most 'enlightened' us state?

[WalterMitty]

discuss.

[Joe Biden 2020]

If by "enlightened" you mean most Christians, I chose Vermont.  I know it is a very liberal and very progressive state, but I went there on a mission trip in 2003 and I found a good number of die-hard Christians all over the small state.  It was refreshing to see that in a state where Wicca is alive and well and other secularism.  In fact, because of the Christians being so far outnumbered in that state, the ones I did find are more genuine in their faith than a lot of Christians in the Bible Belt that has a church on nearly every corner.  I'm talking about Oklahoma, too.

Of course, it could be that you meant something entirely different.  If that's the case, I'll express my views there as well.

I assumed Christians/Spiritual, because that's what I associate the word "enlightened" to be.

[Keystone Phil]

If by "enlightened" you mean most Christians, I chose Vermont. 

Haha. Nice jab, OK (though I know you didn't mean it that way).

[Ban my account ffs!]

Out of those listed, I chose Massachusetts simply for its learning institutions.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Other (NH). Why on Earth would CA be one of the primary options though?

[Zarn]

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

[Sam Spade]

Kenya.

[dead0man]

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.

[JohnFKennedy]

If you mean 'enlightened' in the sense of the Enlightenment then I would probably go for Massachusetts.

[Zarn]

They certainly aren't enlightened in Mass.

They are one of the worst states out there.

[k-onmmunist]

Vermont.

[dead0man]

If you mean 'enlightened' in the sense of the Enlightenment then I would probably go for Massachusetts.

I think you spelled entitlement wrong.

[RosettaStoned]

California, duh.

[JohnFKennedy]

If you mean 'enlightened' in the sense of the Enlightenment then I would probably go for Massachusetts.

I think you spelled entitlement wrong.

I went on the same basis as Snowguy.

[Torie]

Oregon  is the one - e.g.,  I am impressed with its euthanasia law.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Oregon  is the one - e.g.,  I am impressed with its euthanasia law.

I was thinking the same thing. And don't forget it's vote-by-mail system.

But ultimately went with Washington, the quintessential latte liberal state.

[TeePee4Prez]

Other- PA 13.  BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[RI]

Oregon  is the one - e.g.,  I am impressed with its euthanasia law.

Washington, the quintessential latte liberal state.

Only if you cut off the eastern half...which I would not be opposed to BTW.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Vermont

[anvi]

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.

[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?

[anvi]

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.

[Ban my account ffs!]

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.

You have to remember that BRTD is a North Dakotan.

I think the other Minnesotans that post here are a bit more representative of our state.  I'd still agree that Iowa is surprisingly close to the top of the list for a small, farm "fly-over" state.

Also, to me, part of being enlightened is not having the death penalty.  While Oregon has liberal Euthanasia laws, they also have the death penalty.

[Rob]

Also, to me, part of being enlightened is not having the death penalty.  While Oregon has liberal Euthanasia laws, they also have the death penalty.

Oregon voters abolished capital punishment in the 1910s (as they also gave the vote to women and rejected an affirmation of blacks' voting rights) and restored capital punishment in the 1970s (as they also legalized abortion rights, decriminalized marijuana, and passed a bunch of environmental laws).

It's kind of a messed-up situation.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Other: Virginia