America's Report Card

AMERICA'S REPORT CA RD RESIDENTS GRADE THEIR STATES Across all six categories we surveyed, most residents weren't too thrilled with how their states perform. Residents in Colorado, lowa, Hawaii, and Vermont rated their states the most highly, but in the vast majority of states, residents As we ramp up to the 2012 election, politicians are really starting to grandstand about their accomplishments, but what do the everyday people really think about how their state is doing? One Block Off the Grid asked hundreds of U.S. residents in all 50 states to grade their state on several different factors. reported a lot of room for improvement across all six categories. C. YOUR STATE'S REPORT CARD We asked residents to grade their state based on its natural beauty, events and entertainment options, state economy, environmental friendliness, education system, and access to medical care. Here's how all 50 stacked up. NATURAL BEAUTY We asked residents to give a grade THINGS TO DO STATE ECONOMY We asked residents to grade their state's level We asked residents how well their state is attracting to their state's natural beauty. of fun and interesting events, and things to do. business, creating jobs, and cultivating prosperity. A Heaven pales in comparison. B I's very pretty. C It's nice, but I've seen prettier. D Meh. Not so pretty, actually. F There are prettier public restrooms. A Almost too many choices! B Many good choices. C Some good choices, but not a ton. D Pretty dang low on the choice-o-meter. F Your average vending machine has more to do. A Strong state economy here, thankfully. B Good economy, but could be better. C Just average, so-so state economy. D Pretty unhappy with the state of the economy here. F If it were a goldfish, it'd be floating. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION MEDICAL CARE FRIENDLINESS We asked residents We asked residents how well their state educates We asked residents to grade their how well lawmakers and citizens care for the its citizens, from grade school through college. state's medical system and options. state's natural landscape and resources. A Our state is very "green" or environmentally friendly. B Green, but still room for improvement. C Just average, so-so levels of environmentalism. D Not so green. F We're green like the Pope is Protestant. A We do an excellent job on education. B We do an OK job, but we could do better. C Just average, so-so levels of education. D Ooph. We have a long way to go. F What happens when education itself gets an "F"? A Excellent job of providing medical care. B Good but not great. C So-so levels of medical care and access. D Ouch! We have a long way to go. F Life support. ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA 0000 000000 00 D00 C D C A AD D B C C C D D D ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO D00 B C C D D c В в D в D C в в в В в в CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA D00 в с с св в C C D D C B C C D D DD GEORGIA HAWAII IDAHO 000000 A A B AA B B B D D D C ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA 000000 D00 $4 C B D D D C C C C D D C A B B CA B KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA 00000 000000 $) с в в в с с DD B C C D FFD MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS В в D ссс с сс с св с вс АВ В MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI 000000 C C F D D C В в с В В в с с в F Cс MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA 000000 000000 св с с Dс B D B CB C с с в D B В NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY 000000 DAD FF B в с в сВс D B F свс NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA A B C C D D с в D ссс В в с ссс NORTH DAKOTA OНIO OKLAHOMA 000000 B D A D D OREGON PENNSYLVANIA RHODE ISLAND 000000 000000 B C C A D B C C C D D C в в F в с в SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE 00000 В в с с D Bв D D D TEXAS UTAH VERMONT C C B D D D в с с D B B А В В в АА VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WEST VIRGINIA 000 B B C D C C В в с В Сс с в в сс В WISCONSIN WYOMING DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU SEE . ? 000000 | 000000 с вс св в A CA C B C Change doesn't happen on its own and as we ramp up to the 2012 election, everyday citizens have more power than usual, so if you don't like the way things are going in your state, one quick and easy thing you can do is to contact your leaders and ask for improvements. You can find your state representatives' contact info at http://www.votesmart.org/mystate_summary.php. At the federal level, look up your leaders' contact info on congress.org or just call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121. If you're not satisfied with how your rep (or the staff member) responds, consider mentioning the possibility of donating to his or her opponent in the next election cycle. Those words tend to carry more weight with politicians than almost any others. One Block A Off the Grid HTTP://1BOG.ORG AMERICA'S REPORT CA RD RESIDENTS GRADE THEIR STATES Across all six categories we