I teach an undergraduate health economics class at a state university. After class today a student came up to me and told me he had watched the Republican debate and asked me a question about the health plan of one of the candidates. After I pointed out the flaws in the plan (in a completely objective manner of course!) he said,
"Well what about the Democratic plans, they just want to socialize medicine and put the government in charge, right?"
I teach an undergraduate health economics class at a state university. After class today a student came up to me and told me he had watched the Republican debate and asked me a question about the health plan of one of the candidates. After I pointed out the flaws in the plan (in a completely objective manner of course!) he said,
"Well what about the Democratic plans, they just want to socialize medicine and put the government in charge, right?"
After maintaining my composure, I explained the Clinton and Obama plans and told him that they were not socialized medicine in any way shape or form. While he hopefully left the discussion enlightened, I left depressed.
While Hillary and Obama argue against each other, the Republicans find time between beating each other up to practice their attack lines for the fall. And they are already entering the public consciousness (yes I realize I am overgeneralizing). In tonight's debate I hope I hear nearly as many attacks on Republican ideas as criticisms of each other. A lot of people will be watching and chances like this to lay groundwork for what will be a difficult fall campaign may not come again for a while.