Having lived in the Philly area for almost 20 years, the the NY area for 30 years and now FL for 3+ years, I can agree with what you are saying to a degree but my personal experience has been the degree of backwardness is unheard of here in FL in some areas.....I used to officiate football in NY and was in some real backwards areas near the PA border that were downright frightful but the absolute dumbest backwards folks I have met so far and I am sure I have missed a few along the way but the cake is taken here in FL, GA and SC. Can't speak for KY, TN, MS, AK or LA.