Fictional Countries' Political Parties

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Doing this instead of my Forensics class reviews.

Cathconian Political Parties

Cathconia has traditionally been divided between West and East. Contemporary political parties formed about 130 years ago.

The Cathconian Party

The Cathconian Party, part of a strong Eastern Cathconia tradition of pro-industry, pro-finance, is formed around a few key principles. First off, high tariffs to protect domestic industry. This has been seen in the past as both a pro-business and then later a pro-labor stance. As well, in later years, though there was still a large amount of support from Eastern businesses, a trust-busting faction developed. On immigration, they are typically the more opposed faction and thus have had to deal with large immigrant communities in Eastern cities. As well, they tend to support higher taxes and large, paternal welfare programs. They've been opposed to a large number of "Republican" foreign interventions, viewing them as distracting from more internal conflicts. There is a Western faction, comprised largely of impoverished farmers that are wary of immigrants and rather anti-internationalist. The stereotype of a Cathconian Party voter is either an Eastern fatcat corporatist "statist", though in lesser use is a xenophobic farmer.

The Republican Party
The Republican party is your traditional Western Cathconian party. They favor low tariffs, domestic quasi-libertarianism (though immigrant communities have provided certain moralistic traits to the party). They are welcoming of immigrants, viewing them as increasing the fabric of what was originally an immigrant's country. In foreign policy, they might be called "expansionist" or even "pro war" given that a central part of the Republican Party's ideology is expanding democracy and the republican form of government to all corners of the globe. This in the past has involved protecting burgeoning independent republics in Cathconia's own hemisphere. The stereotype of a Republican Party voter is a cowboy with little interest in helping his fellow man and a disdain for most other countries (aside from of course those that Cathconia has liberated).

Wow, my position in relation to these parties did a complete 180.

[Goldwater]

Doing this instead of my Forensics class reviews.

Cathconian Political Parties

Cathconia has traditionally been divided between West and East. Contemporary political parties formed about 130 years ago.

The Cathconian Party

The Cathconian Party, part of a strong Eastern Cathconia tradition of pro-industry, pro-finance, is formed around a few key principles. First off, high tariffs to protect domestic industry. This has been seen in the past as both a pro-business and then later a pro-labor stance. As well, in later years, though there was still a large amount of support from Eastern businesses, a trust-busting faction developed. On immigration, they are typically the more opposed faction and thus have had to deal with large immigrant communities in Eastern cities. As well, they tend to support higher taxes and large, paternal welfare programs. They've been opposed to a large number of "Republican" foreign interventions, viewing them as distracting from more internal conflicts. There is a Western faction, comprised largely of impoverished farmers that are wary of immigrants and rather anti-internationalist. The stereotype of a Cathconian Party voter is either an Eastern fatcat corporatist "statist", though in lesser use is a xenophobic farmer.

The Republican Party
The Republican party is your traditional Western Cathconian party. They favor low tariffs, domestic quasi-libertarianism (though immigrant communities have provided certain moralistic traits to the party). They are welcoming of immigrants, viewing them as increasing the fabric of what was originally an immigrant's country. In foreign policy, they might be called "expansionist" or even "pro war" given that a central part of the Republican Party's ideology is expanding democracy and the republican form of government to all corners of the globe. This in the past has involved protecting burgeoning independent republics in Cathconia's own hemisphere. The stereotype of a Republican Party voter is a cowboy with little interest in helping his fellow man and a disdain for most other countries (aside from of course those that Cathconia has liberated).

Wow, my position in relation to these parties did a complete 180.

Interesting. I assume you're being intentionally vague about which one you lean towards?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Doing this instead of my Forensics class reviews.

Cathconian Political Parties

Cathconia has traditionally been divided between West and East. Contemporary political parties formed about 130 years ago.

The Cathconian Party

The Cathconian Party, part of a strong Eastern Cathconia tradition of pro-industry, pro-finance, is formed around a few key principles. First off, high tariffs to protect domestic industry. This has been seen in the past as both a pro-business and then later a pro-labor stance. As well, in later years, though there was still a large amount of support from Eastern businesses, a trust-busting faction developed. On immigration, they are typically the more opposed faction and thus have had to deal with large immigrant communities in Eastern cities. As well, they tend to support higher taxes and large, paternal welfare programs. They've been opposed to a large number of "Republican" foreign interventions, viewing them as distracting from more internal conflicts. There is a Western faction, comprised largely of impoverished farmers that are wary of immigrants and rather anti-internationalist. The stereotype of a Cathconian Party voter is either an Eastern fatcat corporatist "statist", though in lesser use is a xenophobic farmer.

The Republican Party
The Republican party is your traditional Western Cathconian party. They favor low tariffs, domestic quasi-libertarianism (though immigrant communities have provided certain moralistic traits to the party). They are welcoming of immigrants, viewing them as increasing the fabric of what was originally an immigrant's country. In foreign policy, they might be called "expansionist" or even "pro war" given that a central part of the Republican Party's ideology is expanding democracy and the republican form of government to all corners of the globe. This in the past has involved protecting burgeoning independent republics in Cathconia's own hemisphere. The stereotype of a Republican Party voter is a cowboy with little interest in helping his fellow man and a disdain for most other countries (aside from of course those that Cathconia has liberated).

Wow, my position in relation to these parties did a complete 180.

Interesting. I assume you're being intentionally vague about which one you lean towards?

