development and/or developability of adjacent land;

• Previous experience with the region in which the water body exists.

Ultimately, it boils back down to the 3 L’s of real estate: location, location, location. Except that with recreational homes it is more about natural amenities in rural locations. Is it better to live in a beach town that has a large year round population compared to those with a more seasonal population? Again, the primary drivers of recreational property involve the natural amenity itself, not so much adjacent communities. Most “beach towns” exist because of the recreational homes that are closely proximate. What affects the value of beach properties over time? How can someone determine if a given property is a good investment for the long term? To answer this question, you must understand that shoreline is typically found in fixed supply (unless you live in Dubai). Demand for recreational homes, on the other hand, has soared during the past 40 years, resulting in dramatic increases in the values of shorefront properties. What was originally purchased for $5 per shorefront foot in 1960 is worth well over $3,000 per shorefront foot today. The future is always difficult to forecast, but there is little to suggest that shorefront property has reached its peak value. Key determinants of shorefront value include:

• Proximity to metropolitan area;

• Quality of natural amenities;

• Existing development and/or developability of adjacent lands.

How might beach-front real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change? Interesting question. This is primarily a problem with oceanfront properties. That said, inland lakes and rivers can experience increased flood risk and risk of invasive species. A. Dan Tarlock Professor of Law in the Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Institute of Technology How might beach-front real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change? There is mounting evidence that purchasers of beachfront property, especially from the Mid-Atlantic south and along the Gulf Coast, are paying more attention to sea level scenarios. Purchasers would be advised first to determine whether the property is in a mapped FEMA flood plain, and thus flood insurance is a pre-condition to a mortgage. Purchasers should also check hurricane, and more importantly, storm records for the area. As more frequent intense rain events occur, storm surge is a real problem. All this is in addition to any local land regulations that have set back land construction standards. Austin Troy Professor and Chair of the Department of Planning and Design at the University of Colorado Denver What should people look for in choosing a beach property? The desirability of a particular beachfront property is largely in the eye of the beholder. People live near the beach for beautiful views and access to the water, and often these judgments are very subjective. So those who want to live along the beach should first of all follow their gut. That being said, potential buyers should also closely consider the risks. Beachfront living comes with a lot of environmental hazards. These homes are potentially subject to flooding, storm surges, high winds, hurricanes, coastal erosion, and even pollution, depending on their geography. Interestingly, research finds that beach dunes play an important role in regulating some of these hazards. Large dune widths particularly help buffer adjacent housing from storm surges and flooding. Keeping dunes at least partially vegetated can help make those dunes even more effective in these roles. Potential buyers should closely consult flood and other hazard zone disclosure reports. Most transactions (those that involve financing by a federally regulated financial entity) will require a flood zone determination, and that should be closely reviewed. Buyers can also hire experts to review the geology, erodibility, and even potential hurricane exposure of the site. Given how expensive most beach homes are, such an expense prior to closing is well worth the money. Is it better to live in a beach town that has a large year round population compared to those with a more seasonal population? This is a difficult question to answer, and really depends on the preferences of the buyer. If he or she is looking for a vacation or retirement home and desires privacy, one would imagine that they would opt for a town with seasonal population. If that person intends to work and wishes to have access to a viable employment market, or if they just like to have more company and activity, then a year round population makes more sense. How this factor affects the premium paid on beachfront property is hard to say, although I imagine premiums will exist in both cases. What affects the value of beach properties over time? How can someone determine if a given property is a good investment for the long term? Beachfront property is highly desirable and can offer stunning views and great recreational opportunities. According to the literature, the premium for beachfront property is typically large, but varies significantly by market. About 10 years ago I worked on a project for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, helping them value their natural capital, and we explored the impacts of beaches on property values in several different markets. Our econometric models of seven housing markets showed that for four of those markets, price premiums were very large -- an increase of between $81,000 and $194,000 on average for being within 300 feet of a beach, relative to similar non-beach properties. For one market segment, prices were found to be slightly lower along the beach, although that may have been due to measurement error. And for two of the seven markets, the positive price premium extended as far as 2000 feet away from the beach, with values ranging from $16,000 to $44,000. Several factors have been found to influence the magnitude of the premium. One is beach width. One study in South Carolina found that each one-foot increase in beach width was associated with over $500 in property value increase for direct beachfront property, while that premium was about half the amount for properties located ½ mile from the beach. Another is water quality. While the impact of ocean water quality on property values still needs more study, a number of studies have looked at water clarity in lakes and found a significant impact. For instance, in a series of New Hampshire lakes, a study found that a one meter decrease in water clarity could reduce adjacent housing prices by between 0.9% and 6% of sales price, depending on the market segment. And finally there is the question of environmental hazard. The more objectively quantifiable is that hazard for a particular property, the more of a negative impact it will have on property values. If this hazard is already known prior to transaction, the ultimate sales price should theoretically reflect this hazard. But if a hazard doesn’t become apparent until after you purchase a home (say, that a beach zone is eroding far faster than anyone previously thought), that means you are likely to take a haircut on the property. Likewise, if a major disaster happens that affects beachfront properties in the vicinity, this will also have a significant downward effect on prices. These risks go with the territory when it comes to waterfront ownership. How might beach-front real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change? Following up on my last point to the question above, climate change increases the chance that potential hazards like flooding, storm surge, wind, hurricane, etc., will catastrophically affect a beachfront property. People talk a lot about the rise in sea level (which has already risen 8” since 1880) with respect to global climate change. However, that rise is not just projected to manifest like the slow filling of a bathtub (although averaged over the long-term, it is kind of like that). Instead, it will be characterized by many and more extreme coastal storm surges, in which we see sudden and violent rises in water level, exposing coastal properties to catastrophic flooding. Eventually, even in the absence of storm surges, the lowest lying properties will be too expensive to protect and so will be lost to sea level rise. Some of the lowest lying communities in the U.S. are already feeling this effect. A 2016 New York Times piece conducted a detailed analysis of the potential impacts of sea level rise on coastal real estate, and found that they are appreciating less rapidly than other markets. They report huge potential increases in the hazards that coastal landowners will face; for instance, Southeast Florida’s current 10 tidal floods per year are predicted to increase to 240 per year by 2045. Facts like this are why chief economist of Freddie Mac, Sean Becketti, has issued dire predictions suggesting storm surges will lead to the collapse, and even abandonment of coastal real estate markets. For many coastal properties, these hazards may not become material for another 3-5 decades, depending on the location. But owners in such situations should be aware that expectations of this future condition may creep into the price-setting behaviors in coastal property markets before then, leaving them with far less valuable properties. It’s hard to say when we’ll start seeing significant across-the-board drops in coastal real estate values, but all coastal owners should closely monitor market indicators and those who are most risk averse may want to consider moving sooner rather than later.

