Teachable Moments
The dizzying pace of reports and retorts regarding the health care reform and policy debate is like nothing in recent memory. Many would agree that it is difficult to read a single report without three more simultaneously “dropping”. Which contributes to the quality, or lack thereof, of many of the responses received from Washington, a time the Administration had expected to be mostly celebratory.
One such example was published last night. Carolyn Lockhead, with the San Francisco Chronicle, posted an article titled Obama Losing the Upper Hand in Health Care Debate. Of course, the Chronicle is not typically identified as right-leaning, and the criticism is likely to hit home.
Lockhead identifies several missteps and blunders in Washington to justify her headline. Included are the damaging effects of poor language selection (see July 10th Dispensary of Hope blog posting), the consequences of not demonstrating an ability, or even an appearance to, address costs (see May 1st, May 15th and May 29th Dispensary of Hope blog postings) and the ultimate fear that results in a populous when there is a lack of confidence in political leadership (see July 31st Dispensary of Hope blog posting). All fundamental issues, yet all seemingly teachable moments for this Administration.
Now, with the most recent Gallup Poll numbers indicating that 49 percent of Americans disapprove of President Obama’s handling of the health care debate, the likelihood of celebrations seems to be more speculative than previously imagined.
Many analysts agree that unless the tide is turned by next month, this president will repeat the fate of the last Democratic president who attempted to reform health care 16 years ago. It is hard to overstate the importance of the next several weeks with literally millions of lives and trillions of dollars at stake.
So as I read the Lockhead’s article I was reminded of a recent comparison of health care reform to mountain climbing (see March 27th Dispensary of Hope blog posting). And while today’s risks remain extraordinary, I get the sense that more and more Americans are less interested in the Administration’s identification of teachable moments and are more interested in knowing if learning has taken place… Any thoughts?
