Political Narratives

In Star Wars Culture Clash I showed how a simple narrative structure can be mapped onto the Asplund Chart. The basic hero narrative of each of the nine political factions follows.

The Libertarian Narrative:
Underdog libertarians are battling the evil corporate/socialist state to preserve freedom. The potential conservative/progressive allies are unreliable and ineffective. The Republican and Democratic Parties have misguided priorities and are actually serving the interests of the ruling class.

Conservative Independent Narrative:
Underdog conservative independents (and Tea Partiers) are battling the out of control regulatory state to preserve freedom. The potential libertarian/conservative Republican allies are unreliable and ineffective. The progressive independents and establishment Republicans have misguided priorities and are actually serving the interests of the hyper-regulatory state.

Conservative Republican Narrative:
Underdog conservatives are battling the state-sponsored progressive Democrats to preserve freedom. The potential independent/Republican allies are unreliable and ineffective. The moderate Democrats and libertarians have misguided priorities and are actually serving the interests of the (closet) communists and revolutionary anarchists.

Republican Establishment Narrative:
Underdog Republicans are trying to reign in an out of control, nearly bankrupt welfare state to preserve freedom. The potential conservative/moderate Democrat allies are unreliable and ineffective. The libertarians and progressive Democrats have misguided priorities and are actually contributing to the problems.

Progressive Independent Narrative:
Underdog progressive independents are battling the out of control crony-capitalist state to preserve freedom. The potential libertarian/progressive Democrat allies are unreliable and ineffective. The conservative independents and establishment Democrats have misguided priorities and are actually serving the interests of the corrupt (shadow) oligarchy.

Progressive Democrat Narrative:
Underdog progressives are battling the evil corporate/religious state to preserve freedom. The potential independent/Democratic Party allies are unreliable and ineffective. The Republican moderates and libertarians have misguided priorities and are actually serving the interests of the corporatist/fundamentalist ruling class.

Democratic Establishment Narrative:
Underdog Democrats are trying to temper the out of control religious and social intolerance, while reducing corporate welfare to preserve freedom and create equal opportunity for all. The potential progressive/moderate Republican allies are unreliable and ineffective. The libertarians and conservative Republicans have misguided priorities and are actually contributing to the problems.

The Swing Voter Narrative:
Some libertarians, conservatives, Republicans, progressives, and/or Democrats are too rigid and are pulling the country in chaotic/evil direction(s). The good/lawful libertarians, conservatives, Republicans, progressives, and/or Democrats are unreliable, ineffective, and have the wrong priorities. We all need to work together to restore balance to the political system. This narrative doesn't facilitate long-term cooperation as the No Labels and Coffee Party movements have recently demonstrated.

The Moderate Narrative:
Republican/Democratic leaders act together with the noble, pragmatic moderates to find common ground, avoid gridlock, and keep the country working.

All of these narratives are true, from a certain point of view. The big problem with the political process is that only people who have internalized the moderate narrative get to make public policy decisions. Moderates use their big government hammer on every issue that becomes politicized, nail or not.