Mr. President. The press conference usurped the time slot of So you think you can dance? but you did not command the dance floor. You did not command the attention of the American people by telling them why health care is important to the future security of this nation. You provided no vision last night. You talked about the costs of health care as if you were the director of the Congressional Budget Office. Yes, health care may an important part of  the economic recovery –which you are taking extraordinary steps to address. And the costs of health care are a worry for the government.  But you forgot to tell the people that there are costs that go beyond the numbers on some CBO balance sheet.  There are also the costs of greatness. Without health care, the greatness of the nation is at risk. Health care reform relates to life, liberty ,and the pursuit of happiness for the American people who still believe that the U.S. should be the shining example of what is good in the world.

You did not call  upon the nation last night to think about a new and better way to live, as you have done in the past. Where was the orator last night? You are capable of raising the nation’s heart and soul. It is about the economic future that comes from good health care for each individual. You should be telling us how health care is about individual and national security–about freedom from worry about your child’s health or your mom or dad’s Alzheimer’s disease. Tell us that the nation is only secure if the health of its people is secure–that American greatness is built upon caring for each other.

Mr. President, we want you to  provide the vision that is so lacking in this health care debate. You talked about insurance premiums, employer coverage, and insurance exchange programs. You talked about passing reform at the “lowest cost.” How can health and security be equated to the “lowest cost”? I am not sure the nation wants to hear that, Mr. President.

What can you do Mr. President? Here is my short list. #1. Give us new vision on health care–one that’s about health–not just money and costs. #2. Reframe the debate by getting some new voices in the mix–including the single payers. Don’t close them out. #3.Make sure the nation knows what health reform will mean for the health workforce–and for biomedical research in this nation. Those are real issues for the future. Open the door to new thinking on all fronts. #4. Take control of the debate. The Congress is pushing many agendas and may not be doing what is best for the nation. #5. Take a stand. Tell the nation that the government is a good guy and can solve this problem. #6. Tell the nation that the bureaucrats making decisions about health services do not work for the government but for the insurance industry. It’s time to get creative to find out how the insurers can contribute in new and different ways to the economy. There may be a new world out there for them in job retraining. #7. Be strong and be confident that the nation is behind you.