According to a Gallup poll measuring quality of life across 13 metrics, Utah is poised to be the best US state in which to live. Louisiana, alas, is in the bottom 10. (Personally, I blame Bunkie.) Walter Russell Mead writes:

Contrary to what we’ve seen in the NYT, the tolerant, hard-working Mormons in Utah seem to be doing just fine, judging by many Americans’ standards. Perhaps Mitt Romney shouldn’t hide his Mormonism but confidently own it and be proud of his religion’s focus on values, strong communities, public service, and compassion for the poor and sick.

Something tells me we won’t be reading much in the press about the utopia in Utah, but that just means the increasing number of Americans moving there will be pleasantly surprised when they get to experience it firsthand.