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Opinion by Ben Everidge
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Modern-day campaigns tend to be devoid of policy details, a trend that could have significant implications for our future. We see it in our presidential election, senate races nationwide, and in congressional districts, both liberal and conservative.
But why should we allow that to be the case?
Put simply, we shouldn’t.
More often than not, today’s candidates avoid giving detailed policy specifics during campaigns for several reasons:
A Preference to Focus on Values: Campaigns in 2024 are, for the most part, about selling a candidate's personality rather than sharing the nitty-gritty details with voters in that district. Many prefer to focus on inspiring confidence in their leadership rather than diving into the complexities of policy. In cases such as these, look very, very closely at the candidate’s character and values, but also be sure to insist on knowing the vision. Otherwise, you may be in for a rude awakening when that candidate, now in office, does not exhibit the character or values you treasure and has a vision not aligned with yours.
Simplified Messaging is the Objective: Today's campaigns believe the average voter needs to be more engaged with complex policy issues and care for detail. For this reason, today’s politicians choose to focus on simple, emotionally resonant messages that are easier to communicate and remember, avoiding the risk of losing voters in the weeds of policy specifics.
Avoiding Criticism: Candidates are also hoping to avoid being criticized for their policy pronouncements by keeping it simple. Detailed policies, it is believed, provide opponents with specific issues to attack. Candidates think they can limit the ammunition they give to their rivals and enhance their election chances by staying vague.
Uncertainty: In some cases, candidates may still need to develop their policies fully or be uncertain about the best course of action given breaking issues. They might prefer to wait until after the election, when they have more information or a more explicit mandate, to finalize and announce specific policies in reaction to their learning.
Flexibility: Since many campaigns are unpredictable, maintaining vagueness allows candidates to adjust their positions based on public reaction, unforeseen events, or evolving situations without being accused of flip-flopping.
Broad Appeal: Specific policies can also alienate certain voter groups. By keeping their messaging broad and general, candidates can appeal to a wider audience without risking the loss of support from those who might disagree with details from their race or from within their elected office once a campaign is over.
So, while there are many initially sound-sounding reasons for not focusing on policy, the reality is that we need candidates and their campaigns to focus on detail, given the many crises we are managing in America today.
Why do voters need those missing policy details?
Informed Decision-Making: First and foremost, voters need to understand a candidate's specific plans to make an informed choice about who to support. Detailed policies help voters assess whether a candidate's proposals align with their needs, values, and priorities, as discussed.
Policy Comparison: Detailed policies allow voters to compare candidates effectively. This comparison helps voters weigh the pros and cons of each candidate's approach to various issues and choose the one that best represents their interests.
Influencing the Debate: Detailed policy proposals can shape public discourse by introducing new ideas or solutions to issues. This can affect not just the election outcome but the broader political landscape as well.
Accountability: Clear policy positions allow voters to hold candidates and officeholders accountable. If a candidate is elected and fails to implement or follow through on their promises, voters can look back to the specific commitments made during the campaign.
Impact on Daily Life: Policies directly affect citizens' lives, whether healthcare, education, taxes, or social services. Understanding the specifics allows voters to gauge how these policies might influence their personal and financial well-being.
Trust Building: Candidates who provide detailed policies may be perceived as more transparent and trustworthy. Voters may feel more confident in a candidate willing to share their detailed plans and reasoning.
Preventing Surprises: Voters want to avoid electing someone who might implement policies they didn't anticipate or understand during the campaign. Specifics help voters avoid unpleasant surprises once the candidate is in office.
If character, values, and a vision for the future matter to you, then insist that your candidate of choice or consideration supply one before the election and not after. Nasty surprises are no way to govern American democracy and our constitutional republic.