Redneck Chic

As someone who is from one of the most redneck parts of this wild and woolly nation, I'm dying to know why it has become so fashionable to be a hick. When I was growing up on a farm in Ohio, I took that as an insult. Now people have bumper stickers, hats and t-shirts proclaiming (usually either over a camo or, god forbid, rebel flag print) how "redneck" they are....even if they live in a city and don't chew tobacco.

How did this happen?