surveyed, most residents weren't too thrilled with how their states perform. Residents in Colorado, lowa, Hawaii, and Vermont rated their states the most highly, but in the vast majority of states, residents As we ramp up to the 2012 election, politicians are really starting to grandstand about their accomplishments, but what do the everyday people really think about how their state is doing? One Block Off the Grid asked hundreds of U.S. residents in all 50 states to grade their state on several different factors. reported a lot of room for improvement across all six categories. C. D F YOUR STATE'S REPORT CARD We asked residents to grade their state based on its natural beauty, events and entertainment options, state economy, environmental friendliness, education system, and access to medical care. Here's how all 50 stacked up. NATURAL BEAUTY We asked residents to give a grade THINGS TO DO STATE ECONOMY We asked residents to grade their state's level We asked residents how well their state is attracting to their state's natural beauty. of fun and interesting events, and things to do. business, creating jobs, and cultivating prosperity. A Heaven pales in comparison. B I's very pretty. C It's nice, but I've seen prettier. D Meh. Not so pretty, actually. F There are prettier public restrooms. A Almost too many choices! B Many good choices. C Some good choices, but not a ton. D Pretty dang low on the choice-o-meter. F Your average vending machine has more to do. A Strong state economy here, thankfully. B Good economy, but could be better. C Just average, so-so state economy. D Pretty unhappy with the state of the economy here. F If it were a goldfish, it'd be floating. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION MEDICAL CARE FRIENDLINESS We asked residents We asked residents how well their state educates We asked residents to grade their how well lawmakers and citizens care for the its citizens, from grade school through college. state's medical system and options. state's natural landscape and resources. A Our state is very "green" or environmentally friendly. B Green, but still room for improvement. C Just average, so-so levels of environmentalism. D Not so green. F We're green like the Pope is Protestant. A We do an excellent job on education. B We do an OK job, but we could do better. C Just average, so-so levels of education. D Ooph. We have a long way to go. F What happens when education itself gets an "F"? A Excellent job of providing medical care. B Good but not great. C So-so levels of medical care and access. D Ouch! We have a long way to go. F Life support. ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA 0000 000000 00 D00 C D C A AD D B C C C D D D ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO 00 D00 В с с DD с В в D в D C в в в В в в CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA D00 в с с св в C C D D C B C C D D DD GEORGIA HAWAII IDAHO 000000 000000 00000 с сс A A B AA B B B D D D C ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA 000000 D00 C B D D D C C C C D D C А В В САВ KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA 00000 000000 00 с в в с сс в с с DD B C C D FFD MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS S В в D ссс с сс с св с вс АВ В MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI 000000 00000 $ C C F D D C В в с В В в с с в F Cс MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA 000000 000000 000000 св с с Dс В D B сВ с с с в D B В NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY 000000 DAD FF B в с в сВс D B F свс NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA A B C C D D с в D ссс В в с ссс NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA 000000 000000 B D A C C D D D C D с сс OREGON PENNSYLVANIA RHODE ISLAND 000000 000000 B C C A D B C C C D D C в в F в с в SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE 00 00000 В в с с D Bв В с с D C D D D TEXAS UTAH VERMONT 00000 00 C C B D D D в с с D B B А В В в АА VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WEST VIRGINIA O00000 000 В В с D Cс В в с В Сс с в в сс В WISCONSIN WYOMING DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU SEE . ? 000000 | 000000 с вс св в АСА СВ с Change doesn't happen on its own and as we ramp up to the 2012 election, everyday citizens have more power than usual, so if you don't like the way things are going in your state, one quick and easy thing you can do is to contact your leaders and ask for improvements. You can find your state representatives' contact info at http://www.votesmart.org/mystate_summary.php. At the federal level, look up your leaders' contact info on congress.org or just call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121. If you're not satisfied with how your rep (or the staff member) responds, consider mentioning the possibility of donating to his or her opponent in the next election cycle. Those words tend to carry more weight with politicians than almost any others. One Block A Off the Grid HTTP://1BOG.ORG AMERICA'S REPORT CA RD RESIDENTS GRADE THEIR STATES Across all six