It makes for a nice turn-of-phrase to remind people that Pennsylvania, and in particular Western Pennsylvania, is a place that values deeds over looks.

We’ve said it before: this is a kind-hearted, hardworking and tough-minded region. We judge a man or woman on what they’ve done and how they act, not where they’re from or how they look.

Perhaps that’s simply wishful thinking. It sounds nice, but the facts based on a recent survey show quite the opposite. Apparently hate, fear and distrust are what’s on the rise in Pennsylvania.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there were 40 hate groups active in Pennsylvania last year — up from 38 in 2014. That makes Pennsylvania the fifth most popular state for hate groups in the country — behind Texas, California, Florida and Tennessee.

Much of the rise is due to more Ku Klux Klan and black separatist chapter activity, the report says. White supremacist organizations, which believe in fundamental white superiority, and black separatist organizations — which typically oppose integration and intermarriage, and want separate institutions or even a separate nation for blacks — together made up 30 of the hate groups active in Pennsylvania last year.

The uptick parallels a rise in hate and extremist thinking nationally, according to the Center’s annual “Intelligence Report.” The number of such groups rose from 784 in 2014 to 892 in 2015, a 14 percent increase.

The SPLC also found that Pennsylvania has the highest concentration of anti-government groups in the country.

In 2014, the commonwealth was home to 18 such organizations. Last year, there were 60, including two militias, active in Pennsylvania.

Again, that mirrors a general, nationwide rise in anti-government groups over the same time period. “Patriot” groups grew from 874 in 2014 to 998 last year.

The longer-term trend is even more jaw-dropping. The number of anti-government groups nationwide has skyrocketed by more than 660 percent since 2008.

It’s important to note that the SPLC’s report doesn’t imply that the anti-government groups advocate or engage in violence, criminal activities or racism. But they are “animated by conspiracy theories,” and serve as a powerful example of the explosive growth of our collective distrust in public institutions.

Combined with the rise, however incremental, of hate and fear, that plots a troubling course forward for both our state and nation.