Methodology

 

Source:

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress

Posted by: Alina Comoreanu

When most people think of credit-card perks, their minds turn to rewards, low interest rates and convenience. But credit cards have a number of other basic benefits that help cardholders save money and avoid hassle. Rental car insurance is a great example.

Policies generally cover cardholders in the event of damage to or theft of a rental car. But you have to decline a rental company’s supplemental insurance policy for it to work. So you need to know that this perk exists, for starters, and what kind of coverage your credit card provides to take advantage of it.

Credit card rental car insurance policies are mostly driven by the card networks: Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. But individual credit card companies determine the specifics of the coverage that customers receive.

So to help you maximize your savings and security, WalletHub compared each major credit card company’s rental car insurance policy. Based on this analysis, we then selected the best credit cards for rental car insurance, out of 52 total offers. You can find the results below.

1. Best Credit Cards for Rental Car Insurance
2. Main Findings
3. The Coverage You Can Expect
4. How To File A Claim
5. 8 Money-Saving Car Rental Tips
6. Detailed Findings
7. Methodology

2017’s Best Credit Cards for Rental Car Insurance

Rank	Card(s)	WalletHub Score
1	All Citi Cards	95.50%
2	All Chase Cards	91.00%
3	All Barclaycard Cards	88.50%

 

Main Findings

Best Issuer: Citi credit cards have the most favorable rental car insurance policies.

 

Avoid Renting: A truck, open-bed vehicle, exotic/antique car, large van or full-size SUV if you want credit-card coverage, as many cards exclude them.

 

*Perfect Score = 20%, American Express are the only cards that exclude full-size SUVs, please see methodology for scoring.

Coverage Duration: Almost 39% of cards only cover domestic rentals for up to 15 days.

 

Road Conditions: There’s only a 17% chance you’ll get penalized for driving on a dirt/gravel road, but it’s still best to stick to the pavement.

 

Country Coverage: All Citi, Chase and Discover cards provide global coverage. Ireland, Israel and Jamaica are the most common exclusions among other issuers.

 

Tire & Rim Damage: More than 57% of cards do not cover all rim/tire damage.

 

Loss-Of-Use Losses: Nearly 8% of cards will not reimburse you for loss of use, which can cost upward of $100.

 

Back to Top

The Coverage You Can Expect

	Example of a Standard Policy	Best Policy
Sign-Up	None required, but you must decline the rental company’s supplemental coverage	None required, but you must decline the rental company’s supplemental coverage
Type Of Coverage	Covers costs stemming from damage to or theft of rental vehicles	Covers costs stemming from damage to or theft of rental vehicles
Coverage Amount	The cost of repairs, the vehicle’s book value or the vehicle’s purchase price, whichever is lower.	Up to $100,000
Maximum Coverage Duration	30 days	31 days
Vehicle Exclusions	Certain popular SUVs and antique, exotic or luxury vehicles, vans, trucks, pick-ups, motorcycles, recreational or off-road vehicles	Off-road vehicles
Type-Of-Road Exclusions	Accidents occurring on dirt and gravel roads are covered	Accidents occurring on dirt and gravel roads are covered
Country Exclusions	Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand	None
Loss Of Use & Personal Insurance Deductible	Both Covered	Both Covered
Towing Costs	Covered	Covered
Tire & Rim Damage	Covers damage as a result of theft, vandalism or vehicle collision	Covers damage as a result of theft, vandalism or vehicle collision
Claims Process & Limits	Call card issuer’s benefits administrator; no claims limit	Call card issuer’s benefits administrator; no claims limit
Full Policy Details	American Express Rental Collision Policy	Citi Rental Collision Policy

Business credit cards seem to offer similar benefits. However, business cards seem to have policy details slightly enhanced (e.g. covering 31 days instead of 15 days rentals) and a few cards even offer the policy as primary coverage instead of secondary.

Back to Top

How To File A Claim

Issuer	Phone Number	Online Support
	U.S: 1-800-338-1670 Outside U.S : 1-216-617-2500	Here
	U.S : 1-800-592-4089 Outside U.S : 1-804-673-1468	Here
	U.S : 1-800-348-8472 Outside U.S : 1-804-673-1164	Here
	U.S : 1-800-348-8472 Outside U.S : 1-804-673-1164	Here For Visa
	Sapphire Preferred: 1-888-320-9961 Freedom: 1-888-320-9656 Slate: 1-877-445-4153	Here
	866-918-4670	Here
	1-800-347-0213	N/A
	U.S : 1-800-348-8472 Outside U.S : 1-804-673-1164	Here
	Visa: 1-866-200-9866 American Express: 1-888-884-6643	Here For Visa
	Visa - U.S : 1-800-348-8472 Visa - Outside U.S : 1-804-673-1164 American Express: 1-855-830-3727	Here For Visa

Back to Top

8 Money-Saving Car Rental Tips

We recommend taking the following steps to minimize the cost and liability associated with renting a car. Be safe out there!

