Health care, education and the environment came and went.
It was the subject of whether or not to appeal to Albertans on an emotional level, rather than an intellectual one, that seemed to stoke the fire the most at an informal talk by Alberta Liberal Party leader Dr. David Swann at the Red Deer Public Library on Monday night.
It started when attendee Richard Townell mentioned that he read an article about why people vote against their own interests, specifically referring to the success of U.S. President Barack Obama’s emotional appeal on the campaign trail and apparent failure on the same count for his health care reform package. This came after lengthy discussion of health care successes and failures in Alberta.
“I think, in listening tonight, I’m hearing lots of rational discussion and arguments about the minutiae of managing government affairs more efficiently, but I’m not persuaded emotionally ...,” said Townell. “I like the principles of the Liberal Party, but I’m not being moved by the discussion.
“I probably would vote Liberal, but I would vote with some mixed feelings.”
After being pushed by some of the about 30 people in attendance to explain himself, Townell said the Liberals need to show how health care changes affect the average Albertan personally, make them feel like they’re being “denied something” the Liberals can somehow offer.
Steve Kwasny, Red Deer College political science student and president of the Students’ Association, chimed in on that count, saying a party needs to appeal to the heart.
“When I worked as a salesperson, you can talk about the specifications of a TV all you want to, that’s not what sells something,” said Kwasny. “In order to sell something, you need to get them into that mindset where that’s where they want to be.”
Swann, who gave a speech on subjects ranging from incompetence in managing health care to the need for financial transparency, said Kwasny’s concept of heart appeal was “right on” but advocated a more balanced approach.
Not all present agreed with the emotion argument.
“You shouldn’t underestimate the intelligence of the average Albertan,” Charda Barratt said after the meeting. “If an MLA shows insight ... and talks to people, (the people) will understand.”
Eric McCabe, meanwhile, took an admittedly “cynical” approach to the subject. After the meeting, he said that if a politician wants to be successful, they need to target heartstrings — “That’s why you have the great dictators who are so successful ... in spite of the harm they did, the people still supported them and voted for them.”
mgauk@www.reddeeradvocate.com