The ugliness of the health care debate
Ever since I left college, I’ve been in a job where I’ve had to persuade people. Since I am also a student of public speaking and persuasion, I’m always interested in how people and groups try to persuade others. The ugly health care debate we are now seeing will not win any converts, because no one is appealing to what really persuades others.
I have my own opinions on how health care reform should take place, but I will not share them here. I am more interested in the lack of ANY real attempts to legitimately persuade others. When trying to persuade another person to accept your own ideas or beliefs, you must appeal to their emotions while giving them enough facts to justify the decision. What we are seeing out of both sides of the health care debate is simply disgusting.
From one side, we see references to companies as “villains” and of citizen organizations as “astroturf”, a reference to fake grassroots. The other side is using Nazi symbols and referring to opponents with the names of specific Nazis. We have really come to a point where debates resemble sports-talk radio shows where he who yells loudest wins.
My advice to those supporting the current health care bill is to recognize that they must demonstrate that insurance companies and medical companies have a place in the discussion. To isolate the groups most affected by any health care reform is ridiculous. The opponents need to realize that shouting and references to despicable past individuals only fuels a fire. The opponents will do much better by demonstrating case studies of how people would be impacted by a government-run health system. The supporters need to show convincing evidence that the fears of many opponents – that health care will be rationed – simply are not true. The supporters need to show how health care will truly treat those who are ill, and the supporters need to tout any benefits related to information technology and preventative care.
We all recognize there is a health care crisis in this country. The obesity statistics, levels of inefficient service, and difficulties with health insurance companies are real and well-documented. Instead of demonizing the opponents, both sides need to appeal to the emotions of undecided people with real-life examples, understandable statistics, and the ability to help determine “What’s in it for me.”
Beyond Business and Finance 
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