1. Call your insurance company to see if rentals are covered under your standard policy. Older policies may not offer this coverage.
2. Call your credit card company to ask if any limitations apply to your card’s coverage, relative to your rental plans.
3. Double-check with long-term rentals. They might not be covered by your auto insurance policy, due to time limits.
4. Decide whether to mix business with pleasure. Your personal auto policy – if it even covers rentals – only applies when the vehicle is used for personal use. So if you’re traveling for business check what other options are available for you.
5. Get a rental like your everyday ride. Your personal auto insurance is more likely to cover your rental if you get a vehicle of similar value to your own car.
6. Ask about adding an insurance rider (for a small fee) if your policy doesn’t cover a certain type of rental car.
7. Consider a non-owner auto insurance policy if you don’t have a car but drive from time to time.
8. Make a plan before you hit the rental counter. You may want to accept a rental company’s liability insurance and collision damage waiver if you don’t have personal auto insurance and your credit card won’t give you enough coverage. In any case, you want to make an informed decision, not one based on panic at check-out.

Back to Top

Detailed Findings

Credit-card rental car insurance policies were previously evaluated at the network level, but we decided to examine coverage at the card level in 2016 after discovering discrepancies among offers on the same network and/or issued by the same company. Where no policy differences existed, cards were grouped by issuer or network for the sake of simplicity.  Personal Credit Cards

Cards	Total Score	Vehicles Excluded	Clarity on Exclusions	Coverage Duration	Type of Road Exclusions	Country Exclusions	Loss of use and deductible on your auto insurance	Towing	Damage to tires and rims	Activation	Claims Process	Info Accessibility
Max Score	100.00%	20.00%	5.00%	15.00%	5.00%	5.00%	20.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	10.00%
All Citi Cards	95.50%	20.00%	5.00%	15.00%	5.00%	5.00%	20.00%	5.00%	2.50%	5.00%	3.00%	10.00%
All Chase Cards	91.00%	15.00%	2.50%	15.00%	5.00%	5.00%	20.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	8.50%
All Barclaycard Cards	88.50%	15.00%	5.00%	12.00%	5.00%	3.00%	20.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	8.50%
All USAA Cards	88.50%	15.00%	5.00%	15.00%	3.00%	5.00%	20.00%	5.00%	2.50%	5.00%	3.00%	10.00%
All Capital One World Elite Mastercard cards	88.50%	15.00%	5.00%	15.00%	3.00%	5.00%	20.00%	5.00%	2.50%	5.00%	3.00%	10.00%
All Wells Fargo Visa cards	87.50%	15.00%	2.50%	12.00%	5.00%	3.00%	20.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	10.00%
All Capital One Visa cards	87.50%	15.00%	2.50%	12.00%	5.00%	3.00%	20.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	10.00%
All American Express Cards	84.50%	10.00%	5.00%	15.00%	5.00%	2.00%	20.00%	5.00%	2.50%	5.00%	5.00%	10.00%
All U.S. Bank American Express cards	84.00%	15.00%	5.00%	15.00%	5.00%	2.00%	20.00%	5.00%	2.50%	5.00%	5.00%	4.50%
All Discover Cards	83.00%	15.00%	5.00%	15.00%	5.00%	5.00%	12.00%	5.00%	2.50%	5.00%	5.00%	8.50%
All U.S. Bank Visa cards	82.00%	15.00%	2.50%	12.00%	5.00%	3.00%	20.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	4.50%
All Wells Fargo American Express cards	81.50%	15.00%	5.00%	15.00%	5.00%	2.00%	12.00%	5.00%	2.50%	5.00%	5.00%	10.00%
USAA Rate Advantage Platinum Visa	80.50%	15.00%	5.00%	9.00%	3.00%	3.00%	20.00%	5.00%	2.50%	5.00%	3.00%	10.00%
All Capital One Platinum Mastercard cards	80.50%	15.00%	5.00%	9.00%	3.00%	3.00%	20.00%	5.00%	2.50%	5.00%	3.00%	10.00%
Bank of America Visa Cards	79.00%	15.00%	2.50%	12.00%	5.00%	3.00%	20.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	3.00%	3.50%
Bank of America BankAmericard	76.00%	15.00%	2.50%	9.00%	5.00%	3.00%	20.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	3.00%	3.50%

   Business Credit Cards

Cards	Total Score	Vehicles Excluded	Clarity on Exclusions	Coverage Duration	Type of Road Exclusions	Country Exclusions	Loss of use and deductible on your auto insurance	Towing	Damage to tires and rims	Activation	Claims Process	Info Accessibility
Max Score	100.00%	20.00%	5.00%	15.00%	5.00%	5.00%	20.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	10.00%
All Chase Business Cards	91.00%	15.00%	2.50%	15.00%	5.00%	5.00%	20.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	8.50%
All Capital One Business Cards	90.50%	15.00%	2.50%	15.00%	5.00%	3.00%	20.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	10.00%
All Wells Fargo Business Cards	87.50%	15.00%	2.50%	12.00%	5.00%	3.00%	20.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	10.00%
All U.S. Bank Business Visa Cards	85.00%	15.00%	2.50%	15.00%	5.00%	3.00%	20.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	4.50%
All Bank of America Business Visa Cards	84.00%	15.00%	2.50%	15.00%	5.00%	3.00%	20.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	3.50%
U.S. Bank Business Edge Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard	83.00%	15.00%	5.00%	15.00%	3.00%	5.00%	20.00%	5.00%	2.50%	5.00%	3.00%	4.50%
All American Express Business Cards	82.50%	10.00%	5.00%	15.00%	5.00%	0.00%	20.00%	5.00%	2.50%	5.00%	5.00%	10.00%
All Bank of America Business Mastercard's	82.00%	15.00%	5.00%	15.00%	3.00%	5.00%	20.00%	5.00%	2.50%	5.00%	3.00%	3.50%

Back to Top

Methodology

WalletHub reviewed the publicly available online car rental policies of all the credit cards currently being offered by the 10 largest issuers, excluding student and co-branded offers, and collected the information needed to answer the following questions: 1) What vehicles are excluded?; 2) What other exclusions do the policies have?; 3) What is the quality of the coverage?; 4) How does one activate the benefit?; 5) How should claims be filed?; and 6) How easy it is to obtain complete policy information?

Where policies were unclear, we contacted the issuers directly and requested clarification. All issuers responded to our questions and confirmed the accuracy of our data.

