They still can’t fathom the idea that a politician might be motivated by principles of piety and liberty and not personal gain. They do not know how to coerce (buy, woo, threaten) such an anomaly.
The political process is about the use of power to distribute wealth or benefits to various groups. For the most part this sort of sordid marketplace system works well enough. Far better than than places where clique politics or power challenging and tribalistic mentalities prevail. Unfortunately today in the US much of the electorate is withdrawing its allegiance to the normal regime as the surmise correctly the deck is being stacked against them in ways that are and will have very adverse impacts on their immediate family's interests. Cruz understands this, which men such as McConnell , to whom politics is just constant game playing and parliamentary maneuvering never will.
The question is whether the political class will have enough perception of their true long term interests to take steps to contain and reverse policies which a very large piece of white middle class America see as damaging and destructive to their livelihoods and possibly their lives or continue on the pathway of further detachment and obsession with the Beltway game playing. Cruz is a messenger to the political class telling them to make some adjustments while there is time. If his and those like him are ignored and the current social trends con tinue the US is headed towards a crisis somewhat like the one that destroyed Yugoslavia.