Please, Mr. President - an open appeal

Mark Twain said, "Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself."

Will Rogers said, "This country has come to feel the same when Congress is in session as when a baby gets hold of a hammer."

I wrote an earlier blog on the health care debate. There is not enough space to get into every specific but I am watching with some dread as the debate goes in ways that are not in our best interest. I put the blame on one thing. The President has deferred to Congress to come up with health care legislation. Let me make this a direct appeal to the President.

Mr. President,

You were elected on a groundswell of enthusiastic hope for change. Although our economic woes came late into your campaign you embraced the problem upon taking office and you gathered the top economic minds of the nation and you set forth a program to deal with this enormous problem. You consulted Congress but by in large you made the decisions. Most independent economic experts are agreeing that the stimulus plan has generally worked and a brighter 2010 is in store.

Why then have you acquiesced to Congress on the health care legislation. In all my years I have never seen a committee achieve anything great. No matter what the great idea is, it is a muddled mess when it comes out the other end.

Only strong leadership keeps the mud from happening. Maybe you had idealistic hopes of bi-partisanship when you came to Washington. Maybe you thought the members of congress would be swayed by the enormous amount of support you came to Washington with. You should have known better. If you thought that any given individual member of Congress would put the overall good of the nation's people ahead of getting re-elected in their district or state, shame on you for your naivete.

The time is now to gather the best experts from all sides of the issues and formulate the plan that best services the American people. This will take great intellect and tremendous leadership skills. It won't take a committee. If you succeed and your plan betters the lot of most Americans we will recognize it. Then when the obstructionists make themselves known they will be dealt with at the next election.

Okay, maybe I'm being a little naive.