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A somewhat strange study from WalletHub published in February attempted to rank each state by their level of “sin.”
WalletHub defined “sinful” across seven key dimensions: 1) Anger & Hatred, 2) Jealousy, 3) Excesses & Vices, 4) Greed, 5) Lust, 6) Vanity and 7) Laziness. These were then broken down through 54 relevant metrics, including things like violent crime per capita, road rage ranking, mass shootings, drug overdose deaths, casinos, arrests, teen birth rates, even things like Google Searches for “Top 5 Plastic Surgeries.”
The information paints a bleak image of America’s states, with Nevada taking the top spot. It was closely followed by California, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. When broken down by metric, Washington had the most thefts per capita. New Mexico had the most violent crimes, while Maine had the least. The least sinful states were Idaho, New Hampshire, Vermont, Utah, and Wyoming.
What Do The Experts Say?
“California is the second-most sinful state in America, thanks largely to the prevalence of violence. The state has the third-most mass shootings and the most elder abuse complaints. It also has the third-highest rate of bullying on school property, and a very high number of aggravated assault arrests per capita. It’s clear that residents’ biggest sins include anger and hatred,” WalletHub wrote in the analysis. (TAKE A POLL: Are You Focused On Improving Your Sleep Habits This Year?)
“People across the nation have their own moral struggles, from violent outbursts and bullying to compulsive gambling, excessive lust and self-destructive consumption,” wrote WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “While individual cases of negative behavior may only affect a few people, when these behaviors are exhibited by a high share of a state’s population, the majority of the state’s residents suffer as a result. States should invest in resources to help people curb vices, such as robust rehabilitation programs for people with gambling and drug addictions.”
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