categories we surveyed, most residents weren't too thrilled with how their states perform. Residents in Colorado, lowa, Hawaii, and Vermont rated their states the most highly, but in the vast majority of states, residents As we ramp up to the 2012 election, politicians are really starting to grandstand about their accomplishments, but what do the everyday people really think about how their state is doing? One Block Off the Grid asked hundreds of U.S. residents in all 50 states to grade their state on several different factors. reported a lot of room for improvement across all six categories. C. D F YOUR STATE'S REPORT CARD We asked residents to grade their state based on its natural beauty, events and entertainment options, state economy, environmental friendliness, education system, and access to medical care. Here's how all 50 stacked up. NATURAL BEAUTY We asked residents to give a grade THINGS TO DO STATE ECONOMY We asked residents to grade their state's level We asked residents how well their state is attracting to their state's natural beauty. of fun and interesting events, and things to do. business, creating jobs, and cultivating prosperity. A Heaven pales in comparison. B I's very pretty. C It's nice, but I've seen prettier. D Meh. Not so pretty, actually. F There are prettier public restrooms. A Almost too many choices! B Many good choices. C Some good choices, but not a ton. D Pretty dang low on the choice-o-meter. F Your average vending machine has more to do. A Strong state economy here, thankfully. B Good economy, but could be better. C Just average, so-so state economy. D Pretty unhappy with the state of the economy here. F If it were a goldfish, it'd be floating. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION MEDICAL CARE FRIENDLINESS We asked residents We asked residents how well their state educates We asked residents to grade their how well lawmakers and citizens care for the its citizens, from grade school through college. state's medical system and options. state's natural landscape and resources. A Our state is very "green" or environmentally friendly. B Green, but still room for improvement. C Just average, so-so levels of environmentalism. D Not so green. F We're green like the Pope is Protestant. A We do an excellent job on education. B We do an OK job, but we could do better. C Just average, so-so levels of education. D Ooph. We have a long way to go. F What happens when education itself gets an "F"? A Excellent job of providing medical care. B Good but not great. C So-so levels of medical care and access. D Ouch! We have a long way to go. F Life support. ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA 0000 000000 00 D00 C D C A AD D B C C C D D D ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO 00 D00 В с с DD с В в D в D C в в в В в в CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA D00 в с с св в C C D D C B C C D D DD GEORGIA HAWAII IDAHO 000000 000000 00000 с сс A A B AA B B B D D D C ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA 000000 D00 C B D D D C C C C D D C А В В САВ KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA 00000 000000 00 с в в с сс в с с DD B C C D FFD MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS S В в D ссс с сс с св с вс АВ В MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI 000000 00000 $ C C F D D C В в с В В в с с в F Cс MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA 000000 000000 000000 св с с Dс В D B сВ с с с в D B В NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY 000000 DAD FF B в с в сВс D B F свс NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA A B C C D D с в D ссс В в с ссс NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA 000000 000000 B D A C C D D D C D с сс OREGON PENNSYLVANIA RHODE ISLAND 000000 000000 B C C A D B C C C D D C в в F в с в SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE 00 00000 В в с с D Bв В с с D C D D D TEXAS UTAH VERMONT 00000 00 C C B D D D в с с D B B А В В в АА VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WEST VIRGINIA O00000 000 В В с D Cс В в с В Сс с в в сс В WISCONSIN WYOMING DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU SEE . ? 000000 | 000000 с вс св в АСА СВ с Change doesn't happen on its own and as we ramp up to the 2012 election, everyday citizens have more power than usual, so if you don't like the way things are going in your state, one quick and easy thing you can do is to contact your leaders and ask for improvements. You can find your state representatives' contact info at http://www.votesmart.org/mystate_summary.php. At the federal level, look up your leaders' contact info on congress.org or just call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121. If you're not satisfied with how your rep (or the staff member) responds, consider mentioning the possibility of donating to his or her opponent in the next election cycle. Those words tend to carry more weight with politicians than almost any others. One Block A Off the Grid HTTP://1BOG.ORG AMERICA'S REPORT CA RD RESIDENTS GRADE THEIR STATES