Each card’s policy was scored using the following criteria:

1) What vehicles are excluded? – Worth 25% totalA. Vehicles excluded – Worth 20%

• If no exclusions apply - 20%
• If regular exclusions apply (i.e. exotic, expensive, or antique cars; trucks; vehicles with open beds; and large vans) - 15%
• If SUVs are not covered - 10%
• If there is a large number of exclusions - No points

B. Clarity on exclusions – Worth 5%

• If a full definition of excluded cars is provided (i.e. value and characteristics) - 5%
• If a partial definitions of excluded cars is provided (i.e. just value or just characteristics) - 2.5%
• If no description of excluded cars is provided - No points

2) What exclusions do the policies have? – Worth 25% TotalA. Coverage Duration – Worth 15%

• If the coverage duration is for 30 days and above - 15%
• If the coverage duration is between 20 - 29 days - 12%
• If the coverage duration is between 19 - 10 days - 9%
• If the coverage duration is between 10 - 5 days - 3%
• If the coverage duration is under 5 days - No points

• *If a card provides 2 types of coverage, we averaged the 2

B. Road Type Exclusions – Worth 5%

• If Dirt and gravel roads are covered - 5%
• If Dirt and gravel roads are partially covered - 3%
• If Dirt and Gravel roads are not covered - No points

C. Country Exclusions – Worth 5%

• No country excluded - 5%
• Up to 2 countries excluded - 4%
• Up to 4 countries excluded - 3%
• Up to 6 countries excluded - 2%
• Up to 8 countries excluded - 1%
• Over 8 countries excluded - No points

3) What is the quality of the coverage? – Worth 30% TotalA. Loss Of Use and Deductible on Your Auto Insurance – Worth 20%

• If loss of use is covered - 20%
• If the deductible portion on your auto insurance policy is covered - 12%
• If the deductible from your auto insurance and loss of use not covered - No points

B. Towing Expenses – Worth 5%

• If towing is covered - 5%
• If towing is not covered - No points

C. Damage to tires and rims – Worth 5%

• If damage to tires and rims is always covered - 5%
• If damage to tires and rims is covered only when the result of theft, vandalism or vehicle collision - 2.5%
• If damage to tires and rims is not covered - No points

4) How does one activate the benefit? – Worth 5%

• If activation is standard (cardholders charge the entire rental car purchase on their credit card and decline supplemental insurance/Collision Damage Waivers (CDW) offered by the rental company) - 5%
• If activation is more complex than the standard - No points

5) How should claims be filed? – Worth 5%

• If filing a claim requires standard documentation ( i.e. a copy of the accident, a signed claim form, a rental agreement, an itemized bill and a receipt or statement showing to which card the rental was charged to) - 5%
• If claims require up to 2 documents on top of the standard documentation - 3%
• If claims require 3 or more documents on top of on top of the additional documentation - No points

6) How easy it is to obtain complete information about the policy? – Worth 10%A. How easily can one find the info? - Worth 3%

• Information is prominent within card landing page - 3%
• Information is not prominent within card landing page; or it is prominent but users need to log in to see the full disclosure - 1.5%
• Information cannot be easily found on website - No points

B. How easy it is to read the info? - Worth 1%

• Information is presented in normal size font - 1%
• Information is in small size font - No points

C. How complete are the policies provided? - Worth 4%

• Full policy provided - 4%
• Part of policy provided - 2%
• Benefits briefly described - 0.5%
• No key details provided - No points

D. How open and transparent are issuers about the policies? - Worth 2%

• Transparent about policies - 2%
• Not transparent about policies - No points

The card with the most accumulated points received the highest score. The maximum number of points is 100%.

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress

Posted by: Richie Bernardo

Expressions of American patriotism come in many forms — from setting off fireworks during Fourth of July and buying American-made goods to paying taxes and serving in the armed forces. But some states are better than others at showing their national pride.

So in order to determine where Americans bleed the most red, white and blue, WalletHub’s data team compared the states across 13 key indicators of patriotism. Our data set ranges from share of enlisted military population to share of adults who voted in the 2016 presidential election to AmeriCorps volunteers per capita. Read on for our findings, expert commentary and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Blue States vs. Red States
3. Ask the Experts: Taking Our Patriotic Pulse
4. Methodology

 

Main Findings Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/13680/patriotic-geochart.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2sM3BaM;

 

Overall Rank (1 = Most Patriotic)	State	Total Score	‘Military Engagement’ Rank	‘Civic Engagement’ Rank
1	Virginia	70.55	5	10
2	Alaska	70.40	1	36
3	Wyoming	67.54	7	7
4	South Carolina	65.03	3	25
5	Colorado	63.59	12	9
6	Washington	62.48	11	11
7	Hawaii	62.30	2	39
8	Idaho	61.97	9	16
9	Georgia	60.39	4	40
10	North Carolina	59.34	6	20
11	Maine	58.82	29	3
12	South Dakota	56.81	20	15
13	New Hampshire	56.63	33	4
14	Oklahoma	56.25	8	31
15	Kansas	55.04	14	22
16	Nebraska	54.49	24	13
17	Maryland	54.40	28	12
18	Utah	53.70	37	2
19	Arizona	53.41	17	27
20	Mississippi	53.20	16	29
21	Vermont	52.89	39	1
22	Montana	51.98	15	35
23	Nevada	51.43	18	28
24	Missouri	50.91	22	24
25	North Dakota	50.56	31	14
26	New Mexico	50.45	21	30
27	Alabama	50.07	10	46
28	Wisconsin	49.42	41	6
29	Iowa	48.49	40	8
30	Texas	48.25	13	47
31	Florida	48.01	19	43
32	Minnesota	44.85	46	5
33	Louisiana	44.46	30	33
34	Arkansas	44.23	23	45
35	Ohio	44.17	34	26
36	Kentucky	44.10	27	38
37	West Virginia	43.60	36	21
38	Tennessee	42.40	26	44
39	Oregon	42.13	32	41
40	Indiana	42.02	35	34
41	Delaware	40.40	25	49
42	Pennsylvania	39.98	45	17
43	Michigan	38.96	42	19
44	California	37.70	38	42
45	Connecticut	36.25	47	18
46	New York	30.59	50	23
47	Rhode Island	29.90	44	48
48	Massachusetts	28.88	48	32
49	Illinois	28.41	43	50
50	New Jersey	27.46	49	37

Blue States vs. Red States

 

Ask the Experts: Taking Our Patriotic Pulse

Patriotism can be a complex subject, depending on who’s involved in the discussion. For insight, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What are the characteristics of a good patriot?
2. What is the relative influence of economic incentives versus patriotic intentions when deciding whether to join the military? Has this changed over time?
3. Is there a link between socio-economic class and level of patriotism?
4. When evaluating the most patriotic states in America, what are the top five indicators?
5. Has there been a shift in the way younger generations perceive and express their patriotism?
6. Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first?
7. What measures should schools and local authorities undertake in order to promote patriotism among citizens?

