I'm from Texas. I have also lived in Virginia and North Carolina. As for traveling, I have seen the entirity of nearly every state in the Union. When I said I was moving over the border, I meant just that... a mile or two. Just far enough to get out of this God-foresaken state, but still enjoy the beauty of Appalachia.
No, other states do not look like this one. Well... Arkansas almost does in certain areas, but not quite.
By your statement, "Now in the 70's they had some real strict blue laws." I realize you didn't even comprehend the meaning of the two billboards which says to me that you haven't been to this area very much or you would know that the Seventh Day Adventists are fighting the Baptists (even posting huge billboards) who hate the Catholics who all but the Catholics hate the Jews who hate... on and on and on. At least you did mention the Satanic Cults who are here in abundance living openly beside the KKK.
Here is a link about our lovely schools. http://www.sullivan-county.com/nf0/ep/tn_grade.htm
Yes, this is a very friendly area.. as long as you are white. Heaven help you if you are not and drive down 11E letting the police see you.
I'm in hysterics laughing that you're even posting this nonsense then. You really don't have much room to talk then. As for the klan? LOL!!! You're from Texas and wanna talk about that with a state that produced LBJ? Oh my sides! LOL The klan as such died in this state more than a generation ago. The last stand basically took place in the 1950's. They lost! Yea there's a few that come in every now and then but not many. Mostly outsider wannabe's who never understood it's actual origins and corruption anyway. LOL OH BTW if the education system is so pathetic you can thank the beloved Lamar Alexander-R. He was the so called education governor and Pappy W's Sec of Education. LOL
Now then some real facts. One of the best school systems in the nation is in East Tennessee actually. Ever hear of Oak Ridge? Some of the most advanced scientific research in the world goes on in East Tennessee. The United States Nuclear Navy is possible because of fuel processed in East Tennessee. Many of the so call backwood bumpkins work in uranium enrichment plants among other high tech jobs. When Little Boy was being built locals were hired to do it. The major electricity producer for the south east is head quartered in East Tennessee. Eastman Chemicals, Berkline, Rockwell Industries, Denso, and many, many, others are as well. Have you been to Morristown? You should have seen it just 20 years ago. The area is a boom and growing. Oh yes we also produce a substantial portion of the nations aluminum as well. Want a car? We build them. Want car parts? We produce them. Want plane parts? Boeing is here as well and all are doing very good and many are expanding here. It's funny not a single one of the companies I listed is griping about the East Tennessee work force not being capable. These so called illiterates you put down were highly instrumental in the building of this nations first atomic bomb.
Taking the fact that many companies are moving to Tennessee from other states and even companies from Japan {which has a very high standard for education} are locating here. Yes they move here instead of Texas at times LOL. Somehow what you are saying simply does not add up to reality. Now then if your company has a test that persons can not understand then I would hold the test as being suspect. The more you talk the less I believe.
As for diversity in religion? A lot of Upper East Tennessee is actually Lutheran believe it or not. I'm a Baptist with a Roman Catholic Priest cousin who actually is a Vicar General I believe {I don't know much about the RC church but half my family is RC, some family members are Mormons, a few Methodist, a lot of Baptist, and maybe snake handlers who knows {Threw that last one in their just for your amusement} So that arguments hog wash as well. The churches get along fine with each other. But you'll find snobs in any of them. How about yours?