Blake Hallum
Bleck
Eng 101
May 4, 2010

Can't Afford to Tell the Truth

Would free health care shatter the once proud image of a capitalistic America? Or would it start a new chapter in the newer America unafraid of breaking its traditional rules. Either way how you feel if you look at certain situations your view may falter from its original standpoint. One easy example is the multiple refers Upton Sinclair makes in his novel The Jungle. Disease would have been dealt with, injuries would have been less feared, and death would be in the back of their minds instead of this frontline header it seems to be for the lives of Jurgis and Ona’s family. The point is simple, free health care would benefit Americans greatly, especially those in poverty, but why is it that those are all we here about. Well in the video MoveOn & R.E.M. video: We can’t afford to Wait, they think it’s not only a great idea, but an urgent necessity.
In the video, “We can’t afford to wait,” it shows people from the lower and middle class the majority of the time in multiple situations and backgrounds. These people, shown to represent all of America, are holding up signs explaining their situations and stating they cannot afford to wait. The video really banks on the sympathy effect to try and persuade you to agree with their cause of getting health care reform.
The obvious props are simple to figure out, a sign with their story, as well as a person or object representing them. For example the first person shown is holding her daughter as her sing says, “My single Mama can’t afford to wait.” In this example both the girl as well as the sign are both considered props as they are used together to try and push the emotion.
Another technique used to install emotion in the viewers is the use of emotions in the faces of the characters. Fear, desperation, hopelessness are all commonly used throughout the video, this shines light on the desperation of the situation. The emotions of faces mixed with the emotional stories is a great combination that is utilized well in the videos.
One aspect that did not fit was the music. It did not match the desperate mood that the video represents. It seemed as though the maker needed a song, hit mix, and chose the first that popped up. Something on a lower key, with no singing would have drawn less attention bringing the full focus on the stories and the emotion. Even if it were more of a piano, maybe light string would have brought an even more personable relationship for the viewers making it easier to relate. Instead a louder, unorganized country song was chosen which took away from the videos initial point, they are desperate for this to work.
The backgrounds chosen as well as the characters chosen mixed very well in their goal. The assortment of backgrounds showed the variety of backgrounds of these peoples, some were shown in housing, low class or middle class. Many however were outside, in the back yard, in a city, clearly trying to show the widespread acceptance of the reform. Also, some characters were shown on their front porch, bedroom, even bathroom, this trying to accomplish a personal connection with the character being shown. The character selection was excellent in unison with the background variety. The makers of the video really tried to get people from every group, demographic, race, and culture.
The point of the video is to try and pull you to their side on the issue while pushing the opposition out of their views. It is evident that the organization was attempting to try to make you feel guilty if you opposed this showing the people that this would benefit. Unfortunately, this video did not show one hundred percent of the demographics and the signs had the slogan already printed on them. Combined with the use of several code words, this film is clearly trying to push the agenda of the reform bill being passed, these people’s lives or families are less than an afterthought to the producers of this video.
The connections with this video and Sinclair’s novel The Jungle are clear. The first being the thought of the great difference free health care would have been for Jurgis, His father could have been saved as well as all the children that passed away due to disease. Even when Jurgis sprains his ankle, who knows what a brace and some anti-inflammatory medication could have done? Another connection is between the biased view of the video and the crooked politicians buying votes from the immigrants. Often times in politics only one side is shown as is evident in the video.
Is health care a great idea that will start possibilities or travesties? Time can really only tell, but before decisions are made, America has to sift through the biased opinions and representations and think about what it is that we want for our nation. Will we start a new socialistic chapter in our nation, or continue with the conservative traditional nation?