WSJ, 9.3 Toma Daschle, Climbing the Hill on Health Care

It's been years since I introduced myself to you Senator Daschle in the restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. I was serving a philanthropic organization conducting a meeting in the windy city. I was most impressed with you and an act of kindness on your part. Although, due at the airport, one of my elderly seniors who had seen you on television wanted to meet you. You stopped what you were doing and spent time visiting with this elderly lady. Since that day I have respected you and this makes it personally difficult to disagree with your article.
You took time with this great grandmother. It is still important so spend time with and seek to understand the concerns of those who have sacrificed for their country through the years. She is a women, who probably had paid her taxes each year, perhaps given a son, grandson, or even a husband in wartime defending America and freedom. Although, touched by the seriousness of Teddy Kennedy, Jr having a leg amputated due to cancer, subsequently receiving encouragement and will power from his father--any senior who has lost a loved one to cancer or war should be honored as well.
"Democrats will pursue reform with or without Republican support." Perhaps Senator you are remiss in failing to remember that the voters of this nation include, Republicans, Independents and Democrats whose opinions are worthy of consideration. If Senator, on the day we met, you left the airport for your next destination, and the pilot had been given a clearance to fly at 28,000 feet only to be told later to descend to 16,000 feet and avoid a thunderstorms up ahead, would you have wanted him to ignore good advice and stay at 28,000 feet?
You indicated in this article that you hoped many were listening, when Ted, Jr referred to his own statement that he felt he could not climb the hill and then came his father's encouragement. Then you indicated that you have heard this phrase many times "We can't do this. It is simply too hard."Have you considered that millions of your fellow citizens are sending you a message as well. "We should not do this, it is simply not needed."
You observe that "As we stand at the bottom of the hill-the challenge is daunting. It means ensuring meaningful coverage for all Americans while changing the health paradigm from illness to wellness, from volume to value." You want to emphasize in your paradigm wellness over illness. If so, perhaps, you could, in the name of wellness convince some of your prominent friends to stop smoking. "Value" is a code word for restricting costs. Cost restriction presages benefits reduction. Perhaps if all citizens paid their taxes and shouldered their fair share, our private sector could cover all Americans with insurance.
You stated that "Beyond the caustic and confrontational town-hall meetings, millions of Americans are now coming to realize that the status quo is not acceptable" I observe that the status quo is preferable to an inadequately designed and rushed reform program.Finally you indicate that "failure has another price, too. It could cost us our global leadership”. Senator, as a nation we will protect our constitutional way of life and continue to bring hope and freedom to those living under bondage around the world.
Remember Senator, when doing a retrospective on town-hall meetings and our citizens, the words of Benjamin Franklin (1722),"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing freedom of speech."