Can Trump not do the same on health care?
Perot was new. There was no or at least way less predisposition to distrust. I don't see how Trump could explain it, even if he were capable of explaining it, that would resonate with those predisposed to figure that he was either lying or an idiot or both. That's why I mentioned resources that might be available to the party. There might be some way of messaging that really smart people could come up with. But Trump couldn't be the face of it for two reasons, one the aforementioned liar/idiot and the other that he's not as committed to fiscal conservatism as is the elite face of the party if at all. (It would also have to be explained to a lot of Trump voters who may not distrust but who have little grounding in economics and a contrary dog in the fight.)
I've been reading thoughts by Jonathan Haidt about how we frame our messages as we see them and that doesn't resonate with those we are trying to persuade. We need to reframe them in ways that will resonate with them. I am reminded of a movie I saw some time ago called Evolution vs God which is a fascinating propaganda piece. I tried to infer the purpose of it from the content. Christians apparently pass this around to non-believers with the notion that it might convert them. But it seemed to me that it was an in-group solidarity piece, intended to make fellow believers feel good about themselves. I saw no way it could persuade anyone who was not already in that camp, or maybe one small way with one small audience. Anyway, my point is that those who are concerned about the debt tend to present their case as they would when talking to the choir and that won't hook anyone outside the choir.
WRT to healthcare, even if more could be persuaded re fiscal responsibility, it probably wouldn't help because, as we've discussed before, the timing is bad. It might have worked pre PPACA before so many more got the entitlement. Easier to not give it. Virtually impossible to take it away, even for those newly persuaded by fiscal responsibility.
I am more persuaded than ever that we are on our way to Medicare for all. The only way to stop that would be for the R's to bite the bullet while they have the chance, go back to the status quo ante, more or less, and take the heat. |
