Well if you look at the population data, the South (and West) is growing rapidly; and yet we're all just a bunch of backward hicks...?

And Ed, when are you going to take off the Bert and Ernie underwear and actually DO something about society's ills? Considering your ratio of "auto-related" posts to "the-US-sucks-and-here's-another-reason-why" posts you obviously spend some time pontificating on the issue.
Your "hit and run" scheme does nothing but reinforce the notion that while you possess the ability of higher thought you lack the impetus to do anything with it other than whine. The world needs leaders, not another critic.