Introduction
Political polarization is a significant issue that affects most aspects of policymaking in the United States. In recent years, political polarization on the topic of healthcare has become especially prominent (Beaussier and Raillard 383). This can impair the efforts to promote healthcare reform, as political polarization makes it difficult to achieve consensus between political parties (Patel and Rushefsky 16). The present paper will seek to introduce the topic of political polarization with regards to healthcare in the U.S., explain its significance, and outline themes and resources that could be used in constructing an argument.
Main body
The concrete, practical problem that will be addressed in the project is how news sources, specifically CNN and FOX, enhance political polarization in the debate on healthcare in the U.S., thus not allowing for any compromise or acceptable decision for the majority to be made. The chosen problem directly affects the delivery of health care in the country, thus greatly impacting the general public. For instance, single-payer healthcare would provide universal access to care and medical resources. However, due to political polarization, the adoption of this system has become barely possible (Imbrie-Moore). Without healthcare reform, many people have no access to vital medical care, which affects their health, well-being, and longevity.
In order to address the problem, it is important to convince the programming directors of news channels, such as Fox and CNN, that this is a major problem that has a significant impact on the general public. The cost of the problem to the audience is the reputation of the respective news sources. It is widely recognized that news media have an ethical responsibility to deliver truthful information to the public in an objective, unbiased manner.
News on CNN and Fox often use biased language and offer one-sided coverage of issues, which contributes to political polarization. The damaged reputation of major news media affects the people’s use of these resources. According to a recent study by Fletcher and Park, feelings of distrust towards mainstream news channels and newspapers cause people to switch to other news resources, such as social media, blogs, and digital-born news providers (1281). Hence, by not fulfilling their ethical responsibility and causing polarization on the topic of healthcare, news channels, such as Fox and CNN, lose viewers and generate less profit.
When constructing an argument for the target audience, it will be essential to review sources that discuss the impact of polarization on healthcare reform, the role of news media in the process, and the possible outcomes of releasing polarizing news for the news media. Books, peer-reviewed journal articles, and journalist publications from reputable sources should be considered as the primary sources of information.
For example, the book by Patel and Rushefsky will be useful for placing the practical problem in a broader context and explaining its influence (16). The two articles, “Does Single-Payer Stand a Chance?” by Imbrie-Moore and “American Health Care Policy in a Time of Party Polarization” by Beaussier and Raillard will also contribute to the argument by providing information about political polarization and its impact on healthcare reform. Finally, a study by Fletcher and Park could be used to explain the potential outcomes of releasing polarizing news, as the article links distrust with lower use of news media (1281).
Conclusion
Overall, the topic of political polarization and its impact on healthcare is critical to contemporary American society, as it impacts the adoption of healthcare reform. To address this issue, it is necessary to persuade the programming directors of CNN and Fox that this is a major issue requiring a solution. The resources and arguments described in the present proposal will assist in achieving this goal.
Works Cited
Beaussier, Anne-Laure, and Sarah-Louise Raillard. “American Health Care Policy in a Time of Party Polarization.” French Review of Political Sciences, vol. 64, no. 3, 2014, pp. 383-405.
Fletcher, Richard, and Sora Park. ” The Impact of Trust in the News Media on Online News Consumption and Participation.” Digital Journalism, vol. 5, no. 10, 2017, pp. 1281-1299.
Imbrie-Moore, Will. “Does Single-Payer Stand a Chance?” Harvard Political Review. 2018. Web.
Patel, Kant, and Mark E. Rushefsky. Health Care Politics and Policy in America. 4th ed., ME Sharpe, 2014.