Healthcare's new game plan

Well, ladies and gentlemen, September has arrived!! This means that you better enjoy your last barbeque of the summer this weekend. It means that a majority of America's kids are back in school (and might I add, not a minute too soon. My neighborhood pool was starting to look like an episode of 7th heaven gone terribly wrong). It signifies the start of that great American pastime known as football which means that the real work for some American employees has started (I mean drafting a good fantasy team and managing it does require one's full attention, after all). Most importantly, it is when Congress reconvenes for the fall session. Therefore, it is now time for Democrats to get down to work and iron out the new game plan for this health care bill.

Now, I have my own vision for how this little scenario should play out (keep in mind I am just your average citizen looking at Washington from the outside in). Anyway, here is my game plan, like to hear it, here it go: First and foremost on the agenda, everyone will have to get on the same page. Thus, President Obama is going to have to step up and take over the reigns (rains?, reigns?, reins? clearly I wasn't an English major in school) from Pelosi, Reid, and company. He needs to start by having a meeting with all dissenting members of his party and fence sitting members of the opposing party. It is time to figure out exactly what these people want in order to quickly sign on to this bill. Now, I'm not saying the president needs to sell his soul here, but I am saying that, when plausible and reasonable, he is going to have to cut some deals, period (unfortunately, that is the American way, either deal with it or move elsewhere). You get nothing for free, here.

After getting all parties on board, it will be time to have that little "Come to Jesus" meeting that I mentioned in my previous blog. All the wrinkles in this bill need to be ironed out, and all the holes mended to make this sucker air tight. After a consensus has been reached on exactly how health care reform is going to be achieved with this bill, talking points should be handed out. Now this next point is important, anyone who doesn't stick to the script will be on their own next November when congressional seats are up for grabs (that's right, they need to roll mafioso style on this one). Democrats do not need to underestimate the importance of talking with one voice on this issue. Ultimately, united you stand, divided you fall.

Third, this step is absolutely crucial in moving this issue forward. President Obama will have to sell this plan to the most important stakeholders, us, the American people. Now, what I would like to see is Mr. President go on tv prime time and explain this health care bill to the American people, and do it CORRECTLY this time. Part of the problem with Democrats is that they don't know how to talk to the average American. It is an interesting phenomenon when you think about it. Democrats certainly tend to relate better to the average American, and they definitely sympathize more with the struggles of the working class citizen. However, they still haven't learned how to speak the average "joe" talk. Conversely, Republicans stay disconnected from reality, yet they can talk on the level with average Americans, and I'm not talking about dumbing down their speech (although we know that Dubya was no Rhodes Scholar). I'm talking about letting go of the political rhetoric and giving people some straight talk for a change. There are so many lies circulating about this bill that I can't keep track of them all, but they resonate with people because they are presented in a way that people understand them. Meanwhile the truth is getting lost in no man's land because the administration and congressional Democrats seem incapable of just outlining this bill in a simple 1, 2, 3 manner. Now, I know president Obama is extremely capable of doing this because he has done it in the past. He needs to talk to the American people as if he were talking to his own children (there will be some who are offended by this simplistic manner, but they are going to have to suck it up and be alright). It needs to go something like this: #1. This bill will cost _____ dollars, period. #2 This bill will have a public option that____________or will be a single payer system that______ or will not have a public option because of________, period. #3 This bill will affect Medicare by_______________,period. #4 This bill will be paid for by_________,period. I think you get my point. He needs to end it with an appeal that illustrates why this bill isn't about any one person, but it is about providing health care for the country as a whole. Simply, this ain't about me, it is about you. When it is time for media questions, the president should only take questions on health care, and he needs to refer all journalists back to the list. Republicans will then get 30 minutes ( yeah, 30 minutes is it,they are the minority party after all) after the President to present their alternative solutions in the same manner. It is then all in the hands of the American public to decide how "we the people" would like to see Congress proceed on this issue. There should be a time span of about two weeks to a month where the public will be allowed to voice our opinions on the "new and improved" health care bill. How Democrats choose to have this open forum is entirely up to them.

Finally, after this time, it will be time to either go back to the drawing board or it will be time for this bill to hit the House and then Senate floors for a vote. This is where it is time for Congress to uphold their end of the deal and either put up or shut up (and whoomp, there it is!). If only things could play out this way, we might be able to move on to some other pressing issues facing this country. However, knowing Washington this debate will continue with little or nothing being accomplished. (sigh) and I ask you why??