Photo by Elias Castillo on Unsplash
We usually associate politics of the progressive left with supporting the underdog. Perhaps it is instinctive to champion David over Goliath, Erin Brockovich over Pacific Gas and Electric, and the lead role in Slumdog Millionaire over privileged society. The American right is armed with catchy slogans such as 'Make America great again', now refurbished to 'Keep America Great', 'Drain the Swamp', 'Vote for me - You have no choice', and, 'Build the Wall', but their actual policies run counter to the interests of many of their supporters. On the left, policies that would benefit the underdog, struggle to get the attention of those who would benefit most. Therefore we have to look deeper to find out what is really happening.

The left may win the contest of ideas and policy, but the right is winning the contest of storytelling hands down. Humans feel before they think. Furthermore, feelings cannot be changed by offering new facts. The only thing that can change feelings is a better story and as long as left argues policy over the right's stories they will be at a disadvantage electorally. The underdog knows that things may get worse before they get better and can tolerate it provided there are some wins along the way, even rhetorical wins may be sufficient. Short of complete disillusionment the incumbent is safe until a better story is presented. We can speculate on why the left has become fixated over policy and unable to offer a unifying vision. It is a reasonable position but totally out of touch.

A variation of the Underdog archetype is Hordes at the Gate. It's played out in Australia by the offshore detention of asylum seekers. In an atmosphere of fear we feel the threat personally, and prioritise our perceived survival over the needs of the migrant, self preservation over altruism. In the electricity policy, voters don't trust the Government to introduce credible policies without imposing unnecessary costs, but they are willing to take personal action that benefit themselves and make a difference. Miners will dig in and hold out against climate change activists as long as there is no transitional plan to protect their wellbeing.

During the ten years of 'The Apprentice' Trump had training by some of the best TV producers and directors on how to command an audience. He understood that holding on to a participant who was sure to fail to make for more dramatic viewing in the long run. It seems in many western democracies left leaning storytellers are in short supply. In a triumph of storytelling, in the news today Trump pardoned three women with long sentences who were in prison for non violent crimes on the heels of Kim Kardashian's lobbying's lobbying. No prises for predicting how well this will play out to his and Kim Kardashian's sizeable audience. The story will deliver enough of a dopamine hit, the feel good hormone, to keep supporters on the line a while longer.

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Tags: overcoming a monster, story archetypes, underdog