# The Divided Polis: A Modern Platonic Dialogue on Power and Illusion

By [Fletcher Christian](https://paragraph.com/@fletcherchristian) · 2025-01-26

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> ### **Part I: The Regular People**

_Setting: A corner booth in a diner. The TV overhead shows a breaking news segment announcing Trump’s re-election victory. The place is buzzing with excited or tense conversation._

**MAGA Republican (Regular Person)**

_(Slaps the table with excitement)_

> **“It’s about time! I’m telling you, this victory means we’re finally gonna stop all that ‘woke’ nonsense. No more DEI mandates forcing people to hire based on skin color or gender identity. We need merit, not quotas!”**

**Democrat (Regular Person)**

_(Frowns, arms crossed)_

> **“You act like DEI is some evil plan. It’s literally about giving everyone a fair shot—making sure trans folks, people of color, women, whoever, aren’t pushed aside by bias. Now you’re telling me we’re gonna lose progress on trans rights? Look how they’ve been rolling back protections, banning healthcare for trans youth in some states.”**

**MAGA Republican (Regular Person)**

### **“Oh, come on. Let’s be real. People are fed up with these extreme agendas—teaching kids about pronouns in kindergarten, pushing radical gender ideology, and acting like America is nothing but systemic racism. That’s why Trump won again. People want common sense in schools, not indoctrination.”**

**Democrat (Regular Person)**

### **“‘Indoctrination’? Do you know what’s actually in those lessons? Most of it is just acknowledging that trans people exist or that black history isn’t just one month a year. It’s not some leftist plot to brainwash kids. It’s about inclusion.”**

**MAGA Republican (Regular Person)**

> **“Yeah, well, what about free speech for those of us who disagree? I’m tired of being told I’m a ‘bigot’ just because I don’t believe men belong in women’s sports. Or that I’m racist for pointing out that some DEI programs are basically discrimination in reverse.”**

**Democrat (Regular Person)**

> **“Nobody said free speech is going away. But if your ‘speech’ tells a vulnerable kid they can’t exist, people have a right to call that out. Can’t you see how these laws—they talk about banning drag shows or banning books—hurt real people?”**

**MAGA Republican (Regular Person)**

**“Stop mixing up everything. Drag queens reading to toddlers is not the same as a teenager needing mental health support. And about your ‘real people’? Think about real working-class folks who are suffering from inflation, job loss, and high gas prices. That’s why we needed Trump back! He’ll bring back manufacturing, protect the border, and fix the economy. Enough of this social justice side show.”**
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**Democrat (Regular Person)**

**“You act like Democrats never did anything for the working class. Inflation is a global problem, not just an American one. But sure—Trump’s your savior, despite the fact that the wealthiest ended up even richer last time around. Meanwhile, the rest of us got crumbs.”**
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**MAGA Republican (Regular Person)**

> **“Well, at least the border will be secure again. No more caravans pouring in, costing us billions in healthcare and social services.”**

**Democrat (Regular Person)**

> **“It’s always easy to blame immigrants instead of looking at the corporate CEOs shipping jobs overseas. But yeah, sure, let’s scapegoat the vulnerable.** _That_ **will fix everything.”**

**_(They both fall silent, glaring at each other over coffee cups, each convinced the other is part of the problem. They’ve absorbed talking points on every side, but neither truly delves beyond the surface of these big issues.)_**

### **Part II: The Corrupt Politicians**

_Setting: First, a televised joint interview in a grand state capitol hallway, with journalists swarming. Then, later, an off-the-record private room._

**Public Press Conference (On Camera)**

**Republican Politician** _(steps up to the microphone with a stern expression)_

> **“Look, I stand for parental rights, safe communities, and an America where our children aren’t forced to learn radical ideologies in the classroom. Under my leadership, we will do away with these so-called ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ programs that are nothing more than a left-wing social experiment.”**

