Changing the Conversation

President Obama is planning to make a speech to a joint session of Congress next Wed, September 9th. Thus far the effort at health care reform has suffered from a failure of leadership from the Oval Office, and the open dialogue about this complex issue that I had so naively hoped for has devolved into the typical polarization of American politics, with disinformation, confusion, outrageous claims, and dangerous hyperbole taking the place of intelligent, reasonable discussion.

Obama was hands off at the beginning of this process, putting the legislative onus on Congress. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that strategy has failed miserably. Echoing Nate's thoughts on the matter, I agree that Obama needs to deliver a major address to the nation to firmly establish what his administration stands for, dispelling incorrect notions and actually sell a plan to the American people, which certainly hasn't happened over the last few months.

I look forward to having POTUS take the helm again. It remains to be seen whether he can steer us out of this storm.