< >

• G. Terry Madonna Director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs, Director of the Franklin and Marshall College Poll and Professor of Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College
• Ralph Young Professor of History at Temple University
• Jacob Neiheisel Assistant Professor of Political Science at University at Buffalo
• Jane Dailey Associate Professor of American History, the Law School and the College at The University of Chicago
• Gail Sahar Professor of Psychology at Wheaton College
• Francesco Duina Professor of Sociology at Bates College
• Evelyn Alsultany Director of the Arab and Muslim American Studies, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor and Associate Professor of American Culture at University of Michigan
• Ervin Staub Professor Emeritus and Founding Director of the Doctoral Program in the Psychology of Peace and Violence at University of Massachusetts at Amherst

G. Terry Madonna Director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs, Director of the Franklin and Marshall College Poll and Professor of Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College What are the characteristics of a good patriot? The first characteristic is a deeply held loyalty to the country, sometimes interpreted as nationalism, and a fierce pride in being American. That certainly does not mean a loyalty to any particular party or candidate. For some, that gets translated into various forms of civic engagement, such as voting, running for office, active involvement in civic organizations, and service in the military are among the most prominent factors. Another factor involves referencing the “creed,” the founding documents, usually the principles enunciated in the U.S. constitution and a reliance on our country’s history. What is the relative influence of economic incentives versus patriotic intentions when deciding whether or not to join the military? Has this changed over time? The decision to join the military is more complex than just a matter of economics. Yes, the economic situation does play a role for some, but research has shown that a variety of circumstances and factors affect one’s decision to join the military. For example, as a 2011 Pew survey of veterans pointed out, serving the country motivated those that wanted to join the military, and that certainly represents a form of patriotism. The second reason given was the ability to access the accompanying educational benefits provided by the military. Now, this consideration has some economic aspects to it, as slightly more than one-in-four interviewees cited a tough time finding civilian employment as reason to enlist. And so, the economic argument and prospects for civilian employment can’t be dismissed. There is another factor relating to population density. States with less population density tend to produce the highest level of recruits, perhaps, because of fewer economic opportunities in those states, and the fact that many recruiting stations are located in those areas. Is there a link between socioeconomic class and level of patriotism? As previously mentioned, serving in the military is one form of patriotism. A study done by the National Priorities Project concluded that lower income and higher income folks had the lowest enlistment rates, and the middle class had the highest. That could qualify the latter group as the most patriotic. But if one looks at voting as a key factor in patriotism, then folks with higher education levels and higher incomes would qualify. Conclusion: It’s not easy to definitively point to a single factor or link. Has there been a shift in the way younger generations perceive and express their patriotism? It seems that millennials have found different ways to show what might be called patriotism. They are much less likely to join a political party, and they are more skeptical of big institutions than other age cohorts. It looks like their patriotism is expressed by engaging in a variety of community activities, such as volunteering in organizations that promote social causes, joining groups that provide service to needy groups, as well as single-issue groups that support a variety of cultural issues and other forms of protest activities. They don’t seem to connect service in the military as a form of patriotism. Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first? Personally, I don’t think the answer lies in selecting one or the other. There is certainly a set of interests, involving our national and economic security, that require we be careful to protect our citizenry. Still, we are also members of the global community. But more than that, after World War 1, we moved away from the isolationist tendencies that have been prevalent in American history. We became the dominant economy, the protector of the free world and the defender of democracy. There is much that we have done and can continue to do to assist struggling nations without damaging our own interests, and continue to defend the free world against tyranny. That means we have to provide a balance in how we conduct our national policies. What measures should schools and local authorities undertake in order to promote patriotism among citizens? As someone who taught American history and government for many years, one aspect of the answer lies in what we do in our schools. We need to teach the history of our country, noting the struggles that have taken place to move our nation forward. That would importantly include the principles of our founding and the evolution of democracy. That does not mean we should give short shrift to our nation’s shortcomings, such as slavery and racism, and many other elements of our history. It is also important for the schools and other institutions to promote civic engagement and a commitment to service. That translates into voting, even seeking public office. These conversations need to include the values of diversity and tolerance, as well as an enriched sense of American history and culture. When evaluating the most patriotic states in America, what are the top five indicators? There is no way to know for sure the top indicators. That relies on some consensus of how one defines patriotism. It could relate to voting, to service to the larger community, to service in the military, and other factors. A previous study conducted by WalletHub included a model to quantify a state’s degree of patriotism, using military service and civic engagement. The conclusion the study found was that the ten most patriotic states were Maine, Wyoming and Arizona, with the remaining ones hailing from the southeastern part of the country. Dr. Madonna’s responses were based on his own knowledge on patriotism and national identity, as well as on James Connolly’s primary research on the topic. James is a student intern at Franklin & Marshall College. Ralph Young Professor of History at Temple University What are the characteristics of a good patriot? This is in the eye of the beholder. Every American certainly believes s/he is patriotic. But patriotism is a very fluid concept. It means different things to everyone. And almost everyone has their own definition for patriotism. For some people it's "my country right or wrong." For others patriotism is loyalty and dedication to the principles on which this nation is founded. And here's where it gets tricky. Some people have a distorted idea of the founding principles. And so, in a sense, if you want to know what the characteristics of a good patriot are you have to start with knowledge, with education, with critically examining the historical record. And for most Americans this is not an easy task. Most people want to have a simple black or white view of the past. But it is more complicated than that. An easy example is the contradiction that a lot of people see in slave holder Thomas Jefferson writing in the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal." Immediately complexity and nuance sets in. I believe I am very patriotic, but for me that means I believe deeply in the founding principles. I believe in "all men and women and races are created equal," I believe in the consent of the governed. I believe in democracy. I believe in free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of press, and above all I believe it is the duty of every patriotic American to protest and dissent when they see any of these founding principles being eroded, attacked, or flouted. Some Americans believe dissent is unpatriotic. I believe it is the highest form of patriotism. The thesis of my book Dissent: The History of an American idea is that this nation