"Much of the explanation probably lies with feelings about the distinctly Southern accent, she said"

This is nothing new. Just out of high school I was home sick with the flu and forced to watch daytime TV. On one of the shows (circa 1974-75), the commentators were making the very same observations.

I made the decision that day to 'lose' the Southern accent.

Difficult, since living in a rural area you are constantly being reinforced with the accent around you. It became easier after going to a larger metro area and being around others that had less of the 'twang.

For the longest time, I went from 'country twang' to 'Southern drawl'. After years, it finally got to the point that most people couldn't tell much of an accent one way or the other.

Did it really 'improve' my status?

Good question... now living in California, I'm surrounded by Asian, Hispanic, Indian, Russian, French, German, etc 'accents'. You'd think one more wouldn't matter....
but unfortunately it still does.

for some time. Loved the food and the women. But the low tax rates really suck. The services and roads are lousy.

Ha! We've got lousy roads and service here in KY as well, but we're paying out the wazoo! If the government would watch how the money is spent HALF as closely as they watch US who pay it, maybe we couldn't be in such economic disaster.

Its a damn shame isn't it? The South has all that natural beauty but the politics are awful.

Tell me about it!

We've been getting a heck of a lot of snow recently. Its breathtaking, actually. I live off of country forest roads, so every afternoon I have been able to drive home in a virtual tunnel of white, where the snow blows from the treetops back onto the road so it is always snowing...its beautiful. Too bad I can't look for long if I'm in the car. Dodging potholes can be hazardous! And they say driving while using cellphones are dangerous? Try Kentucky roads!