THE REPUBLICAN MASTER NARRATIVE
Republican gains in the 2010 election were bolstered significantly by the Republicans' discipline in hewing to the Party Line aka The Master Narrative. The Master Narrative invariably comprises two parts: 1) Homespun populist ‘truths’ calculated to stoke anti-government ire of a beleaguered, right-leaning middle class and inspire chest-thumping patriotism in support of war and 2) Unspoken, generally unrecognized benefits for the ruling class (shown below in parenthesis). To wit:
Government is the problem, not the solution, therefore diminish the role of government (thereby enhancing the power of the rich and powerful masters of the private sector). Variations on this theme include:
Government regulation stifles innovation, investment and economic growth, therefore de-regulate (thereby giving corporate executives a free hand to pursue their own interests, often riding roughshod over those of the people).
Government spending is the cause of the deficits, therefore cut government spending (they rarely do -- try asking a Republican which government programs he/she would cut -- unless to eviscerate government regulators, but it provides a plausible smoke-screen obscuring the real cause of the deficits, namely tax cuts).
Taxes are too high, inhibiting private sector growth, therefore cut taxes (thereby enhancing the fortunes of the rich and powerful elite, who receive the lion’s share of the tax cuts). The corollaries of this theme (for which there is no compelling supporting evidence) are:
Tax-rate cuts stimulate growth.
Tax-rate increases cause recessions and abort recoveries and, therefore, must not be raised, ever. Hence, extend the Bush tax cuts for all, (especially the rich).
The Long War in the Middle East is necessary to fight Islamic terrorism and enhance domestic security (despite all evidence to the contrary), and, therefore must be supported unquestioningly (thereby assuring continued defense contracts, military prominence and promotions, and continuing contributions from defense contractors to politicians who support the war).
In short, the Master Narrative -- diminish government, de-regulate, cut taxes and support war -- is simple, easy to communicate and understand. It comes wrapped in the flag, cloaked in Christian garb, and ornamented with appeals to reflexive American hot buttons: freedom, right to bear arms, and traditional family values. Consequently, the Master Narrative is inordinately powerful, persuading naïve, gullible supporters to vote consistently against their own best interests. The Angry Right can shout out their feel-good ideology until they are blue in the face, but they cannot overcome the rebuttal contained in the dysfunctional outcome produced since the Master Narrative was first instigated by President Reagan.
The experience of the past 3 decades has clearly demonstrated that the Master Narrative:
Serves primarily the interests of the stupendously rich ruling class to the detriment of most of the rest of the population in terms of economic and financial progress, health, education, environment and virtually every other measure of wellbeing you care to examine
Creates massive national debt burdening future generations and compromising U.S. financial independence through increasing dependency on foreign lenders
Produces calamitous financial and economic instability
Engenders dangerous social discord and polarization
Degrades the environment and
Imperils national security and domestic tranquility
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?
The inescapable fact remains that in the long run the Master Narrative is fundamentally flawed and ultimately dysfunctional, as the history of the past 3 decades demonstrates. Returning to the Master Narrative is prescription for disaster. If you liked the Panic of 2008, you’re gonna love a Republican victory in 2012.