On March 23 2010, President Obama signed the health care reform bill. The new bill put an end to the heated debate between Republicans and Democrats; a debate that left you with two choices: pro or against health care reform. As in every campaign, Media becomes a tool of arguing for the debating sides, and the main informer for the public. While you, as a regular citizen, are sitting in your living room and watching TV, the media bombards you with propaganda advertisements, all of which tell you that your opinion and decision are valuable and necessary. At the same time, you start really wondering what this reform is all about. You are hearing both sides, and each side emphasizes that they are the ones who want the best for you, and for America. Media offers you personal stories, benefits, downsides, problems, and solutions. The question becomes: what is the final outcome? Does the average US citizen go to bad that night with correct information and knowledge, having made the right personal choice, or does he/she turn off the TV feeling confused, illusioned, and overwhelmed? Did Media help or hinder the US citizen to make the right personal choices regarding health care reform?
Searching for the advertisements pro and against the health care reform, I noticed a pattern; a calm assuring voice that promises quality, affordable care, right medical decisions, prevention, says that health Reform is necessary NOW; a few minutes later, probably on the same TV station, a defensive, louder voice asks: “Would you be willing to put your own family into the hands of Barak Obama’s socialistic health care plan?”. And, while the pro-reform ads show you smiling, hopeful faces of children and adults, the against-reform ads offer you images of elderly people tied to breathing machines and hospital beds. Where is the hope for them? Because, you don’t see it now, and they tell you it is not in the new plan. However, the republicans know how to play the game, and what cards to pull out, especially when it comes to being an American, and respecting American values. Are you a real American if you support “killing a newborn”? They mean abortion, of course. However, the anti-reform ads tell you that abortion does not justify your national purpose and character, that: “trading the lives of unborn children is against our [American] character”. Furthermore, you are told that new health care reform promotes such disgraceful and anti-American values. As the American flag waves in the background of each of these ads you are forced to ask yourself: Do I choose to be a “good” American citizen, or do I want to change the health care system that we have today? But, media makes sure that you don’t feel alone in this dilemma. As you watch Senator Alan Mollohan going through the bill and agreeing with new changes, he encounters an obstacle: “A baby” and says: “I cannot force the American people to pay for the debts of unborn children”, as the sign “Abortion is not health care” flashes in front of your eyes. Ultimately, both you and the Senator are both stuck between two shores: pro or anti.
Then you decide to put aside the values and national pride, and ask yourself: Well, what does this reform mean? The ads just slide in front of your eyes. The pro-side tells you that 46 million of Americans are uninsured, that the reform offers you FREEDOM, EQUALITY, and DEMOCRACY, that the reform will restore people’s lives, and will protect them. Finally, they tell you: “Help us restore those rights to everyone”. This ad instills a feeling that your opinion is important, that you hold a part of national responsibility, that they need you to make the change happen. And, while you are poised with images of masses fighting for their rights you feel the power, the illusion that your voice matters. But, what are you giving your voice for? Do they tell you what is the problem, what will the new plan bring exactly. No, they do not.
Then you turn to the other side looking for answers. And, what do you get? Most often, a doctor figure fills your screen, while he tells you that Government will get between you and your doctor, and that you should “tell Congress to protect American health care”. Sometimes, those commercials would tell you that Medicare will go bankrupt in 8 years, that deficits are enormous, that quality will suffer, and that your care will be delayed. Oh, and “look at Canada and England”! Do they tell you what the problems are now, what the good sides are, and why are so many people still without insurance. No, they do not. And the cycle continues. All the same information, with different faces and voices, but both sides say they are right and that you can help. One side offers you protection, while the other side tares apart that idea. However, you still don’t know why you would, or would not want the change.
