Stories that make invisible

Chile appears to be stuck in a cycle of stagnation, with economic indicators failing to show progress, persistent unemployment concerns, and extreme weather conditions disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities. Heavy rainfall has exposed deep fractures within the country’s social cohesion, revealing disrupted roads, isolated towns, and families struggling under the weight of increasing vulnerability. In this context, political narratives often shape public discourse, with governments framing their actions around policy agendas, reforms, and strategic messaging while opposition parties construct competing stories. Yet the central question remains: how effectively do these narratives connect with the daily realities of citizens? According to data from the CEP survey conducted last June, Chileans are marked by uncertainty. Only 18% believe the country is progressing, while 54% feel it is stagnant. A negative assessment of the economy reaches 43%, and pessimistic expectations for the next twelve months have surged. However, perhaps the most telling figures lie in everyday life: 37% of households report that their income does not cover basic needs, 50% barely make ends meet, and just 13% can save. Compounding this, 73% express high concern over debt. The economic experience extends beyond macroeconomic indicators. It manifests in the anxiety of a family carefully calculating each peso spent, in a worker fearing job loss, or in a household postponing decisions due to uncertainty about the future. The stress of rising living costs does not diminish simply because authorities present favorable statistics or political leaders shift focus to other priorities. Citizens demand employment, adequate wages, and greater financial security, not explanations or rhetoric that seem to ask for indefinite patience as daily reality continues to worsen. Surveys have evolved beyond mere popularity gauges, becoming a thermometer of governance. They reflect the gap between political narratives and the tangible experiences of individuals. Citizens do not merely assess the likability of a leader but evaluate their ability to understand real problems and offer solutions that visibly improve daily life. In this environment, a troubling phenomenon emerges: narratives that obscure the poverty and economic vulnerability faced by Chilean families. This occurs when the material reality of individuals is overshadowed by stories centered on elite disputes or partisan conflicts. As a result, fundamental concerns, making ends meet, accessing opportunities, finding work, or coping with inflation, are pushed aside from public discourse. Political communication should serve as a tool for governance, not replace it. True political communication allows transparency in priorities, explains management, holds officials accountable, and builds trust. It cannot become a rhetorical device to mask lack of results or a platform to promote individual leadership. When a communications strategy prioritizes image-building over public effectiveness, the message loses its value and citizen confidence erodes. No campaign can substitute for the absence of concrete solutions or compensate for a society feeling ignored. The challenge facing Chilean politics is not to create a new slogan or design a new strategy, but to address the growing disconnect between political narratives and the lived realities of its people.