"This is the case in a lot of the US South." I understand your reasoning re US South but 'laid-back' in the Australian context refers more to a 'laxadaisical'

"This is the case in a lot of the US South." I understand your reasoning re US South but 'laid-back' in the Australian context refers more to a 'laxadaisical' or 'couldn't-care-less' attitude—or that's what it used to mean. Class doesn't much enter the picture. :-(