The Nordicism of Minnesota is a bit of mythology perpetrated by Garrison Keillor and the locals. It's more German than Nordic, as are the the other well run states such as Wyoming, North Dakota & Iowa. Vermont is also generally in the top five of "best governed" states and the largest ethnic group is French Canadian, not a group renowned for their skills of governance.

Minnesota is not like Switzerland at all. Nor are Minnesotans Yankees. "Yankee Switzerland" is a pretty bad phrase for describing Minnesota.