The poisonous politics of self-esteem

Some while back, I proposed a concept that did not stick. I called it “the politics of self-esteem.” My argument was that politics increasingly devotes itself to making people feel good about themselves — elevating their sense of self-worth and affirming their belief in their moral superiority. By contrast, the standard view of politics is that it mediates conflicting interests and ideas. The winners receive economic benefits and political privileges; the losers don’t. This an apt time to resurrect my rival theory because it helps explain why the health-care debate became so inflamed…

Obama’s approach was politically necessary. On a simple calculus of benefits, his proposal would have failed. Perhaps 32 million Americans will receive insurance coverage — about 10 percent of the population. Other provisions add somewhat to total beneficiaries. Still, for most Americans, the bill won’t do much. It may impose costs: higher taxes, longer waits for appointments.

People backed it because they thought it was “the right thing”; it made them feel good about themselves. What they got from the political process are what I call “psychic benefits.” Economic benefits aim to make people richer. Psychic benefits strive to make them feel morally upright and superior. But this emphasis often obscures practical realities and qualifications. For example: The uninsured already receive substantial medical care, and it’s unclear how much insurance will improve their health.