If I remember correctly, Obama believed that the American public would notice how much better their health care was under the ACA, because it is. Some did, and some didn't. Expecting the American public to notice some laws actually make life better seems to be a risky bet in recent years, where disaffection and a mulitbillion dollar indu…
If I remember correctly, Obama believed that the American public would notice how much better their health care was under the ACA, because it is. Some did, and some didn't. Expecting the American public to notice some laws actually make life better seems to be a risky bet in recent years, where disaffection and a mulitbillion dollar industry of professionally produced media blares hate and disinformation. I truly hope the Biden administration is working on ways to get its accomplishments and goals portrayed in understandable and memorable ways.
I've never counted on anything less than I am right now in regard to the welfare -- the existence -- of my country as a democracy. But if there is anything that will sway voters who still, inexplicably, remain in the grey area of the so called undecided, it is the economy.
Yes. People know when they are happy. The ACA was so important but it didn't register on most people's happiness meter. It doesn't until someone who didn't have insurance because they couldn't afford it or qualify for Medicaid reluctantly signed up for it and then ended up in the hospital and had their life saved. The Biden Plan(s) will make a lot of people very, very happy and it is going to register on the happiness meter in 2022...already has and it's barely begun.
David, I'm talking right now about a contrast, a contrast from this past year plus. But this administration also aspires to more. However, being able to pay their bills is a lot for many people, before and since the pandemic.
I learned early in my career as an HR professional there were some people who were happy only when they were unhappy and it was futile to try to placate them.
To some, “life is cruel, brutal, and short.” And they follow who they perceive as leaders, who seek to make life more brutal, crueler and shorter for the “other”.
In current times tighter government regulation (r.i.p. fairness doctrine) probably won’t be the vehicle that alters our sorry media environment. But collective consumer action could. The far right punditry that has masqueraded and been swallowed as news relies significantly on revenue streams from tv/cable bundling.
Just do the popular vote math from last two elections (and more) and then realize that millions of Biden/Harris voters (and H Clinton and Gore) are paying for Tucker’s and Hannity’s nightly rants. Indeed, as the say, a ‘socialist’ takeover that’s destroying America. But they are the ones on the dole, and you and I are unwittingly paying for them.
We won’t change the climate until we have some influence on the information that people receive. And we can start a change by dropping Xfinity, Comcast, Sling, Philo, etc or any bundle that sends some of our monthly fee to these disinformation sources.
I dropped cable about 3 yrs ago and now pay for what I want: Hulu, Britbox, PBS, etc. I don't quite understand Roku type services. But I'm a happy camper!
Pam, I agree with you: Biden is betting on the enormous economic and social benefits that his legislative agenda--if it does get passed--would bring in order to shift more people to vote Dem. The problem is that the state legislatures dominated by the Grand Old Pfascists are determined to prevent people from voting at all and people rarely pay attention tot he voting record of their local representatives, let alone their federal ones. Biden is hoping that some kind of actual intelligence emerges from the mob. His optimism is adorable, but I feel it is misplaced.
Yes, all politics are local (as Tip O'Neill once said) and this is the reason for Republican dominance of State Legislatures, whose voter repression activities make Democratic optimism misplaced. While local Democrats squabble over local issues, local Republicans stick to the "big lie" and many little ones as well to unify their base.
C'mon. At least the weather in Floriduh is better than that in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Wyoming, the Dakotas or Texas. Things could be worse.
Agreed. As HCR said, the press is all over the Tpublicans doing Tpublican BS. We need to all press the Press to make all our President is going headlines so the simplest of the simple get it.
Amen, Pam Smith. Contrary to cherished Democratic fantasies (and I'm a Dem/progressive), it's not enough to just have the best idea. Always, always, you've got to sell it, sell it, sell it.
Though it is worth noting that in the four years Rs had control of House, Senate, and the presidency, they tried repeatedly to obliterate ACA with on luck (though they gutted certain parts of it). This is a direct result of people noticing.
If I remember correctly, Obama believed that the American public would notice how much better their health care was under the ACA, because it is. Some did, and some didn't. Expecting the American public to notice some laws actually make life better seems to be a risky bet in recent years, where disaffection and a mulitbillion dollar industry of professionally produced media blares hate and disinformation. I truly hope the Biden administration is working on ways to get its accomplishments and goals portrayed in understandable and memorable ways.
