The 4-7 Political Lineage Model (Intro)
The 4-7 Political Lineage Model rejects the false political binary that many Americans rigidly cling to and offers more clarity of the various political perspectives that exist in the USA.
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The 4-7 Political Lineage Model (under construction)
Background:
There are a variety of reasons that I have attempted to build the 4-7 Political Lineage Model. Before I dive into that and what this is, I’d like to make it very clear that this is not a static framework. I understand that it is a bold claim to think one can come in and not only define, but diagnose the totality of American political thought… yet that is what I’m attempting to do nonetheless.
I feel that many Americans are locked into an inaccurate understanding of our political climate and the system that breeds the various responses within or beneath it. It seems that most Americans land in one of four spots based on our current understanding of the political spectrum and the most visible terms/labels. Liberal, conservative, centrist/moderate and of course the checked out apolitical.
I understand that life is both complex and moving at rates that makes it nearly impossible to truly process, this model is meant to analyse the USA empire and the various philosophical approaches people take toward it. It is my hope that we can better identify the philosophy behind not only our own views, but those of others that we interact with so we can better tailor our communication to the context/moment.
The first specific motivation was watching people fail to grasp what I felt was a self-evident truth, the danger and need to avoid Trump 2.0. The second was watching even some of the best people I know fail to extrapolate basic interpersonal morality to larger groups, and then the human collective as a whole. The third motivation was to better help people break down why Horseshoe Theory is false, and offer a better understanding of what the left to right spectrum means both at a foundational level and in application.
It is important to remember that my perspective is one born in the West, my commentary will try to remain grounded in this lane. I do not claim to have a global framework, rather one that is looking at the West, and more specifically the USA empire.
The 4-7 Political Lineage Model moves past the shallow left-right spectrum of thought as people understand it and discuss it in the USA empire. It doesn’t reject the left-right spectrum, rather it takes us deeper into the very foundation of the system and what it is built on, how the various perspectives view it, and how they want to move forward in response to it. It will help us better navigate what change looks like to the various people within the USA Empire.
This is a very stripped down intro to the model that I will expand upon in further posts.
Broad Range Model (Simplified: 1–4)
1. Regression
Ideology: Reactionary return to mythologized past
Goal: Reinstate traditional hierarchies (race, gender, nation, etc.)
Examples: Fascism, religious fundamentalism, ultranationalism
2. Maintenance
Ideology: Preserve status quo
Goal: Defend existing institutions and power structures
Examples: Establishment liberals and conservatives, corporate centrism
3. Reformist
Ideology: Improve the system through internal change
Goal: Correct injustices without dismantling foundational structures
Examples: Progressives, social democrats, regulatory liberals
4. Deconstruction
Ideology: Dismantle and replace foundational systems
Goal: Abolish oppressive institutions and build alternatives
Examples: Abolitionists, revolutionaries, anti-capitalists
Expanded Spectrum (1–7)
1. Regression
Return to an even harsher hierarchical, oppressive tradition
“Make it great again” by reinstating past dominance
2. Hard Maintenance
Aggressively defends current systems as they are
“Don’t change anything; the system is just fine.”
3. Soft Maintenance
Open to minor tweaks but resists structural change
“We can improve things with moderation and civility.”
4. Soft Reform
Seeks policy reform but avoids deep systemic critique
“Let’s pass better laws and expand access.”
5. Hard Reform
Pushes for serious restructuring within the system
“This system is broken, but we can still fix it from within.”
6. Abolition
Seeks to dismantle specific oppressive systems (e.g., prisons, police, capitalism)
“These institutions were designed to oppress—reform isn’t enough.”
7. Revolution
Advocates full systemic overthrow and replacement
“We must build something entirely new—this system is irredeemable.”
Please like, share, comment, and subscribe. It helps grow the Substack without a financial contribution (of course anything is very much appreciated)!
Thank you as always for reading… remember to Mute the Media.