Well, while I have never fully identified with either party, I was substantially more favorable towards the Republicans of this universe when I wrote that.

The parties are essentially classical liberalism + neoconservatism (HillGoose/Goldwaterism) versus 19th century progressivism + paleoconservatism. It was sort of meant to be a modern version of Democratic-Republicans vs. Federalists.

[GoTfan]

You know, I might do one of these. Myabe even springboard into something like Kamala's timeline a while ago. Anyone remember that?

[Goldwater]

After thinking long and hard about it, here is my contribution:

Good Center-Left Party
Left wing on all of the issues I'm left wing or moderate on, moderate on all of the issues I'm right wing on.

Good Center-Right Party
Right wing on all of the issues I'm right wing or moderate on, moderate on all of the issues I'm left wing on.

Bad Party
An isolated quarantine area for all of the bad people that refuse to vote for either of the other 2 parties. Never wins elections.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

After thinking long and hard about it, here is my contribution:

Good Center-Left Party
Left wing on all of the issues I'm left wing or moderate on, moderate on all of the issues I'm right wing on.

Good Center-Right Party
Right wing on all of the issues I'm right wing or moderate on, moderate on all of the issues I'm left wing on.

Bad Party
An isolated quarantine area for all of the bad people that refuse to vote for either of the other 2 parties. Never wins elections.

Can I suggest
Good Party
Literally all of your positions in a party, they win all elections

Very cool and good

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Cathconica
Location: North Atlantic
Capital: Cathconstantinople

Civic Union: "Big government" conservatives, the CU's are the product of a merger in the 1930's that created a "patriotic front" during a time economic crisis, world war, and totalitarianism. In terms of overall world view, they are an attempt to square the circle between small town provincialism; relatively egalitarian capitalism; strong economic growth; and a strong central government for purposes of national defense, economic stabilization, and strength abroad. Not overtly interventionist, but very focused on pursuing a strategy that focuses on the national interest, defending like-minded countries, and promoting national values. Philosophically, they are in the tradition of conservatives that came to the conclusion that unbridled capitalism could be its own undoing, and the undoing of their preferred values systems. The CU's have largely been the majority party since the Depression, and are generally seen as in line with Christian Democratic parties. Previously went under the name "Progressive-Conservatives".

Pillars of Support: Religious communities, some unions, small business owners, domestic manufacturing, small town dwellers, some farmers, law enforcement, some bureaucrats.

Farmer-Labor:Farmer-Labor is the primary left-wing party in the nation. Its two primary components were fielded in the early 1900's where currency issues and poor labor conditions created a large mass of the disaffected in both city and the countryside. In the 1920s, the F-L finally captured government, winning three general elections in a row. Since then, they have been the second major party and the primary opposition to the CU's. It was only in the 1970s that they began to wane. While there was some push to moderate and modernize in the 1980's and 1990's, much of that wind (and support) was stolen by the Liberals. On social issues, the F-L are markedly more conservative than their counterparts in other industrialized nations, though they had their day in the sun when it came to advocating for immigrant and minority housing, clean water and air initiatives, and the like. In terms of foreign policy, the F-L has for years been split between an activist foreign policy that many of its leaders and chief philosophers have endorsed, and a knee-jerk opposition to any international conflict held by much of its base and activist crowd.

Pillars of Support: Most labor unions, many small farmers, some indigenous communities, minority communities (not recently immigrated).

Liberals: Like the CU, the Liberals are a merger, but one less formal and more philosophical. Historically, while the CU's bridged the gap between traditionalists and social reformers, the Liberals bridged the gap between liberal philosophy that dissented from central authority and industrialists who once relied on said authority for protective tariffs and strike breaking. As the P-C's/CU's merged to create a majority party that promoted some anti-business policies, businessmen and members of the bourgeoisie finally defected to the rump Liberals, giving them some heft that has kept the party alive since. These days, it is derided by its opponents as "neoliberal". Nevertheless, a Liberal-led government in the late 1970s was important in reining in governmental excess amidst an inflationary crisis. The Liberals reached their recent high tide in the first decade of the 2000s, and have since been soul-searching; some have attempted to re-brand the party as "woke", though not all too successfully.

Pillars of support: professionals, multi-national corporations, some minority communities (recently immigrated).

Country: A common coalition partner of the CU's and the F-L's, the Country Party focuses primarily on rural and environmental issues. It is not a member of the international Green movement but is rather a sort of environmental nationalist group that seeks to preserve the natural beauty that has been a hallmark of much of western Cathconica. Because of this and its many idiosyncratic stands, it has sometimes earned the label "Green Conservatism", opposing globalization and suburban sprawl while also often talking about issues in terms of "traditional morality". Country Party nominees tend to be described by many as "odd ducks", and they include a number of political figures that operate entirely independently of the party platform. Recently, the Country Party has seen a (mostly online) influx of support for its unorthodox candidates from younger right-wing voters disaffected by major social changes and seeking a return to "simpler times".

Pillars of Support: Some activists, some indigenous peoples, some religious communities.

Social Democrats: The nation's left-wing activist base. While once a bastion for the nation's more radical workers groups, the SD's today are the party of younger voters from middle class backgrounds who nevertheless work twenty to sixty hours a week in multi-cultural environments. Largely isolated to up-and-coming areas of major cities.

Pillars of Support: Activists, younger voters, some minorities, city-dwellers.