How Dumb (or Smart) Is Your State?

Mainstreet.com, which is part of TheStreet.com ranks states in various categories.  Some of these rankings are whimsical, such as the ten drunkest states (New Hampshire is more than the first presidential primary, apparently), and the least drunkest state (Utah, go figure).  The site released its assessment of the smartest and dumbest states based on an analysis of various statistics and standards.  The dumbest states include the home or birth states of three of the four members of the major party presidential tickets (Alaska, Arizona, and Hawaii), which explains a lot about politics these days.  Where is Joe Biden on these listings?  Delaware the 5th most debt-ridden state, which probably adds to that explanation.  Massachusetts, by the way, is the most debt-ridden state with total state debt listed at some $72 billion.  Didn't they just have a special election for senator?  And then there is the happiness index, in which Florida comes in dead last.  I guess sunshine isn't everything.  There is also a table for the most trigger-happy states.  Kentucky is number one, and Texas doesn't make it into the top ten (slackers!) for the stereotypical view of that state. The most and least religious states are listed here.

One of the off-hand statements about the dumbest states caught my eye.  Alabama has some of the fewest library visits per capita.  The number of library visits by state (raw data) is in Table 1116 of the Statistical Abstract of the United States if anyone cares how their state stacks up (no pun intended) on library usage.  [MG]