Slate- Wanted: Angry Liberals

If the Ryan budget is so unpopular, where are the town-hall meltdowns?

A Slate article questioned the general lack of reaction to Representative Ryan's controversial budget plan. Around the country, there have been generally low turnout rates at meetings held by congressmen. The story contrasts this subdued atmosphere with the 'explosive' town hall events during the health care debate. In determining why there is such a sharp difference between constituent reactions in the two debates, the article attributes it to a lack of strategy on the Democratic side.

The author notes of the health care debate, "The town halls were overflowing; Republicans returned to Washington after recesses claiming to have survived the biggest crowds they'd ever seen. And that was because all of this was going viral. Talk radio told people where to show up. The town-hall partisans used smartphone cameras and inexpensive video setups to record the damage." He then moves on to assert that Democrats need to undertake similar tactics in order to discredit any Republican budget bill.

However, some aspects of the budget dispute are not comparable to the health care situation. The most important factor is the lack of understanding many Americans appear to have in regards to the debate's progression and the various components of each proposed solution. It was easier for Americans to react to the health care debate and form their own opinions. Health care is a more tangible policy that affects people in a more immediate, direct manner. Budget deficits aren't exactly the top issue on most Americans' minds, especially as such situations are viewed as problems for the 'distant' future. Thus, while some people are dissatisfied with the process, others are more inclined to ignore the debate. Also, because of this complicated nature of the fiscal crisis, it's more difficult for politicians to shape the debate successfully in their favor. Republicans achieved quite a reaction from their constituents in framing their opposition to President Obama's plans for health care reform. The reactionary tactics the article mentions are not successful in the budget debate because many Americans do not have an acute knowledge of what methods and solutions are proposed in each bill.