Describe a specific situation in which a new political idea might not be seen as radical. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a new political idea will be seen as radical.
Politics is a somewhat vague term that can be applied to a number of professional circumstances that involve elected office. For the purposes of this essay, let’s assume that politics refers to federal or provincial parliamentary proceedings. That established, a new political idea would be a new program, policy, or platform proposed by a politician. This idea doesn’t necessarily have to be entirely unique, it could have been proposed before or in other countries, but let’s say it diverges from present political discourse. A radical idea on the other hand, is an idea or program broadly considered to be risky, potentially irresponsible, and divergent from common conservative or moderate thought.
Though some new ideas can certainly been shoved into the category of radicalism, they need not be. Take Obama’s healthcare bill as an example. The legislation was certainly a new political idea because it increased federal funding for many medical services and imposed new laws regulating health insurance coverage. All Americans are now required to purchase health insurance. In essence, Obama increased the size of the state – a controversial move in US politics. Yet, is Obama a radical? The bill has precedent. Bill Clinton tried to reform the national healthcare system while in office. In fact, since Lyndon Johnson created Medicare and Medicaid, healthcare policy has been a heated topic of debate in Congress. More importantly, President Obama’s plan will allow millions of Americans to access healthcare, a welcome step in most people’s minds. Further, risk is limited. The bill was heavily based on economic analysis, as well as hundreds of studies and reports and opinion polls on the state of American healthcare. Obama may have been lauded as a radical by some, but it doesn’t make him such.
The are a number of criteria that can be ascribed to a new political idea which prevent it from being radical. The idea should be well intentioned and strive to help as many people as possible, the idea should be backed by popular support, and the idea should be strongly tied to evidence, research and thorough reason. If the idea has been shown successful in the past, or in other countries or states, all the better. With these characteristics at hand, a new political idea can offer progress from the status-quo and need not be viewed as radical.
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