I don't know if they are Northeastern socialists, but socialists they are. The problem is that the rural locals are mostly self-reliant, tolerant, and law-abiding. They don't realize the law is being manipulated in a way which seriously impacts the independence and freedom they formerly enjoyed until they are outnumbered, outorganized, and outvoted. I don't see any solution unless hard times foster a new grass roots common sense. Now, the same societal success that allows many to eat themselves into obesity allows people with social/liberal fantasies to imagine and vote away unfettered by any reality checks in their lives.
Here's one example. Those in the military know that women can be helpful, but are not necessarily a help as combat personnel when placed there for affirmative action reasons. However, those in political power have no contact with the reality in the field--they can imagine what is politically correct because they don't have to worry whether the person next to them can sling them over her shoulder and pull them from danger.