[Retric]

Abortion is exactly the kind of issue that has zero impact on those in power, who can always go to another country, but influences elections.

In terms of shaping views, welfare was designed to allow single mothers to stay home and raise their kids. Yet by twisting the issue people no longer support the idea.

Unions are no longer seen as something that helps 'you', they now help 'other' people.

[duxup]

Are you saying they don't actually care about the issue?

[Retric]

Clearly some people care about the issue and many say they care about it. But in terms of overall importance the tax bill for example got vastly more support. So, I suspect actual support is rather low.

In other words people might vote yes, yet at the same time prefer it not come up for a vote.

[duxup]

I'm not sure I get where you are going. It might be a divisive issue but saying that simply because it comes up and you think something else is more important doesn't mean it is being used just to be divisive.

[Retric]

My point is actions speak louder than words and their actions paint a very clear picture.

Really, it's more than just being divisive that's at issue. At core you need to consider two factors.

  1. Strong minority support vs general but weak opposition
  2. Minimal direct impact
  

Assault Weapons Ban is a similar thing. Something people really care about, but can go months or years without thinking about it.

The point is these things both provide support and distractions. But, when one side gets into power they don't actually try and change much.

[yellowcherry]

It doesn't "simply come up"

Tens of millions of dollars keep it in the forefront of your brain. There is no accident here. There is no "simply comes up"

[duxup]

So the amount of money spent means people don't really care or it's an illegitimate topic or something?

I'm suspicious of some topics and the support they get myself, but your approach here seems much too fast to dismiss a topic that maybe you don't like. It's way too easy to just say something is not organic or illegitimate when the issue is unpleasant rather than really deal with it. I don't know if anyone has a good way of getting their finger on legitimate, or topics that are more "important" than others in a democracy.

[yellowcherry]

I couldn't care less about abortion on a personal level. It has zero impact on my life and never will.

But it's very clear to me that it's an artificially promoted issue that plays on people's emotions.

Divisive issues are not accidents. They're focusgrouped and marketed with extreme care.