An Experiment for Health Care Reform

I have to admit, it's a little comical watching all of these town hall meetings. I'm not really into the screaming and shouting, but I love watching the responses from members of Congress. When the talking point sheet doesn't help these members answer the questions, they're in big trouble. The reason: These folks are in a bubble and really have no real way to make reform happen, whether it's health, education or anything else.

What if we tried this: Let's take 535 real, working Americans and put them in a couple of rooms. One hundred of them can be U.S. senators while the remaining 435 will be U.S. representatives. Let's give them everything they need: information, data, intelligence and put them on the clock. Thirty days for reform in health care and education. Thirty days to allow a diverse group of people from all over the country make decisions that they and their children have to live by. Thirty days to return decisions and government back to the people. I don't know what the result would be, but I'm sure it would be better and more productive than what we currently have in Washington, D.C. It would be more productive because when you have a stake in a decision, when you have a say in the direction, a new sense of ownership creeps in. If it is more personal, it is more meaningful.

My little experiment may never be able to happen, but it might serve as an example to leaders. Get your people involved in the process. Let them have a voice — a real voice, one that offers influence and change. Take the decisions out of the corner office or administrative building and give them to the people. The ones who have to live by the decisions. You want reform, let people who have to live in the reform have a voice. It might be a little uncomfortable relinquishing control — might feel a little weird at first — but the end result will be more meaningful.

OK, gotta go. There's a town hall meeting I want to catch on TV.