Paradise Losers
June 14, 2025·52 comments·In Brief
People have legitimate concerns about rapid demographic change, strain on public services, and how communities absorb large-scale migration. These are reasonable positions grounded in real observation. But there's a crucial distinction between discussing policy and deploying ancient psychological narratives that transform those concerns into something else. That transformation is happening, and it's worth understanding how.
• Reasonable Policy Positions Are Being Integrated Into Older Story Patterns. Concerns about enforcement and borders are being merged with symbolic imagery and language that reaches people at a different level than rational argument. The merger appears seamless because it's deliberately constructed that way.
• The Stories Being Told Follow Archetypal Patterns. Certain narratives have survived for thousands of years because humans absorb them easily and spread them quickly. Understanding why these patterns work reveals something about how they're being used now.
• The Conversation Shifted in Subtle Ways. What people talk about changed. The underlying facts didn't change. What shifted instead was the frame. Recognizing that shift is the first step to understanding what's happening.
• The People Deploying These Narratives Understand Their Power. This isn't accidental or naive. The mechanics are deliberate. That knowledge matters for recognizing when you're being influenced and how to think about it.
• There's a Way to Engage With Policy While Resisting the Narrative. You can hold positions on immigration and enforcement without endorsing the symbolic language being attached to those positions. Figuring out where that line is crucial.
The Why of Epsilon Theory
- Make more informed decisions as an investor and citizen.
- See through the nudges of Big Politics and Big Media.
- Become a better consumer of news.
- Maintain your autonomy of mind in a swarm of narratives.
- Join a community of more than 100,000 truth-seekers.
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This commentary is being provided to you as general information only and should not be taken as investment advice. The opinions expressed in these materials represent the personal views of the author(s). It is not investment research or a research recommendation, as it does not constitute substantive research or analysis. Any action that you take as a result of information contained in this document is ultimately your responsibility. Epsilon Theory will not accept liability for any loss or damage, including without limitation to any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from use of or reliance on such information. Consult your investment advisor before making any investment decisions. It must be noted, that no one can accurately predict the future of the market with certainty or guarantee future investment performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
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