Eschaton: Voters Have To Like This Thing

[Hello_Kitty]

Voters Have To Like This Thing

I know I'm a broken record on this subject, but I do think it's the thing most lacking from the insider conversations on HCR. Not that I really know, because I'm not an insider, but occasionally I get a wee sense of what's actually occupying staffers in various places. "Voters liking this thing" seems to be at best an afterthought.

It's sorta weird, really, because on most subjects it's the first thing they think of, both about the policy itself and the myriad imaginary attack ads that can be run based on the policy. If voters don't like this thing, it'll likely be repealed before most of it even takes effect, either because Republicans take over or because frightened members of a Dem controlled Congress do so. Sure, there's the optimistic view that it could be "made better" instead of repealed, but I'm not really feeling all that hopey.

-Atrios 14:47

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2009/12/voters-have-to-like-this-thing.html


My sentiments exactly. Supporters of the bill have to sell it to the public. And here's a hint: Scolding and guilt trips ain't gonna work.

[tridim]

1. Supporters have to sell it to the public, while detractors continue to lie to them..

about the actual content of the bill. Fuck you Faux.

Don't believe it? Just ask my mom, who has already bought every single lie and is convinced she's going to be killed (by a death panel) within the next few years.

Are you going to continue to let paid groups lie to people like her? Or are you going to let me sell her the bill using the actual legislation contained in the bill?

[Hello_Kitty]

2. Like I said, scolding doesn't work.

Are you going to continue to let paid groups lie to people like her? Or are you going to let me sell her the bill using the actual legislation contained in the bill?

Erm, how am I "letting" paid groups lie? I never realized I had so much power! Look, I don't badmouth the bill much IRL but if you think I'm going to plaster a fake smile on my face and go around telling people how wonderful it is you better think again. YOU like it, YOU sell it. The majority of Americans don't like it right now. That's a big problem for you who support it.

[tridim]

3. Badmouthing the bill using RW/Teabagger lies as ammo is exactly what I'm talking about.

Lots of DU'ers use this exact strategy.

It's pure bullshit and it makes our job much harder. Which of course I assume is the whole point.

[Hello_Kitty]

5. Now I'm lying and a Teabagger? eom

[sandnsea]

4. That's why it's all about the subsidies

If they're enough to make the monthly premium truly affordable, people will like the thing. If people are broke after paying the premium, people will hate the thing.

[Hello_Kitty]

6. And how many people don't get subsidies, or get very little of them

And how pissed off they'll be to find out that others are getting fully or almost fully subsidized. Do you honestly not think this is going to be a problem?

[sandnsea]

7. I honestly think people can calculate subsidies and taxes

and recognize that lower income people will pay less taxes with single payer, just like they'll pay a lower percentage of their premium with subsidized insurance.

What people on this site just can't get through their stinking heads is that half the country HATES to deal with the government as much as you hate to deal with insurance companies.

[Hello_Kitty]

8. Right, and those people are going to LOVE being mandated by the government

Sure they will.

[sandnsea]

12. They'll call single payer a mandate too

I oppose the mandate anyway, but when people can afford health care for a change, and not have to feel like they're getting it through the government, they'll support subsidized insurance. It's the logical answer in this country and was when Dean and Kerry proposed it in 2004.

[Fumesucker]

11. And now they get to deal with both..

Government *and* the corporations.

The screeching when the government fines go out should be entertaining for the Republicans, the Democrats will entirely own it.

[sandnsea]

13. When people are paying $50 for their premium

and they hear someone else whining about their fine, they'll tell them to quit being an idiot and get responsible for their health coverage.

[Hello_Kitty]

14. The only people paying $50 a month for insurance will be people making $15K a year.

And they're going to be hard pressed to come up with that premium, not to mention co-pays. If you seriously believe this bill is going to make insurance dirt cheap you are seriously mistaken.

See for yourself: http://healthreform.kff.org/SubsidyCalculator.aspx

[natrat]

9. they stole it in 2000,cooked it in 04, ran an idiot against their man in 08

why would they care what voters think

[Hello_Kitty]

10. Who's "they"? The Republicans?

They don't control things right now. If voters don't like this HCR in 2010 and 2012, there will be electoral consequences.