Election Politics 101: Don’t Talk About Health Care
October 30th, 2006 by Jeb Foster
As an election issue, health care always sits high up on the list of voter concerns. This election cycle is no different. Makes sense. Health care is expensive and getting more so each year.
What is striking, however, is that during elections, politicians do every thing they can to avoid talking about our country’s health care woes.
According to recent Kaiser Family Foundation release, many pols steer away from the issue because of its complexity. “The issue is difficult to discuss through sound bites, 30-second commercials and lawn signs,” says the foundation. A recent op-ed from the Baltimore Sun offered a similar explanation: “[Health care] and paying for it is a large and growing concern for most Americans … but neither politicians nor voters have many fresh ideas on what to do about it.”
Given an opportunity, however, candidates will jump to criticize a rival’s position on health care. For that reason, most keep mum on the subject. You don’t have to be a seasoned political strategist to know that nuanced and open debate on tough subjects is to be avoided at all costs during an election. The risks are too great.
If a candidate is forced to talk about health care, we can expect platitudes, such as “I’m for developing a cure for the common cold.” Or, platitudes with a barb: “I support a cure for cancer, but my opponent does not … and she eats small children.”
November 2nd, 2006 at 1:36 pm
While I completely agree with you that politicians tend to avoid the subject of health insurance, I ask, what subject do politicians not avoid at this time?
November 3rd, 2006 at 1:08 pm
Ah yes. Good point, Evan.
I assume that you, like me, will be a happier person on Nov. 8 regardless of who wins or loses.