> where I work in higher Ed
Well there’s your problem right there.
You need to get out an off campus more.
The suppressed TEA party is MUCH larger than academia.
No doubt. I am one of three TEA party members in the department where I work. It gives me indigestion to ponder for more than a minute. Fortunately I live about 20 miles out in the country and conduct most of my buying in a small town.