New Study Ranks 20 Most Patriotic States In The Country, New York Comes In Dead Last

SteveHolt10 years ago

A new study released this week ranked the 20 best states in the nation, according to their levels of patriotism.

WalletHub, the financial resource company that conducted the survey, used voting habits, military engagement, and civic education to determine its rankings.

Below are the results, via WTOP:

1. Virginia
2. Washington
3. Colorado
4. Idaho
5. Alaska
6. Maine
7. North Carolina
8. New Hampshire
9. South Carolina
10. Georgia
11. Missouri
12. Montana
13. Alabama
14. Florida
15. Oregon
16. Nebraska
17. Ohio
18. Maryland
19. Wyoming
20. Wisconsin

In the U.S., the Fourth of July means cookouts with hot dogs and coolers full of beer. It’s a day off to bask in the country’s independence.

Tell that to the folks of Virginia. They’re pretty patriotic, says a new study.

[…]

Washington, Colorado, Idaho and Alaska round out the top five, the data show.

“Good patriots are engaged citizens who know their country’s history, follow its involvement in current events, and devote time and energy to its success,” Lydia Moland, an associate professor of philosophy at Colby College who participated in the study, said in a news release.

Virginia ranks third in military engagement and fifth in civic engagement, according to the WalletHub analysis. The commonwealth has the fourth most veterans per capita.

Conversely, Rhode Island, New Jersey and New York ranked last in overall patriotism. New York, in particular, had a low rate of veterans per capita, and a low percentage of residents who voted in the recent presidential election.

The northeast isn’t patriotic? Say it ain’t so.

I’d say the biggest surprises on this list are Alaska, Maine, and Florida. Nothing against those states, but when I think of flag-flying America, my first thought isn’t of the rowdy patriots parading down the streets of Anchorage. I think of states like Ohio. Depressing municipalities in the heart of the rust-belt? That’s my America. That’s American as hell.

Also, Nebraska making the list is cute. Good for those Cornhuskers for having so much pride in this country, but that feeling only goes way. I’m more of an Iowa man myself.

As a Texas resident for over 15 years, I’m not entirely surprised Texas was omitted from the list. These Texans have a shitload of pride — for the state of Texas. To native Texans, America is just an inconsequential federal overlord that burdens them with unnecessary taxes and laws. Most Texans rarely leave the state, except to go on vacation in Colorado once a year.

And where the hell is Massachusetts? That state was filled with the actual patriots of this nation, and 200 years later they can’t crack the top 20? Pathetic..

[via WTOP]