Write the Vision and Make It Plain

We have all experienced setbacks -- moments when our best-laid plans do not occur or bring about the outcome we desired. We may question the possibility of the dream, searching for missteps, miscalculations and weaknesses in our approach. We may give up on the dream altogether for fear of future failure. But time teaches us that such experiences are not failures but opportunities to maintain resolve and seek new avenues to achieve our zoetic goal.

Visions, like our dreams, have power and require momentum to be achieved. In any organization, the conviction that a vision's transformative nature alone will be enough to "see it through" negates one important law of leadership--the need for buy-in. Herein lies the current challenge health care reform faces. With the momentum he obtained during his campaign, the President was able to garner support from influential stakeholders for his vision--even PhRMA came to the table! Yet now, whether for political expediency or because of a sincere fear of the unknown, members of both parties in Congress are exercising extreme caution in moving forward on this historic piece of legislation. One conclusion: Congress still hasn't bought into the President's vision. The inevitable consequence: a delay in the passage of health care reform. But delay is not denial, especially now.

There are two roads that can be taken from here. The first would be to take on a defeatist posture, believe that the setback is permanent--a fait accompli, if you will--and allow the all-out blitz that is sure to come from opponents to redefine the vision. In this scenario, delay is denial. The second road would be to use this time to make the vision for reform clearer. I'm reminded of what is written in Habakkuk 2:2, "Write the vision and make it plain that he who reads it may run with it." We, as humans, need a vision that we can run with. The plainer it is, the easier it is to embrace. Now is the time for the administration to keep the vision before the nation and make it understandable.

True leaders know that setbacks are preparation for greater comebacks. The opposition may use time (and timing) as their weapon of choice in such cases, but time is equally on the side of those who persevere. With the same 24 hours in a day that dissenters can use to thwart an idea, proponents of an idea can also achieve their stated goal. Now is not the time to grow weary but to remain steadfast-- in due season the vision will materialize.

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A clearer plan would obviously bring more levity to the discussion...people would know the answers to the questions they have regarding this change.

I'd venture to say, however, that making these proposed plans clearer on every detail will likely push people away from supporting them, unless they ultimately would like to see a single-payer system. For that is what any plan with a public option will give us - single-payer, much like that of Canada and Britain. Every congressperson knows this to be the case, but they dare not put credence to it because they recognize it would be political suicide.

So Americans, and the politicians trying to answer their pressing questions, will flail about helplessly not knowing the details until it's too late.

I've tried reading the bills...JOhn Conyers was right, you need two lawyers with you to decipher the legalese.

Posted by: boosterprez | July 31, 2009 8:20 PM
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Chisara N. Asomugha

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Write the Vision and Make It Plain

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