Ilchi Lee says that peace is one of the most important things a person can pursue in their lives. A new report indicates that residents of some states are taking these words to heart more than others.
The paper, which was put together by the Institute for Economics and Peace, indicates that Maine is the most peaceful state in the Union. Meanwhile, Louisiana ranks last in the researchers' estimations.
The researchers who compiled the U.S. Peace Index looked at five measures of violence, including homicide rates, violent crimes, percentage of population in jail, number of police officers and availability of small arms. While Maine currently has the best peace index, the national index improved 8 percent since 1995.
Increasing peace throughout the country could lead to lower taxes and less government spending, the researchers, as there would be less need for police and corrections officers. This could lead to significant budgetary savings.
"By increasing peace, the United States can ensure that these unrealized billions are available to reduce taxes, stimulate the economy or invest in the nation's infrastructure, schools, communities and small businesses," said Steve Killelea, who wrote the report.