Across all six categories we surveyed, most residents weren't too thrilled with how their states perform. Residents in Colorado, lowa, Hawaii, and Vermont rated their states the most highly, but in the vast majority of states, residents As we ramp up to the 2012 election, politicians are really starting to grandstand about their accomplishments, but what do the everyday people really think about how their state is doing? One Block Off the Grid asked hundreds of U.S. residents in all 50 states to grade their state on several different factors. reported a lot of room for improvement across all six categories. C. D F YOUR STATE'S REPORT CARD We asked residents to grade their state based on its natural beauty, events and entertainment options, state economy, environmental friendliness, education system, and access to medical care. Here's how all 50 stacked up. NATURAL BEAUTY We asked residents to give a grade THINGS TO DO STATE ECONOMY We asked residents to grade their state's level We asked residents how well their state is attracting to their state's natural beauty. of fun and interesting events, and things to do. business, creating jobs, and cultivating prosperity. A Heaven pales in comparison. B I's very pretty. C It's nice, but I've seen prettier. D Meh. Not so pretty, actually. F There are prettier public restrooms. A Almost too many choices! B Many good choices. C Some good choices, but not a ton. D Pretty dang low on the choice-o-meter. F Your average vending machine has more to do. A Strong state economy here, thankfully. B Good economy, but could be better. C Just average, so-so state economy. D Pretty unhappy with the state of the economy here. F If it were a goldfish, it'd be floating. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION MEDICAL CARE FRIENDLINESS We asked residents We asked residents how well their state educates We asked residents to grade their how well lawmakers and citizens care for the its citizens, from grade school through college. state's medical system and options. state's natural landscape and resources. A Our state is very "green" or environmentally friendly. B Green, but still room for improvement. C Just average, so-so levels of environmentalism. D Not so green. F We're green like the Pope is Protestant. A We do an excellent job on education. B We do an OK job, but we could do better. C Just average, so-so levels of education. D Ooph. We have a long way to go. F What happens when education itself gets an "F"? A Excellent job of providing medical care. B Good but not great. C So-so levels of medical care and access. D Ouch! We have a long way to go. F Life support. ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA 0000 000000 00 D00 C D C A AD D B C C C D D D ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO 00 D00 В с с DD с В в D в D C в в в В в в CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA D00 в с с св в C C D D C B C C D D DD GEORGIA HAWAII IDAHO 000000 000000 00000 с сс A A B AA B B B D D D C ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA 000000 D00 C B D D D C C C C D D C А В В САВ KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA 00000 000000 00 с в в с сс в с с DD B C C D FFD MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS S В в D ссс с сс с св с вс АВ В MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI 000000 00000 $ C C F D D C В в с В В в с с в F Cс MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA 000000 000000 000000 св с с Dс В D B сВ с с с в D B В NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY 000000 DAD FF B в с в сВс D B F свс NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA A B C C D D с в D ссс В в с ссс NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA 000000 000000 B D A C C D D D C D с сс OREGON PENNSYLVANIA RHODE ISLAND 000000 000000 B C C A D B C C C D D C в в F в с в SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE 00 00000 В в с с D Bв В с с D C D D D TEXAS UTAH VERMONT 00000 00 C C B D D D в с с D B B А В В в АА VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WEST VIRGINIA O00000 000 В В с D Cс В в с В Сс с в в сс В WISCONSIN WYOMING DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU SEE . ? 000000 | 000000 с вс св в АСА СВ с Change doesn't happen on its own and as we ramp up to the 2012 election, everyday citizens have more power than usual, so if you don't like the way things are going in your state, one quick and easy thing you can do is to contact your leaders and ask for improvements. You can find your state representatives' contact info at http://www.votesmart.org/mystate_summary.php. At the federal level, look up your leaders' contact info on congress.org or just call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121. If you're not satisfied with how your rep (or the staff member) responds, consider mentioning the possibility of donating to his or her opponent in the next election cycle. Those words tend to carry more weight with politicians than almost any others. One Block A Off the Grid HTTP://1BOG.ORG AMERICA'S REPORT CA RD RESIDENTS GRADE