Tear is all screwy like that. Commoners are next to nothing in Tear. The Lords of Tear play the Game of Houses to attain status and power. I think they are truly run by fear, hence all the chaos that ensues when Rand gets Callandor. Laws change, commoners can call nobles before the magistrate...
I think it is fear. They don't want Aes Sedai meddling in their affairs. I found this on wotwiia:
"Tairens of all classes have an avowed fear of anything to do with the One Power. This is due partly to the fact that it is prophesied that the Stone of Tear will never fall until the Dragon has...