**Democratic Politician** _(jumps in passionately)_

> **“This is a dangerous rollback of civil rights protections. My colleague here has made it clear they want to erase trans people, roll back women’s rights, and pretend racism ended in the 1960s. Well, we won’t stand for that. We must defend DEI initiatives to ensure that every American—no matter their race, gender, or orientation—has a fair shot.”**

_(Reporters shout over each other, cameras flash, each politician tries to outdo the other in fervor.)_

**Republican Politician**

**“Oh, spare me the sanctimony. The American people are sick of your virtue-signaling. We’re talking about real issues: skyrocketing crime, the opioid epidemic, an open border. You want to waste taxpayer money on workshops about pronouns? Enough!”**
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**Democratic Politician**

**“We will not ignore marginalized communities. Our constituents demand progress, not a return to the 1950s. If you truly cared about the opioid epidemic, you’d vote for real funding for addiction treatment instead of corporate tax cuts!”**
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_(They keep pointing fingers, voices rising. It’s a spectacle—rehearsed, but compelling for the cameras.)_

**Behind Closed Doors (No Cameras)**

_(The two politicians walk down a corridor and into a private office. Once inside, they drop the act: their hostility fades. They pour themselves coffee—or something stronger—and relax.)_

**Republican Politician** _(sighs, slumps into a chair)_

> **“Whew. Good performance out there. My base will eat it up. You hammered me on trans issues perfectly—I needed that. Keeps me looking like the ‘traditional family values’ guy.”**

**Democratic Politician** _(rubs eyes wearily)_

> **“Yeah, yeah, your people see you as the crusader against the ‘woke mob.’ Meanwhile, my side sees me as the brave defender of civil rights. Fundraising numbers will go through the roof after that little show.”**

**Republican Politician**

**“Speaking of fundraising, I’ve got a call with the corporate CEOs in a couple hours—they want to ensure we don’t actually pass anything that hinders their bottom line. So I’ll keep railing against DEI, but we’ll drag out any real legislation in committee. You good with that?”**
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**Democratic Politician** _(shrugs)_

**“Fine by me. My donors want me to grandstand about trans rights and equity, but let’s face it: they mostly care about the tax breaks and the trade deals. We’ll make our noise, propose a bill that won’t pass, and claim the other side blocked it. Same script as always.”**
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**Republican Politician**

**“Long as we keep the culture war pot boiling, we both stay relevant. The voters are so busy fighting each other over bathroom bills and pronouns, they never notice we’re not actually fixing healthcare, wages, or the environment.”**

**Democratic Politician** _(smirks)_

**“Exactly. It’s a shame about actual trans folk and marginalized communities, but hey, as long as they remain a hot-button topic, it keeps both our bases locked in. Fear is one hell of a motivator, right?”**

**Republican Politician**

### **“You said it. My side fears ‘wokeness,’ your side fears me taking their rights away. Meanwhile, we rake in donations, cycle after cycle.”**

_(They clink their coffee mugs—an unspoken agreement to keep playing their parts. They head out, already planning the next public brawl.)_

**Commentary**

**_• The Regular People argue passionately, referencing real, immediate fears and beliefs: trans rights, DEI programs, economic strains, border control, etc. They reflect the soundbites from social media, their favorite news outlets, and party lines—but aren’t engaging deeply in nuanced policy details._**

**_• The Corrupt Politicians are shown to be performing extremes for the camera—stoking cultural and political grievances—while privately they both serve the same entrenched interests. They’re happy to keep citizens at each other’s throats because it strengthens their positions and fundraising._**

**_This structure emphasizes how the real, thorny issues—trans rights, racism, DEI, and more—become political footballs. The public ends up fighting tooth and nail, believing these politicians’ rhetoric, while behind the scenes, both parties sometimes collude to preserve power rather than enact real change._**

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*Originally published on [Fletcher Christian](https://paragraph.com/@fletcherchristian/the-divided-polis-a-modern-platonic-dialogue-on-power-and-illusion)*
