People from the south aren't as handicapped as you think.
I live in the South 90% of the year, so I'd hope not.
Tbh, I do think that a lot of the stereotypes against the South are unfair, since I think a lot of the classic complaints (tribal, uneducated, etc) apply almost equally to the North, just maybe in ways that aren't quite as visible.
It's just the whole crappy-love-ed issue is definitely worse in the South and the Southwest than other parts of the United States.