Which state is the most progressive?

[anthroguy101]

This is something we all need to evaluate, and I wanted to ask you all: what state do you think has made the most progress? What is the "best" state in the union? Which one is the most liberal in your mind?

Forgive me if the state you prefer isn't on this list. There were only 10 spaces.

Edit: Please discuss!

[Lorien]

1. I'd move to Vermont in a heartbeat if I could handle the cold! nt

[davidinalameda]

2. you can always dress warm enough

[handmade34]

8. I'd go home to Vermont in a heartbeat

if I could quit my job...

[aikoaiko]

18. I'd move to Vermont in a heartbeat if I could find a job!

eta: But I'd also move to AZ if I could because despite the recent unpleasantness -- Northern AZ is a wonderfully liberal place to live. Maybe its because of the San Francisco Peaks. hehe

[CTyankee]

24. I actually suggested that to hubby recently but he pointed out the difference

between CT and VT in the coldness factor. It was a bit off putting, I must say. But I think I could find kindred souls there, especially in a college town!

We are looking for a retirement home so I need to find someplace to land that is less expensive!

[Captain Hilts]

3. Wash State - FAR more than Vermont because of its handling of transit issues. nt

[Sebastian Doyle]

9. Well, that all depends where you're at.

Seattle and King County, maybe. The rest of the state, not so much.

As for our political representation.... I'd gladly trade Cantwell/Murray/Gregoire for Bernie Sanders and Howard Dean, if I could do so. Though I'll have to say Maria has surprised me (in a good way) when it comes to some of this bankster bullshit.

[HuckleB]

10. Transit issues?

Washington may be making progress, but it's behind many other parts of the country.

[depakid]

26. That was satire, right?

[anthroguy101]

32. If transit is all you care about...

Then move to Minnesota. They have the Metro Transit and the Northstar Line, a high-speed rail system that goes from Minneapolis/St. Paul and could reach all the way to Duluth and beyond.

[rhett o rick]

4. Why isn't AZ on the list? nm

[underseasurveyor]

5. I'm SHOCKED! Arizona is not on the list?

:evilgrin: heh

[anthroguy101]

6. Why Vermont? nt

[Radical Activist]

7. I'm not sure how to evaluate that.

There are so many criteria. I'm used to thinking of progressive cities. Tough question. I thought of Wisconsin and Illinois before Minnesota, as far as the Midwest goes.

[HuckleB]

11. +1

[NRaleighLiberal]

12. Man, I love Vermont...but also some parts of MA, WA, NH and OR.

Been lucky to live in some really great places. But having Bernie Sanders as Senator to me indicates Vermont tops this list.

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. voted for california because I live here :-) the golden state needs some love

[taterguy]

14. This thinly veiled attack on the South does not amuse me

[KonaKane]

15. I grew up in Vermont.

And agree that it can be a very progressive place. But its an enigma, because it can also be the most remote, regressive place imaginable. It depends on where you are and who you are dealing with. The janitor of my high school there (Wilmington High) told me stories about how they freeze their old people for the winter and unthaw them in the spring. THAT'S how bizarrely folkish it can be.

[RobertPlant]

23. vermont used to be an uber GOP state

voted against FDR all four times and from the founding of the republican party in 1854 all the way to 1988, Vermont only voted for a democrat once (1964)

[anthroguy101]

16. About this poll

I think the winner of it should be given formal recognition on this site as the "Most Progressive." However, I do not want to put a conclusion to it until another week or so has passed. Please subscribe to this thread to keep up with the results and tell your friends to vote. This is very exciting.

[ThomWV]

17. I don't understand the question at all - what state has made more progress at what?

Just what makes one state progressive and another not?

[marmar]

19. Minnesota? Land of Bachmann and Pawlenty?

nt

[RainDog]

20. I say Vermont

because they enacted health care for children no matter what early on, during Dean's time in office. they now have health care provisions that the rest of the nation can't match.

because they can elect Bernie, an unapologetic democratic socialist.

because they have a medical mj bill and have intro'd decriminalization bills - too many states cannot even get to the point of accepting the reality of the value of medical mj, much less the problem of prohibition in a democracy.

because they caucus on issues at the local level and seem to have people who are invested in this form of governance.

because the religious right doesn't have a lot of input into politics there - it is one of the most secular states in the nation. - actually, the most secular state.

because the state ruled for civil unions more than a decade ago and last year the legislature overrode the gov and ruled for same-sex marriage.

because they seem to exist as a sort of quasi-steady state economy b/c there's not a lot of economic growth - and not as many problems with things like real estate speculation b/c of.

two problems: nuclear power (ala France) and not enough ethnic diversity for my taste.

because they seem to have more in common with Canada than the U.S. in terms of governing philosophy.

[Myrina]

21. ... Wisconsin used to be up there, but ... uhh ....

:shrug: ... as the majority of the population ages and the liberal/intellectuals concentrate around Madison or leave altogether ... its gone kinda red over the past 30 years ...

[CTyankee]

25. We have inherited a vacation home in WI and I know all about its

liberal past. Very inspiring and there were some incredibly brave progressives...Madison is terrific.

[Poiuyt]

28. Madison and Milwaukee are still pretty liberal

but the rural areas and the north woods are pretty far right.

[Dr Morbius]

22. I can't argue with those who choose Vermont.

But I had to give Oregon some love. They have by far the most progressive election system, have higher minimum wages than most of the rest of the country, and are environmentally ahead of most everyone else. I've never been, but I'd like to someday visit Oregon.

Vermont, too.

[depakid]

27. Don't forget a world renowned model of statewide land use planning

Back in the 1980's and 1990's (prior to its destruction by a series of Republican legislatures and the Republican takeover of the federal government) the Oregon Health Plan and the Oregon Model of dignified elder care were also plans that the rest of the nation could have followed.

Indeed- it's too bad the administration and Congress didn't follow the procedures used to enact the Oregon Health Plan. Would have gotten far better results- in less time, and likely still had a Democratic Senator from Massachusetts.

[MineralMan]

29. Why isn't Iowa on that list? It's one of the 6 jurisdictions that

has same-sex marriage. How quickly we forget, eh?

[RobertPlant]

30. remember that Joseph McCarthy was from Wisconsin n/t

[Myrina]

36. ... so are "Fightin' Bob" LaFollette, Russ Feingold & Golda Meir. What's your point?

:shrug:

[Berry Cool]

33. Yeah, why not Iowa?

Meanwhile, you have people voting for California (which voted for Prop 8) and New York (which doesn't even have no-fault divorce for male-female couples). Not what I call progressive.

[anthroguy101]

31. Seriously, why do liberals love Vermont so much? nt

[RainDog]

35. Howard and Bernie n/t

[Dawson Leery]

34. Where's Texas?

:hide:

edit: I am not serious

[Blue_In_AK]

37. Sadly for Alaska

we started out VERY progressive, but when the Big Oil companies moved in here, they destroyed all that our founders had created. It's a pity we can't just kick them all out of here.

I don't know anything about the states you've put in your poll.