When politicians talk about the economy, they often focus on policy proposals, legislation and long-term plans, but billionaire Mark Cuban thinks many voters are focused on something much more down-to-earth: whether they can afford everyday life.
Speaking at last month’s WelcomeFest, Cuban argued that political parties, particularly Democrats, spend too much time talking about policy details and not enough time addressing the financial pressures people face every day.
“If you can’t afford your deductible for healthcare, do you give a f*** about policy?” Cuban asked. “If you can’t afford to fill up the gas tank, do you give a f*** about policy?”
Affordability Comes First
Cuban’s point was that voters often judge politicians through the lens of their personal finances. If rent is rising, groceries are getting more expensive and healthcare bills are piling up, many people are not paying close attention to legislative debates.
“If you know, beef is too damn high, oranges, bananas, whatever, do you really care about policy?” Cuban said. “Do you care about the state of democracy if you can’t afford your bills? No!”
He argued that politicians who want to connect with voters need to spend more time focusing on affordability and less time discussing policy frameworks that may feel disconnected from everyday life.
One of Cuban’s recurring themes throughout the conversation was that politicians should spend more time talking directly to businesses, employers and workers.
According to Cuban, elected officials should be asking employers how they make hiring decisions, how rising costs affect their businesses and what challenges they face providing wages and benefits.
He said that these conversations would help politicians better understand what is driving affordability problems and allow voters to see that leaders are actively trying to solve them.
Why Cuban Thinks Democrats Are Missing the Point
Cuban was particularly critical of what he sees as a tendency among Democrats to focus on legislation instead of practical solutions.
“You guys love policy,” he told the host, journalist and commentator Josh Barro.
Later in the discussion, he summed up his broader view in a simple phrase: “Solve problems. Don’t think of legislation.”
“You’ve got some of the greatest entrepreneurs, the Reed Hoffmans of the world, etc., who are really supportive of the Democrats. They’re great entrepreneurs,” Cuban said. “Hey Reed, how can we solve problems? Hey Mark, how can we solve problems?”
For Cuban, affordability is the issue that should be driving political discussions. He suggested that politicians should hold public conversations with local employers and business owners, including grocery stores and healthcare providers, to help voters understand where costs come from and what can realistically be done to bring them down.
He also argued that many voters care less about political ideology than whether someone is offering answers to the problems they experience every month.
That perspective extended to his comments about why outsider candidates and unconventional political figures often gain support.
Cuban recalled a conversation with a friend who supported Donald Trump after becoming frustrated with traditional politicians.
According to Cuban, the friend told him, “I voted for politicians my entire life, and you know what they’ve done for me? Absolutely nothing.”
That frustration, Cuban suggested, helps explain why many voters are willing to take chances on candidates who promise disruption or present themselves as outsiders.
Voters struggling with the cost of living are not looking for detailed policy debates. They’re looking for solutions that make life more affordable.
And until politicians convince people they can help with that challenge, Cuban believes many voters will continue tuning out the policy conversation altogether.
IMAGE CREDIT: “Mark Cuban” by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.