THEIR STATES Across all six categories we surveyed, most residents weren't too thrilled with how their states perform. Residents in Colorado, lowa, Hawaii, and Vermont rated their states the most highly, but in the vast majority of states, residents As we ramp up to the 2012 election, politicians are really starting to grandstand about their accomplishments, but what do the everyday people really think about how their state is doing? One Block Off the Grid asked hundreds of U.S. residents in all 50 states to grade their state on several different factors. reported a lot of room for improvement across all six categories. C. D F YOUR STATE'S REPORT CARD We asked residents to grade their state based on its natural beauty, events and entertainment options, state economy, environmental friendliness, education system, and access to medical care. Here's how all 50 stacked up. NATURAL BEAUTY We asked residents to give a grade THINGS TO DO STATE ECONOMY We asked residents to grade their state's level We asked residents how well their state is attracting to their state's natural beauty. of fun and interesting events, and things to do. business, creating jobs, and cultivating prosperity. A Heaven pales in comparison. B I's very pretty. C It's nice, but I've seen prettier. D Meh. Not so pretty, actually. F There are prettier public restrooms. A Almost too many choices! B Many good choices. C Some good choices, but not a ton. D Pretty dang low on the choice-o-meter. F Your average vending machine has more to do. A Strong state economy here, thankfully. B Good economy, but could be better. C Just average, so-so state economy. D Pretty unhappy with the state of the economy here. F If it were a goldfish, it'd be floating. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION MEDICAL CARE FRIENDLINESS We asked residents We asked residents how well their state educates We asked residents to grade their how well lawmakers and citizens care for the its citizens, from grade school through college. state's medical system and options. state's natural landscape and resources. A Our state is very "green" or environmentally friendly. B Green, but still room for improvement. C Just average, so-so levels of environmentalism. D Not so green. F We're green like the Pope is Protestant. A We do an excellent job on education. B We do an OK job, but we could do better. C Just average, so-so levels of education. D Ooph. We have a long way to go. F What happens when education itself gets an "F"? A Excellent job of providing medical care. B Good but not great. C So-so levels of medical care and access. D Ouch! We have a long way to go. F Life support. ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA 0000 000000 00 D00 C D C A AD D B C C C D D D ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO 00 D00 В с с DD с В в D в D C в в в В в в CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA D00 в с с св в C C D D C B C C D D DD GEORGIA HAWAII IDAHO 000000 000000 00000 с сс A A B AA B B B D D D C ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA 000000 D00 C B D D D C C C C D D C А В В САВ KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA 00000 000000 00 с в в с сс в с с DD B C C D FFD MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS S В в D ссс с сс с св с вс АВ В MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI 000000 00000 $ C C F D D C В в с В В в с с в F Cс MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA 000000 000000 000000 св с с Dс В D B сВ с с с в D B В NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY 000000 DAD FF B в с в сВс D B F свс NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA A B C C D D с в D ссс В в с ссс NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA 000000 000000 B D A C C D D D C D с сс OREGON PENNSYLVANIA RHODE ISLAND 000000 000000 B C C A D B C C C D D C в в F в с в SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE 00 00000 В в с с D Bв В с с D C D D D TEXAS UTAH VERMONT 00000 00 C C B D D D в с с D B B А В В в АА VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WEST VIRGINIA O00000 000 В В с D Cс В в с В Сс с в в сс В WISCONSIN WYOMING DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU SEE . ? 000000 | 000000 с вс св в АСА СВ с Change doesn't happen on its own and as we ramp up to the 2012 election, everyday citizens have more power than usual, so if you don't like the way things are going in your state, one quick and easy thing you can do is to contact your leaders and ask for improvements. You can find your state representatives' contact info at http://www.votesmart.org/mystate_summary.php. At the federal level, look up your leaders' contact info on congress.org or just call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121. If you're not satisfied with how your rep (or the staff member) responds, consider mentioning the possibility of donating to his or her opponent in the next election cycle. Those words tend to carry more weight with politicians than almost any others. One Block A Off the Grid HTTP://1BOG.ORG AMERICA'S REPORT CA RD