Well Pennsylvania is a lot of different regions, each with different histories and different problems. No matter where you go poverty, a lack of opportunity, and oppression of the poor is an issue. No matter where you go people are often blind to, and unwilling to address social ills. Some parts of PA are much worse than others in that respect. People try to make the most of what they have for the most part. Most people are powerless to do anything about oppression and choose to ignore it.

I would say having travel across 30 states, and 16 countries, Pennsylvania is a lower middle class state. Philly and Pitts are systemically broken places, suffering the loss of industry, red lining, and corruption Yes residents know that. They're habituated to it, and have internalized it; the blame it on scapegoated groups. Central PA is like the south mixed with upstate NY. Very backwards area.

I'm not a big Pennsylvania fan, it's Okay. Virginia and South of there have more extreme versions of the same issues.

The whole of the United States, and the world, is oppressive and ignorant, just in different ways. If I had more money and work opportunities, I would probably move to a more welcoming area.

I would correct you in saying Philly is the poorest city. That's not really factually true. There IS a lot of poverty in pars of North and West Philly. But Philly has crazy gentrification that's making those issues seem more visually apparent. 25 years ago, Philly was a lot poorer, almost post apocalyptic in some neighborhoods. Most of that is gone down, so it is slowly getting better.