On Friday, Countdown with Keith Olbermann had one opinion poll after another on the Healthcare Debate. However, the polls weren't explained... they were used as fact
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25332028/
I know Zaller cites Lippmann and even though there is a crossover on thoughts... I think Zaller doesn't really look at how media creates news... Lippmann notes that a critical eye must be taken to media.. how the reporter covers the story, etc... while Zaller seems to be closer to the belief that most times the media represents both sides of elite discourse...
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I thought of the health care debate a great deal while reading Carpini where it talks about Locke's belief that it is the obligation of all citizens to act in ways consistent with the public interest. But most research on health care reform has shown that "economics" is the dominant frame, not the "quality" of health care. It seems the general electorate is more concerned with how reform will hurt them than how it will help the public interest.
ReplyDeleteI think health care reform is a hard issue to examine under the scrutiny of citizen obligation to be informed because it is so complex.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, there is currently so much conflicting information about the issue that those who attempt to stay informed probably drown in the contradictions.
While I believe citizens should make a more active attempt to understand the issues currently affecting politics, health care is not as black and white as some issues may be, mainly because no one can reasonably agree on a solution. When we rely on those political experts to help us understand issues beyond our expertise and they cannot find common ground, it provides an increasingly unclear picture for citizens.