RESIDENTS GRADE THEIR STATES Across all six categories we surveyed, most residents weren't too thrilled with how their states perform. Residents in Colorado, lowa, Hawaii, and Vermont rated their states the most highly, but in the vast majority of states, residents As we ramp up to the 2012 election, politicians are really starting to grandstand about their accomplishments, but what do the everyday people really think about how their state is doing? One Block Off the Grid asked hundreds of U.S. residents in all 50 states to grade their state on several different factors. reported a lot of room for improvement across all six categories. C. D F YOUR STATE'S REPORT CARD We asked residents to grade their state based on its natural beauty, events and entertainment options, state economy, environmental friendliness, education system, and access to medical care. Here's how all 50 stacked up. NATURAL BEAUTY We asked residents to give a grade THINGS TO DO STATE ECONOMY We asked residents to grade their state's level We asked residents how well their state is attracting to their state's natural beauty. of fun and interesting events, and things to do. business, creating jobs, and cultivating prosperity. A Heaven pales in comparison. B I's very pretty. C It's nice, but I've seen prettier. D Meh. Not so pretty, actually. F There are prettier public restrooms. A Almost too many choices! B Many good choices. C Some good choices, but not a ton. D Pretty dang low on the choice-o-meter. F Your average vending machine has more to do. A Strong state economy here, thankfully. B Good economy, but could be better. C Just average, so-so state economy. D Pretty unhappy with the state of the economy here. F If it were a goldfish, it'd be floating. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION MEDICAL CARE FRIENDLINESS We asked residents We asked residents how well their state educates We asked residents to grade their how well lawmakers and citizens care for the its citizens, from grade school through college. state's medical system and options. state's natural landscape and resources. A Our state is very "green" or environmentally friendly. B Green, but still room for improvement. C Just average, so-so levels of environmentalism. D Not so green. F We're green like the Pope is Protestant. A We do an excellent job on education. B We do an OK job, but we could do better. C Just average, so-so levels of education. D Ooph. We have a long way to go. F What happens when education itself gets an "F"? A Excellent job of providing medical care. B Good but not great. C So-so levels of medical care and access. D Ouch! We have a long way to go. F Life support. ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA 0000 000000 00 D00 C D C A AD D B C C C D D D ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO 00 D00 В с с DD с В в D в D C в в в В в в CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA D00 в с с св в C C D D C B C C D D DD GEORGIA HAWAII IDAHO 000000 000000 00000 с сс A A B AA B B B D D D C ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA 000000 D00 C B D D D C C C C D D C А В В САВ KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA 00000 000000 00 с в в с сс в с с DD B C C D FFD MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS S В в D ссс с сс с св с вс АВ В MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI 000000 00000 $ C C F D D C В в с В В в с с в F Cс MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA 000000 000000 000000 св с с Dс В D B сВ с с с в D B В NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY 000000 DAD FF B в с в сВс D B F свс NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA A B C C D D с в D ссс В в с ссс NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA 000000 000000 B D A C C D D D C D с сс OREGON PENNSYLVANIA RHODE ISLAND 000000 000000 B C C A D B C C C D D C в в F в с в SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE 00 00000 В в с с D Bв В с с D C D D D TEXAS UTAH VERMONT 00000 00 C C B D D D в с с D B B А В В в АА VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WEST VIRGINIA O00000 000 В В с D Cс В в с В Сс с в в сс В WISCONSIN WYOMING DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU SEE . ? 000000 | 000000 с вс св в АСА СВ с Change doesn't happen on its own and as we ramp up to the 2012 election, everyday citizens have more power than usual, so if you don't like the way things are going in your state, one quick and easy thing you can do is to contact your leaders and ask for improvements. You can find your state representatives' contact info at http://www.votesmart.org/mystate_summary.php. At the federal level, look up your leaders' contact info on congress.org or just call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121. If you're not satisfied with how your rep (or the staff member) responds, consider mentioning the possibility of donating to his or her opponent in the next election cycle. Those words tend to carry more weight with politicians than almost any others. One Block A Off the Grid HTTP://1BOG.ORG AMERICA'S