is the product of dissent. In the 17th century, religious dissenters founded colonies in New England and Pennsylvania, in the 18th century dissenters led protests and boycotts and demonstrations (including massive property damage -- the Boston Tea Party) that led to a violent revolution in order to gain independence. And then when we framed the Constitution the right to dissent was placed in the First Amendment. And we've been protesting ever since: women for the right to vote, abolitionists fighting to end slavery, civil rights activism, gay rights, environmentalism, and every war in our nation's history has had its protestors. Most of these dissenters were indeed patriots. They pushed America to be the nation it believes itself to be. It pushed America to live up to its own lofty ideals. What is the relative influence of economic incentives versus patriotic intentions when deciding whether or not to join the military? Has this changed over time? In times of national emergency, like after Pearl Harbor and 9/11, the first motivation for those enlisting in the military is deep-seated patriotism of the ideal sort. In times of relative peace, many who enlist are doing so for the economic and educational benefits they hope to get from service. Idealism, to some extent, takes a back seat. Is there a link between socioeconomic class and level of patriotism? I don't think so. Has there been a shift in the way younger generations perceive and express their patriotism? When young people see the U.S. moving away from its ideals, when they believe that the United States isn't promoting democracy (like in Vietnam), they will express their patriotism through protest. But when the U.S. is facing an existential crisis (like the Civil War or WWII), patriotism is expressed by a deep commitment to the war effort, either through enlisting or working as a volunteer nurse, building armaments or recycling steel and aluminum and rubber, and paying taxes and generally sacrificing for the public good. Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first? Both are important. But I would put global citizens first. Be a part of the world. Be a part of the times we are living in. We are a small fragile world and we've all got to get along. (Like Woody Guthrie, I think "God Bless America" is an example of sanctimoniousness and that the deeper sentiment is "God Bless the Planet.") What measures should schools and local authorities undertake in order to promote patriotism among citizens? Teach students real history; the deeper context of American history. Sure, all the beautiful wonderful moments (like the flag raising at Iwo Jima and the commitment to constitutional democracy). But also we need to learn about the dark side of American history. Slavery. The Trail of Tears. The KKK. We were never perfect. We are trying to "form a more perfect union." When evaluating the most patriotic states in America, what are the top five indicators? It all comes down to education. We need to dig deeply into our roots and understand how hard it was to overcome the mistakes and the imperfections, and the struggle that so many ordinary Americans (not just the famous historical figures) went through to make America the kind of country that abolished slavery in the 19th century, and in the 20th came up with the Marshall Plan to address the post WWII devastation in an effective way. We need to look at all that, the good and the bad, and develop an understanding that democracy is something that didn't just happen. It was fought for. And clearly it constantly needs to be fought for. If we don't understand our history, we don't understand ourselves. Ultimately we are a generous nation. We mustn't forget that. Jacob Neiheisel Assistant Professor of Political Science at University at Buffalo What are the characteristics of a good patriot? Political psychologists often make a distinction between "blind" patriotism and other, more critical versions (this is often called "constructive" patriotism). Blind patriots are unquestioningly positive regarding their own country and are often intolerant of criticisms directed at their nation. I can see some utility in the blind version of patriotism at times (among members of the military during wartime, perhaps), but for the most part I am comfortable saying that one of the most important characteristics of a good patriot is the ability to turn a critical eye toward the actions of any nation, including his or her own. What is the relative influence of economic incentives versus patriotic intentions when deciding whether or not to join the military? Has this changed over time? I'm sure this relationship has changed over time. I have no systematic data on this point, but my hunch is that economics is a powerful motivator during peacetime for many who join the military, whereas patriotism is a much stronger motivator during times of national crisis (in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, for instance). Is there a link between socioeconomic class and level of patriotism? I'm sure there is a correlation between socioeconomic status and patriotism, but this is likely just an artifact of other factors such as geography (urban versus rural), partisanship, and ideology -- variables that all correlate with socioeconomic class. Has there been a shift in the way younger generations perceive and express their patriotism? My guess is that there have been changes over time in response to what it means to be a patriot at the time. Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first? I'm less comfortable venturing into the normative realm than I am into more positivist arenas. That being said, there are no pure "goods" in my view, and there are likely pros and cons to either approach to child-rearing. What measures should schools and local authorities undertake in order to promote patriotism among citizens? This may be a bit self-serving, but I think that promoting a solid knowledge and understanding of history and government would be a good place to start. In the context of the United States, at least, it is difficult not to feel just a little bit patriotic when reading some of the writings of the founding generation (The Federalist, for instance). An appropriately nuanced presentation of American history and government also puts such achievements in context and helps to foster an appropriately critical kind of patriotism. When evaluating the most patriotic states in America, what are the top five indicators? Percent of the state's population with prior military experience; republican share of the two-party presidential vote in the last election (or an average over the last few elections); percent rural. Jane Dailey Associate Professor of American History, the Law School and the College at The University of Chicago What are the characteristics of a good patriot? A patriot is unselfish. A patriot puts the good of the nation above his own interests. A patriot obeys the laws of the state, including the Constitution. What I consider patriotism is fidelity to the Constitution and a willingness to sacrifice some of one’s own interests for the interest of the collective (AKA the nation). Sally Yates is a patriot. James Comey is a more self-interested patriot. People who lie under oath in confirmation hearings are not patriots. People who don’t pay their taxes are not patriots. What is the relative influence of economic incentives versus patriotic intentions when deciding whether or not to join the military? Has this changed over time? Interesting question. I don’t know what percentage of economically well-off people enlist. Obviously, a lot of soldiers enlist hoping to move up the economic ladder. But my students at the University of Chicago who join up do so for other reasons. All in all, I think that we should not have an all-volunteer force. Everyone should have the opportunity to serve her country in some capacity or another. Is there a link between socioeconomic class and level of patriotism? Possibly. Given that selflessness is at the core of the virtuous citizen or patriot, I suspect that many rich people find it more difficult to act in a disinterested fashion than poorer folks. Has there been a shift in the way younger generations perceive and express their patriotism? Yes. There seems to be a marked tendency among young people in many parts of the country to express their patriotism by shouting about it a lot. (“U.S.A.! U.S.A.!”) Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first? Either/or questions are never enlightening. When evaluating the most patriotic states in America, what are the top five indicators?

