While the health care reform debate continues on the national stage, many students remain unaware of the finer details of the bill’s progress and the legislative process in general.
“It’s very complicated and long, and I don’t know if it really affects me or not,” said Ephraim Hui, a third-year aerospace engineering student.
In a recent survey of political awareness at various ages and economic levels, 15 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds correctly answered the two questions regarding the Senate health care bill.
On average, 34 percent of older Americans answered the two questions correctly in the 12-question survey, organized by The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.
“Most people our age don’t really see a need for health care. We’re young, we don’t need the doctor as much as anyone who’s older,” said Dennis Duong, a third-year economics student.
Preoccupied with school and other activities, third-year economics student Shah Paracha said he agreed.
This lack of political awareness characterizes the young rather than a larger trend in this generation, according to Joshua Foa Dienstag, UCLA professor of political science.
“I don’t know if this generation is particularly apathetic. I think they’re probably about as apathetic as previous generations,” he said. “I think it’s pretty normal for college kids mostly to be focused on their studies. Even in the ’60s, the number of students who were actively involved in protests was pretty small, although those are the ones we remember.”
The issue, then, is mostly one of relevance, according to Carrie McFadden, president of Bruin Democrats. Since UCLA students are required to have insurance, most have purchased the Student Health Insurance Plan or remain under their families’ plan, McFadden said. Unless students grew up without insurance or are involved in political studies or activities, health care remains far from students’ minds, she added.
To raise student awareness, the Undergraduate Students Association Council hosted a health care debate in November between Bruin Democrats and Bruin Republicans, addressing aspects of the bill that would affect students post-graduation. About 50 students attended the debate, according to USAC General Representative Jason Tengco.
“(Students are) not sure what kind of jobs are out there, not sure which jobs have full benefits. Health care is a nice bonus, but it’s not a guarantee, and that’s something that’s going to be a harsh reality,” McFadden said.
President Barack Obama’s program, which features universal, mandatory health care insurance, would serve as that assurance, she said.
However, opponents of the plan criticize the cost, which may prove unaffordable for young people, said Matt Miller, chairman of Bruin Republicans.
In New York, which enforces universal mandate, health care costs the same for a 25-year-old and a 65-year-old, he said.
“If (young people) do buy health care, it tends to be the catastrophic health care insurance, and that wouldn’t really be available under the Obama health care program,” he added.
The debate was one event in a week of health-care-related activities that Bruin Democrats hosted to increase student involvement. Yet McFadden and Miller agreed that student political awareness remains largely dependent on the immediacy of the issue.
“I think in terms of politics in general, it just depends on how much people are affected by it,” McFadden said. “A lot of people have the mind-set that politics doesn’t affect them on a day-to-day basis, but I think that if they took a closer look they would notice that’s not true.”