healthcare marketing ploys

It even comes down to the C-Span poll on healthcare. This afternoon, during the house floor "debate", C-Span put up phone numbers for Americans to vote on the current healthcare legislation (in case you didn't know, House members are voting on it this Sunday afternoon - very strange timing). Here's what I saw on the screen (or what I recollect):

To support the healthcare bill, call 202-737-0001

To oppose the healthcare bill, call 202-737-0002

If you are undecided, call 202-737-0003

By putting "support" at the top and then adding "undecided" to the bottom, it mutes "oppose" and confuses all the numbers. Our eyes and our brains have to work harder to decipher which string of numbers to call. Why do they really need an "undecided" line? If you haven't decided, how about you just not call?

Of course, "support" will get the 1st spot and the number "1"! Perception is related to words, numbers, feelings and aesthetically pleasing placement.

What about this:

To Vote on Healthcare Legislation, call now:

Support: 202-737-0001 • Oppose: 202-737-0002

Undecided: 202-737-0003

Makes it a little easier to read, right?

Side-note: the "oppose" line has been busy for 2 hours!! Hopefully we're getting our message across and it's not a fake number.