• States who receive less from the federal government than they contribute in federal taxes. This would put Illinois in the running as a top patriotic state, because the people of Illinois donate millions of dollars to their less-well-off compatriots in other states. This is an important way of putting America, rather than oneself, first, especially since it goes unrecognized by the beneficiaries.

• States whose votes are diluted because of constitutional guarantees to protect the rights of minorities. Once again, California, Illinois and New York come out at the top, since the votes of our citizens are worth a fraction of those of less-populated states in federal elections: and yet we persevere in the Union.

• States that cooperate with their neighbors on everything, from common natural resources to infrastructure projects and public health works (e.g., anti-mosquito campaigns).

• States that make it easy for their citizens to vote -- the most basic right of citizenship.

• States that balance the interests of private property with those of the commonweal, in the interest of supporting entrepreneurship while encouraging the humane treatment of people.

Gail Sahar Professor of Psychology at Wheaton College What are the characteristics of a good patriot? Psychologists do not see "patriotism" as necessarily one construct; rather, there are different types of patriotism. For example, researchers have suggested a distinction between "blind patriotism," which holds that one should support the country no matter what and that it is wrong to criticize it, and "constructive" patriotism, which is a belief system suggesting that one can value one's country, but still criticize it in order to make it better. Yet, another distinction is between patriotism or love of one's country and nationalism, a feeling of superiority to other nations. My guess in terms of states is that blue (liberal) states would tend to endorse constructive patriotism, whereas red (conservative) states would be more likely to be blind, nationalistic patriots, but that is of course a generalization. In my mind, a good patriot is someone who not only feels a positive attachment to his/her country, but also is educated about its government and actively participates in the political process. It's easy to fly a flag without actually doing anything to help the country. What is the relative influence of economic incentives versus patriotic intentions when deciding whether or not to join the military? Has this changed over time? I am not sure about the military question or the one about SES. My guess is that younger generations might have less symbolic attachments to things like the American flag, and may in fact be more comfortable with constructive than blind patriotism. There is evidence that Americans are increasingly skeptical of politicians and government. A number of events are probably responsible for this, from the Vietnam War to Watergate to the current feeling among many younger people, that the government is set up to help the wealthiest Americans. I think the increasing cynicism about American politics has made younger generations less likely to take a "my country right or wrong" type of approach. They see flaws and are not hesitant to point them out. Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first? I believe it would be beneficial to raise our children as global citizens first, and patriots second. It is human nature to identify with your group and to organize the world in terms of "ingroups" and "outgroups." It happens without our even trying. Therefore, in my mind, feelings of attachment to one's country will happen with very little effort. The more difficult thing is to get people to break down those barriers and begin to see everyone as equal. One need only listen to the Trump supporters call for building walls to hear evidence of that. Francesco Duina Professor of Sociology at Bates College What is the relative influence of economic incentives versus patriotic intentions when deciding whether or not to join the military? Has this changed over time? This is a tough question to answer. We know that young men and women from less privileged backgrounds tend to join the military more (in per capita terms) than people from other social extractions. But the differences in numbers may not be as big as one might expect. And, among the very least well-off, the numbers are not necessarily very high. The lower middle class appears to be perhaps the biggest contributor. This suggests that economic incentives matter. At the same time, we know that patriotism is very high in all classes, and especially those with fewer economic means. So, perhaps it is a combination of economic need and love of country. To this we must add another important driver: a history of service in the family. This, again, tends to be quite common in the middle and lower middle classes. So, several different factors seem to be at work together. Teasing them out is not easy. Is there a link between socioeconomic class and level of patriotism? If you look at data from the General Social Survey or the World Values Survey, you see a couple of interesting things. First, in the United States, patriotism is very high across all socioeconomic classes (and higher than that found in many other advanced countries in the world). On average, depending on how you measure it, close to 90% of respondents in any socioeconomic class will tell you that they love the United States, that they think it is one of the best countries on Earth, that they rather be citizens of the United States than of any other country, that it is God's country, and so on. Secondly, Americans coming from the lowest socioeconomic classes appear to be the most patriotic (along, in some cases, with the richest Americans). Interestingly, the patriotism of America's poor appears also to be quite resilient. While the patriotism of wealthier Americans showed some negative trends following the 2008-2009 financial crisis, that of poorer Americans seems to have held steady. On the whole, then, Americans with limited socioeconomic means appear to be exceptionally patriotic. Has there been a shift in the way younger generations perceive and express their patriotism Recent surveys by organizations like the Pew Research Center suggest that younger Americans are less patriotic than older ones. To be sure, they are still on the whole quite patriotic. But there is definitely a gap. In the 2013 Pew Research survey, 70% of Millennials agreed with the statement “I am very patriotic.” But Gen Xers came in at 86%, Boomers at 91%, and Silents at 90%. A gap is also observable among poorer Americans, who are, as I noted already, a particularly patriotic group: poor young Americans are less patriotic than poor older ones. The gap varies depending on the metrics one uses to measure patriotism. It is usually around 10-20%. All this suggests a difference between generations in the nature of their patriotism. Yet, they also seem to share much in common. All generations, for instance, appear to ground their patriotism in the freedom they think America stands for. Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first? This is of course a personal perspective. In my view, national identity can provide people with a much needed sense of dignity. It can also encourage participation in civic life (from voting to taking care of public spaces). At the same time, it can breed a sense of superiority, aggressive behaviors toward others, and various kinds of provincialism. We certainly continue to live in a world of nations (more so than a globalized world). My view, overall, is that patriotic narratives should be toned down in favor of a more global sense of citizenship. Many of the problems we face today are global or regional (for instance, Europe or the Middle East), rather than national. The solutions will come from regionally -- and globally -- minded people. When evaluating the most patriotic states in America, what are the top five indicators? Much can be gained by looking at social scientific survey data. We have a considerable amount of information on how people in different states feel toward the greatness of the United States, their love of it, their commitment and readiness to serve, etc. Yet, there are alternative indicators too -- even if these may not be readily available and would require some original data collection. For instance, how many homes display American flags in their front yards? Is the Pledge of Allegiance still recited in the public school system? How well attended are public events such as 4th of July paraded or Memorial Day remembrances? I would think these would be great indicators to use. Evelyn Alsultany Director of the Arab and Muslim American Studies, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor and Associate Professor of American Culture at University of Michigan What are the characteristics of a good patriot? There are competing approaches to patriotism in the United States. The most common approach is supporting government policies, particularly foreign policies, and pledging allegiance to the U.S. nation state. However, another approach is to keep our government accountable to democratic principles and processes and to do so by exercising one’s citizenship rights as outlined by the U.S. constitution. Within this approach to patriotism, it is important to exercise one’s right to freedom of speech, the right to petition the government and assemble for protest when one disagrees with government policies, freedom of religion, etc. These often become competing approaching to patriotism as those who seek to keep the government accountable do not see at as their role to blindly support the government as a display of patriotism. Those who believe that we should support the government often argue that our officials have been democratically elected and thus have earned our trust and support. Arabs and Muslim Americans, since 9/11, have been primarily understood within the context of national security. It has therefore become common for some Arab and Muslim Americans to express their patriotism by supporting government policies and displaying American flags in order to prove their belonging as Americans. Khizr Khan who spoke at the Democratic National Convention is perhaps an example of both approaches. On the one hand, he pledged his allegiance to the United States and made the ultimate patriotic sacrifice -- his son died while serving the U.S. military. On the other hand, he made a powerful challenge to Donald Trump to uphold the constitution. Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first? Many scholars (for example, the late Edward Said) have written about how patriotism in the form of nationalism can justify war, murder, and the dehumanization of others because it creates sharp divisions. Dehumanization is an essential ingredient to war and murder. Thus raising children as global citizens has the potential of leading to a more peaceful world. It also forces us to examine the root causes of problems like terrorism, rather than easily and inaccurately attributing it to people, culture or religion. Ervin Staub Professor Emeritus and Founding Director of the Doctoral Program in the Psychology of Peace and Violence at University of Massachusetts at Amherst What are the characteristics of a good patriot? A good patriot loves his/her country. He or she learns about policies and practices in the country, supports those that contribute to the quality of life in the country and acts to contribute to them. A good patriot also opposes policies and practices that are contrary to the core positive values of the contrary, or to humane values in general. I call such people constructive patriotism, in contrast to blind patriots, who also love their country but act on the principle “my country, right or wrong.” In our research, blind patriots were less politically informed, and did not want other countries to appropriate elements of our culture -- for example, they did not like that the Japanese played baseball. (This was research done in the 1990s -- the specifics of this are likely to change over time). Patriotism is different from nationalism, the desire to enhance the power, influence or depending on circumstances the territory of one’s country. Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first? It is useful for individuals to have identification with a group. But the two are not exclusive. I think we should raise them as both, at the same time. Americans who don’t draw lines between us and them, except on the basis of actions by others that are harmful to people, who see a continuity between America and the rest of the world, who appreciate the “other” and care about the welfare of all human beings (what I have called inclusive caring). What measures should schools and local authorities undertake in order to promote patriotism among citizens? To develop constructive patriotism, teachers of history and related topics should talk about the many positive characteristics and actions of the United States, our democracy, our Constitution, our important role in WWI and II, the Marshall plan, and others. They should also discuss the many problematic actions of the country, such as the treatment of Native American, slavery and still continuing racism, the degree of inequality in America, our unnecessary wars. But they should also stress the great potential of the U.S. at home and in its leadership in the world, and have students discuss ideas of how they can contribute to making that potential actual.

Methodology

To determine the most patriotic states, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states across two key dimensions, including “Military Engagement” and “Civic Engagement.”

We evaluated those dimensions using 13 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of patriotism.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score, which we then used to rank-order all the cities in our sample.

Military Engagement – Total Points: 50

• Average Number of Military Enlistees per 1,000 Civilian Adults Population Between 2010 & 2015 (No Prior Service): Triple Weight (~25.00 Points)
• Veterans per 1,000 Civilian Adult Population: Full Weight (~8.33 Points)
• Active-Duty Military Personnel per 100,000 Civilian Adult Population: Full Weight (~8.33 Points)
• Share of Population in Military Reserves: Full Weight (~8.33 Points)

Civic Engagement – Total Points: 50

• Share of Adults Who Voted in 2016 Presidential Election: Double Weight (~10.26 Points)
• Share of Adults Who Voted in 2016 Primary Elections: Full Weight (~5.13 Points)
• Volunteer Rate: Full Weight (~5.13 Points)
• Volunteer Hours per Resident: Full Weight (~5.13 Points)
• AmeriCorps Volunteers per Capita: Full Weight (~5.13 Points)
• Peace Corps Volunteers per Capita: Half Weight (~2.56 Points)
• Trial- & Grand-Jury Participation per Civilian Adult Population: Full Weight (~5.13 Points)
• Frequency of Google Searches for American Flags: Quarter Weight (~1.28 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted for the total number of searches.
• Civics Education Requirement: Full Weight (~5.13 Points)

 

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Veterans Affairs, Defense Manpower Data Center, Corporation for National & Community Service, Peace Corps, Military OneSource, United States Elections Project, Administrative Office of the United States Courts, and Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement.

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress