When will terrorism supplant healthcare as the most talked-about national issue?

Over the last few years, a great deal of national attention has been focused on healthcare and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Democrats originally campaigned to make healthcare — and a national program to cover the uninsured — a key political issue. The Republicans then used the periodic unpopularity of the PPACA and issues related to it as a key point to reclaim the Senate in 2014.
While there is a lot that can be changed in healthcare, of course, and while it impacts a great portion of the economy on a national and individual level, I wonder as follows: Will the great majority of Americans get bored with the issue? Will discussions by Republicans and Democrats resonate less and less with the public?
A recent Gallup poll identified the social issues generating public concern throughout the past year. The results were interesting. Complaints about government leadership — including President Barack Obama, the Republicans in Congress and general political conflict — led the list; 18 percent of Americans identified them as American’s most important problem. Ten percent named healthcare, making it fourth on the list.
And yet terrorism was third-to-last.

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Scott Becker

Only 2 percent of people expressed concern that terrorism was the nation’s most important problem, followed by wage issues and national security.

Will people get bored with the debate and accept where healthcare is at? If so, that may lead the debate to other issues. How much terrorism has to occur for the debate to shift significantly?

We would love your thoughts on this question. If you would like to comment, please email Molly Gamble (mgamble@beckershealthcare.com) or Scott Becker (sbecker@beckershealthcare.com).

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