People will notice if they can put food on the table and pay their rent/mortgage.
Don't count on it
I've never counted on anything less than I am right now in regard to the welfare -- the existence -- of my country as a democracy. But if there is anything that will sway voters who still, inexplicably, remain in the grey area of the so called undecided, it is the economy.
But will they associate it with Washington? Same with the ACA, many people did not know it is Obama-Care.
I think the economy is different. I don't want to quote James Carville, but I bet you know the line I'm thinking of.
Yes. People know when they are happy. The ACA was so important but it didn't register on most people's happiness meter. It doesn't until someone who didn't have insurance because they couldn't afford it or qualify for Medicaid reluctantly signed up for it and then ended up in the hospital and had their life saved. The Biden Plan(s) will make a lot of people very, very happy and it is going to register on the happiness meter in 2022...already has and it's barely begun.
Exactly. The economy is a different animal.
You are correct. It will be slow to show in the press and polls because. Outrage and anger sell. But it will happen.
True, but most people aspire to more than that, at least in the US.
David, I'm talking right now about a contrast, a contrast from this past year plus. But this administration also aspires to more. However, being able to pay their bills is a lot for many people, before and since the pandemic.
Thanks Pam. Very astute insight on a core element of Biden's strategy.
I learned early in my career as an HR professional there were some people who were happy only when they were unhappy and it was futile to try to placate them.
Marcy, you see that in sales, and in family counseling, too.
To some, “life is cruel, brutal, and short.” And they follow who they perceive as leaders, who seek to make life more brutal, crueler and shorter for the “other”.
In current times tighter government regulation (r.i.p. fairness doctrine) probably won’t be the vehicle that alters our sorry media environment. But collective consumer action could. The far right punditry that has masqueraded and been swallowed as news relies significantly on revenue streams from tv/cable bundling.
Just do the popular vote math from last two elections (and more) and then realize that millions of Biden/Harris voters (and H Clinton and Gore) are paying for Tucker’s and Hannity’s nightly rants. Indeed, as the say, a ‘socialist’ takeover that’s destroying America. But they are the ones on the dole, and you and I are unwittingly paying for them.
We won’t change the climate until we have some influence on the information that people receive. And we can start a change by dropping Xfinity, Comcast, Sling, Philo, etc or any bundle that sends some of our monthly fee to these disinformation sources.
I dropped cable about 3 yrs ago and now pay for what I want: Hulu, Britbox, PBS, etc. I don't quite understand Roku type services. But I'm a happy camper!
Thank you. Done. I did it a while ago. I use Roku, and only get what I want to support.
Pam, I agree with you: Biden is betting on the enormous economic and social benefits that his legislative agenda--if it does get passed--would bring in order to shift more people to vote Dem. The problem is that the state legislatures dominated by the Grand Old Pfascists are determined to prevent people from voting at all and people rarely pay attention tot he voting record of their local representatives, let alone their federal ones. Biden is hoping that some kind of actual intelligence emerges from the mob. His optimism is adorable, but I feel it is misplaced.
Yes, all politics are local (as Tip O'Neill once said) and this is the reason for Republican dominance of State Legislatures, whose voter repression activities make Democratic optimism misplaced. While local Democrats squabble over local issues, local Republicans stick to the "big lie" and many little ones as well to unify their base.
News alert 8:54 a.m. Governor Ron DeSantis just signed into law Florida’s voting restrictions legislation.
C'mon. At least the weather in Floriduh is better than that in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Wyoming, the Dakotas or Texas. Things could be worse.
Wait until August!
Agreed. As HCR said, the press is all over the Tpublicans doing Tpublican BS. We need to all press the Press to make all our President is going headlines so the simplest of the simple get it.
And those too busy working to watch or read much current events, politics.
Amen, Pam Smith. Contrary to cherished Democratic fantasies (and I'm a Dem/progressive), it's not enough to just have the best idea. Always, always, you've got to sell it, sell it, sell it.
Help is on the way, Help is Here and America is on the Move are everywhere in signs, speeches and I expect to see t shirts!
Though it is worth noting that in the four years Rs had control of House, Senate, and the presidency, they tried repeatedly to obliterate ACA with on luck (though they gutted certain parts of it). This is a direct result of people noticing.