The Campaign Implications for Healthcare for All

Healthcare is a human right. Unless you live in the United States, then healthcare is a luxury. That’s problematic, tragic even, for a myriad of reasons I don’t have to tell you. If you’re reading Evinco’s blog — I am just assuming you get it. 

But, have you ever thought about the impact that having universal healthcare would have on campaigns, the political industry, and the movement toward a more representative democracy?

Reduced costs to the organizations and the workers:

As a small business owner, I can tell you that the salary you see listed on a job posting is only part of the story. Providing employees with benefits is expensive and logistically challenging.

Only certain plans are available for certain company sizes or locations. Insurance companies can turn organizations away. And somebody somewhere is paying hundreds of dollars per month for whatever coverage you can get. Usually, it is split by the organization and the worker. They both take a hit. 

These factors result in most campaigns not providing healthcare. Meaning most workers in the political industry either don’t have it or are responsible for providing it for themselves through other means.

A universal healthcare system would alleviate this burden, stabilizing the industry for the workers, reducing pressure to fundraise for overhead, and freeing up resources that could be used for voter communications and organizing. 

Diversifying the industry: 

The economic instability of working in politics is built into our election system. A cyclical industry with massive boom and bust cycles, long periods of unemployment, and bouncing back and forth between 1099s and W2s makes it incredibly difficult to put a roof over your head or provide for a family. 

That’s why we are largely an industry of wealthy white people. Which results in electing mostly wealthy white people.

If we want a truly representative democracy, diversity in politics has to go beyond the candidates and into the rooms where the candidates are advised, supported, and sculpted into leaders.

While universal healthcare would not fix the boom-and-bust nature of politics, it would make it possible for more working-class and underrepresented operatives to stay in the industry when doing so wouldn’t threaten their ability to stay alive (or out of bankruptcy) if something goes wrong. 

More working-class candidates:

I have heard from hundreds of potential candidates over the years who would have been fantastic elected officials but couldn’t run for office because it cost too much money.

Alleviate healthcare costs from people’s budgets and the worry of losing healthcare for themselves and their families from their minds, and you open a door to another class of candidate — literally.

If we want representatives who actually understand what life is like for everyday Americans of all backgrounds, we can’t rely only on the people who can afford to step up to the plate.

We have to keep pushing for this critical systemic change. 

I know it might feel like a pipe dream, but there are groups of incredibly dedicated people like the National Nurses Organizing Committee and Healthcare-NOW who are working every day to make this happen.

We in politics are not helpless. And if we use our resources in campaigning, messaging, fundraising, organizing, and advocacy to amplify the message at the doors and at the polls — we can help universal healthcare become a reality. 

And we can remake politics along the way.

If you’re interested in strategically using your resources to level up your campaign, book a FREE 15-minute consultation with us today to see how we can help!