Having lived in Texas my entire life, I know a whole lot of conservatives. My facebook feed is like a Fox News ticker: creepy nationalism, fears of socialism and sharia, "pro-life" screeds and feeling oh so bad for those overtaxed Job Creators. Most everyone I know spends their Sundays hearing all about the Prosperity Gospel (though they may not call it that). They rant about how they do not bust their asses for individuals who just want to live on their hard earned tax money. "The free market will save us!" "Don't blame the banks, blame Big Government!" Grrr, regulations bad! Unions bad! Liberal media, oh no!
I've gotten into some online arguments a few times, it never goes well and we can never agree on anything - even facts. But the one thing that the Fox bots get is that there is too much money in our political system.
Nowadays, campaign season never ends. Tea Party supporters also get the endless emails pleading for donations. They see the politicians preening on the 24 hour news networks all the damn time, yapping about the same issues that will rile up the base, bring in that cash. Whether your boogeyman is George Soros or the Koch brothers, we're in the same boat. Our politicians don't listen to us, their ear goes to the guy with the biggest check. The fundraising goes on forever and the campaigning never ends.
The Tea Party voters are on our side, they just don't know it. We'll never agree on a lot of things, but we can agree on this: Campaign finance reform.
We're sick of corporate money soaking our elections, they're afraid of unions buying elections. And who isn't tired of all of the donation requests, especially when times are tough? I'm not versed on policy ideas, or how it should work, but I know we need changes badly. And my wingnut friends agree with me. It's the one idea that can unite the entire 99%.