most 'enlightened' us state?

[Zarn]

You only have one state not in New England or on the Pacific Coast, and that's a state next to New England.

[Zarn]

They certainly aren't enlightened in Mass.

They are one of the worst states out there.

[Zarn]

enlightened
Adjective
1. rational and having beneficial effects: an enlightened approach to social welfare
2. (of a person) tolerant and unprejudiced


Tolerant and unprejudiced?  And you filled the list with NorthEastern states and the Pacific coast states?  With "tolerant and unprejudiced" in mind it has to be an upper midwestern state.  My first thought was Minn, but our emo friend lives there so that's out.  Maybe Iowa?  Wyoming?  Probably Wyoming, there isn't enough people there to be intolerant and prejudicial.

It's definitely not Wyoming.  I love Wyoming and it's one of our nation's most naturally beautiful states, but I wouldn't call the predominantly very conservative citizens there that tolerant.  Minnesota would have been a good choice until about eight or nine years ago.  I think Mass. with its educational instututions and Oregon with its social policies are good choices.  Unfortunately, we are not living in the Enlightenment period anymore; we are  living in post-Enlightenment, post-industrial, post-modern America, and so I don't know if I'd call any state exactly "enlightened" these days.

So conservatives aren't tolerate, but liberals are?

[Zarn]

There are of course such creatures as intolerant liberals and tolerant conservatives, they are all over the place.  If we are talking about fiscal conservatives who have more or less libertarian attitudes on social issues, then sure conservatives can be exceptionally tolerant.  I'm orgininally from North Dakota and Wyoming is a neigbor state that I visited often, and conservatives there are both fiscally and socially conservative, as far as I could tell.  But, like I said, I'm not sure any state can be described as uniquely or particularly enlightened these days, no matter what its predominating political affiliation.

When I said conservatives... I meant social conservatives. How are they any less enlightened? Some of them get it way better than liberals.

[Zarn]

There are of course such creatures as intolerant liberals and tolerant conservatives, they are all over the place.  If we are talking about fiscal conservatives who have more or less libertarian attitudes on social issues, then sure conservatives can be exceptionally tolerant.  I'm orgininally from North Dakota and Wyoming is a neigbor state that I visited often, and conservatives there are both fiscally and socially conservative, as far as I could tell.  But, like I said, I'm not sure any state can be described as uniquely or particularly enlightened these days, no matter what its predominating political affiliation.

When I said conservatives... I meant social conservatives. How are they any less enlightened? Some of them get it way better than liberals.

How so?

They understand that majority rule is mob mentality, and checks and balances are far superior in maintaining a free country.

[Zarn]

FMA?

[Zarn]

FMA?

Federal Marriage Amendment.

After at least the last 8 years Republicans shouldn't be able to say they're the party of 'small government' or 'rule of law' with a straight face.

Ah... but what does that have to do with social conservative voters?