Who to turn to then?; Jon Stewart, and his Daily Show? Why not? While you laugh at silly jokes Jon Stewart throws at you, criticizing both sides of the debate, you feel like you are at the backstage of Health Care reform play. The indecisiveness of governmental representatives, and the reality of 14 months old baby who was rejected insurance for being too fat now becomes a part of your reality. While Jon Stewart mocks the republicans equating health care bill to Nazism, and on the other hand, the democrats who scream out that “the time to act is NOW”, you get an insight into the political views on the health care bill. (http://www.thedailyshow.com/collection/268931/the-battle-for-health-care-reform/230688;http://www.thedailyshow.com/collection/268931/the-battle-for-health-care-reform/252467) And while a congressman holds his baby granddaughter Matty and claims that she doesn’t want a new health insurance plan, you realize the hilarious circus going on behind the promising and revoking advertisements. The reality show appears as a mockery. And, while the media seems to bring out both perspectives, it appears that Jon Stewart speaks your language better than any propaganda ads. At the same time, your important role that has been emphasized by both sides disappears in the perpetual arguments between two conflicted sides. In the end, it is better to sit down and have a good laugh with Jon Stewart, than break your head over “right” and “wrong”.
Just as the Congress passed the Health Care Bill, an article in the Wall Street Journal was published, criticizing the Bill and assuring people of its wrongs; “Never before has the average American been treated to such a live-action view of the sordid politics necessary to push a deeply flawed bill to completion. It was dirty deals, open threats, broken promises and disregard for democracy that pulled Obama Care to this point, and yesterday the same machinations pushed it across the finish line”. The Republicans were angry. Moreover, the article implies that the average American was deceived, undermined, and mistreated. As one wave of disappointment hits you, you remember watching Obama on TV praise the reform, while Nancy Pelosi was getting a good workout, as she stood up to applaud after every supporting ovation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUNCpnRBf9o). The President of your country stood as yours, and your nation’s representative granting you stability and security, quality and affordable choices, convincing you that: “The time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action. Now is when we must bring the best ideas, of both parties together; and show the American people that we can still do what we were sent here to do. Now is the time to deliver on Health Care” . But, the fight goes on, as the Republicans display dissatisfaction today for their yesterday’s loss. You, as a citizen, are still left to wonder what is good for you.
Or, if you want to laugh more, you can always watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMlPE1lV_5Y
Youtube does miracles! Hope you enjoyed reading and watching!
references:
1. TV Ad: Oppose Obama Care: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YVQQ3ARkzM
2. Who Shall Live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bBoNDzKzSc
3. Americans for stable quality care: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cqQl3lZzzE
4. Gov-Pro Health Care reform: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VukUI0wWudM
5. Jon Stewart Daily Show
6. Wall Street Journal: "Inside the Pelosi Sausage Factory":http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703775504575136133814210008.html
7. Jon Stewart photograph: http://thedailyshow.mtvnimages-q.mtvi.com
- all documents accessed on May 3. 2010.
Posted by S.S. for Writing 8 class
As I watch the commercials you've posted, I wonder: are people really swayed by these efforts? It seems to me that most people already know what they think -- or, rather, they know what their inclinations are. The commercials supply them language, give them the words they need to support the bill or blast it.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I'm amazed by how the media inserts phrases into the national consciousness, just by repeating them again and again. Phrases like "a Washington bureaucrat between you and your doctor" are like hammers hitting you over the head, until you lose intelligence and become a monkey -- or, worse, a ventriloquist's dummy. Really terrible -- and Fox News, in particular, does this all the time.
As to Jon Stewart: I love his show. But I've often wondered if parodying these causes and making people laugh at them will actually inspire action or kill it. Maybe laughing makes us smug, makes us feel that we see the idiocy, and are above it, and so we don't DO ANYTHING about it. Or maybe the laughter situates an issue in our consciousness so that, come voting time, we know what to do. I've read a lot of research that indicates that making a joke of a politician actually makes the politician more sympathetic to voters. However, this study was done before Sarah Palin, who was not helped by the parodies done of her the way, say, George Bush as made more likable by Will Ferrell. So I think the question is still up for debate.
Lots to think about here.