REPORT CA RD RESIDENTS GRADE THEIR STATES Across all six categories we surveyed, most residents weren't too thrilled with how their states perform. Residents in Colorado, lowa, Hawaii, and Vermont rated their states the most highly, but in the vast majority of states, residents As we ramp up to the 2012 election, politicians are really starting to grandstand about their accomplishments, but what do the everyday people really think about how their state is doing? One Block Off the Grid asked hundreds of U.S. residents in all 50 states to grade their state on several different factors. reported a lot of room for improvement across all six categories. C. D F YOUR STATE'S REPORT CARD We asked residents to grade their state based on its natural beauty, events and entertainment options, state economy, environmental friendliness, education system, and access to medical care. Here's how all 50 stacked up. NATURAL BEAUTY We asked residents to give a grade THINGS TO DO STATE ECONOMY We asked residents to grade their state's level We asked residents how well their state is attracting to their state's natural beauty. of fun and interesting events, and things to do. business, creating jobs, and cultivating prosperity. A Heaven pales in comparison. B I's very pretty. C It's nice, but I've seen prettier. D Meh. Not so pretty, actually. F There are prettier public restrooms. A Almost too many choices! B Many good choices. C Some good choices, but not a ton. D Pretty dang low on the choice-o-meter. F Your average vending machine has more to do. A Strong state economy here, thankfully. B Good economy, but could be better. C Just average, so-so state economy. D Pretty unhappy with the state of the economy here. F If it were a goldfish, it'd be floating. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION MEDICAL CARE FRIENDLINESS We asked residents We asked residents how well their state educates We asked residents to grade their how well lawmakers and citizens care for the its citizens, from grade school through college. state's medical system and options. state's natural landscape and resources. A Our state is very "green" or environmentally friendly. B Green, but still room for improvement. C Just average, so-so levels of environmentalism. D Not so green. F We're green like the Pope is Protestant. A We do an excellent job on education. B We do an OK job, but we could do better. C Just average, so-so levels of education. D Ooph. We have a long way to go. F What happens when education itself gets an "F"? A Excellent job of providing medical care. B Good but not great. C So-so levels of medical care and access. D Ouch! We have a long way to go. F Life support. ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA 0000 000000 00 D00 C D C A AD D B C C C D D D ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO 00 D00 В с с DD с В в D в D C в в в В в в CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA D00 в с с св в C C D D C B C C D D DD GEORGIA HAWAII IDAHO 000000 000000 00000 с сс A A B AA B B B D D D C ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA 000000 D00 C B D D D C C C C D D C А В В САВ KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA 00000 000000 00 с в в с сс в с с DD B C C D FFD MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS S В в D ссс с сс с св с вс АВ В MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI 000000 00000 $ C C F D D C В в с В В в с с в F Cс MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA 000000 000000 000000 св с с Dс В D B сВ с с с в D B В NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY 000000 DAD FF B в с в сВс D B F свс NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA A B C C D D с в D ссс В в с ссс NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA 000000 000000 B D A C C D D D C D с сс OREGON PENNSYLVANIA RHODE ISLAND 000000 000000 B C C A D B C C C D D C в в F в с в SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE 00 00000 В в с с D Bв В с с D C D D D TEXAS UTAH VERMONT 00000 00 C C B D D D в с с D B B А В В в АА VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WEST VIRGINIA O00000 000 В В с D Cс В в с В Сс с в в сс В WISCONSIN WYOMING DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU SEE . ? 000000 | 000000 с вс св в АСА СВ с Change doesn't happen on its own and as we ramp up to the 2012 election, everyday citizens have more power than usual, so if you don't like the way things are going in your state, one quick and easy thing you can do is to contact your leaders and ask for improvements. You can find your state representatives' contact info at http://www.votesmart.org/mystate_summary.php. At the federal level, look up your leaders' contact info on congress.org or just call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121. If you're not satisfied with how your rep (or the staff member) responds, consider mentioning the possibility of donating to his or her opponent in the next election cycle. Those words tend to carry more weight with politicians than almost any others. One Block A Off the Grid HTTP://1BOG.ORG