"People don't know what's in various bills, because bills are very complicated, so they just project whatever they think would be neat onto the ones authored by politicians they like."
I've noticed this too. Come to think of it, I haven't read the various proposed bills myself, relying on an assortment of summaries. For all the buzz, how many folks do you think have read the assorted proposals? (And kudos in advance to any of my readers who've done it). I try not to project my wishes too much onto politicians I like, but I mostly accomplish this by assuming that all the politicians have mostly bad ideas until proven otherwise.
A couple of examples at the link about the kinds of subtleties that people might be missing. I can see how people might not appreciate the difference between their health care payroll deduction and their health care benefit.
I read tidbits - a page or so at a time - from bills of interest, usually after I've encountered a specific claim that seems like either wish fulfillment or scare-mongering. Usually I find that no bill is as good as it's supporters want to believe or as evil and detractors claim.
After I recently challenged some of her fears about the HR bill a friend - a busy mom of littles - admitted to me that she only knows what she hears on talk radio. Because the commenters she listens to claim to be working from the same philosophical premises she subscribes to, she's inclined to believe their interpretations (because "why would they lie? what would that accomplish?" And this is definitely not someone I would usually consider to be naive!
Posted by: kate | 07 September 2009 at 05:19 PM