the lombardi curse

A very good friend sent me this awesome map yesterday. If perception is reality, this is a pretty telling barometer of how the rest of the world perceives the United States (my friend is from Johannesburg). My reply to him was - "this seems complicated, I would think most Americans would just have a map that read "us" and "them," and go: 'see - U.S.!!!'"

This also got me to reflecting on politics inside America. The recent healthcare debate is but one of the many aspects of this country that make me go "hmmm..." It feels like Americans have an obsession - that has to do with Vince Lombardi's words - "Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing."

Patriotism for Americans has to do with standing up for the country, but it is grossly colored by politics. When George W. Bush was president, the Democrats were opposed almost everything done in the name of America - they argued passionately and violently against their duly elected leader's actions and behaviors (even debating the legality of his election) - they wanted him out, and wished to denounce any connection they might have with him. (When President Bush was elected to a second term, I (I'm Canadian) got eight marriage proposals from female Democrats who wanted to escape their country!) The did all this in the name of patriotism!

Now that there is a Democrat in the White House, the Republicans are doing everything in their power to subvert him, to create as strong (ideally stronger) an uprising against him as there was against their standard-bearer (including questioning his citizenship). Like the Democrats before them, they actively denounce the sitting president's every action in the name of patriotism.

Even the winning side in an election seems to want to step on the vanquished, this despite the lip service on "bi-partisanship" or "working across the aisle" or "coming together."

We've had many a debate in this blog about leadership in America, including things like the formation of a third party or creating a singular government (vs. local, state, federal), or federalizing education. It's been a fantastic discussion, with many diverse points of view, so I'm certainly not saying everyone is politically polarized.

Healthcare and a speech to students have been top of mind lately. But why isn't the issue: we want a healthier nation - and we don't care who the author is, we just want what's best for our citizens? Is it even possible that a President of America would go on TV to brainwash students? How can people be that naive? I bet the children can see through more crap than the adults in this country.

Vince Lombardi was trying to inspire the athletes he coached to always focus on the outcome. In sport, the outcome is more easily determined and much more clear than in life. To trivialize something as complex as the United States of America into this simple an outcome is frightening, and yet this is where we are.

The goal of leadership is not merely to win (that's too easy, and too fleeting) - the goal of leadership is greatness. That is what our leaders and citizens should be aiming for. Greatness has many aspects - here are three that I think are important - integrity, elevation and longevity.

• Integrity requires us to do what is right, we must seek and accept accountability, we must be judged by that most powerful of forces - the reflection of our eyes in the mirror.
• Elevation is about improvement. We must continually be the best we can be, and bring everyone ... everyone with us.
• Longevity is about foundations that don't crumble when shaken, it is a test of time spanning generations.

If America is the "leader of the free world" then should it not be leading the world to a better place? Rather than putting all our energy into beating down a fellow American, why not put all our energy into making America (and the world) great?

If I had written President Obama's speech to Congress last week, I would not have called out the nay-sayers as he did - why strengthen resistance? Instead, here's how I might have begun his speech:

I've only been President for eight months, but with every speech I've delivered as President, there have been three reactions - first, from those that agree with me calling it brilliant, ground-breaking and visionary; second, from those that don't calling it a travesty to basic American values, a fool's errand that undermines our very essence as a sovereign nation; and finally, from those that calmly look at the substance and wish to constructively debate it because the premise makes sense, and let's get to the next step of creating the best outcome. It is to this last group that I address this speech.

My goal is a healthier, safer and better-educated America.

The government (be it local, state or federal) is expected to ensure the safety and security of Americans and America. No-one is saying that safety should only go to those who can pay for it, nor is anyone saying we should not spend the taxpayers' dollars on defense. Our government is also entrusted with intellectual upbringing of our children. Every child is entitled to a free education until the age of 18 (I would argue - "why stop at 18?" but that's for another day). No-one is saying that we should close public schools and convert to a fully private system where education goes only to those that can afford it. The outcomes of "safe" and "better-educated" are critical to our future as a nation, and the government must do its part - we all agree on that. In fact, we all expect it.

But a strong and well-defended America isn't just about soldiers and weapons, or diplomacy, or trade and economic policy, it's about that one person with H1N1 (swine flu) who was on an airplane and infected the rest of the flight, and then everyone with whom they came into contact. That is a national and personal security threat - why?

Because that individual could be anyone, whether they had health insurance or not; today's health problems aren't all self-contained - they're not all just about your personal health. You and I are as subject to the people with whom we share the air we breathe as we are to our own genetic makeup. Healthcare is not just about you the individual, it is about you and everyone around you, friends and strangers alike.

We must apply the same vigor and focus to protecting our country from the threat of pandemics that President Bush demonstrated after September 11, 2001 when confronted with another threat to America.

The healthier Americans are, the less likely we are to succumb not just to H1N1 or SARS or Avian Flu, but also cancer and heart disease and diabetes. These last three are not mere threats, they are diabolical killers; they have taken more American lives than any other cause in history. This year alone, X [insert correct number] hundred thousand citizens will be killed by these three diseases. This year we will spend $XXX billion in public and private treatment for those afflicted with these diseases, and this year our economy will lose $XXX billion due to lost work hours from these three diseases. If that's not a threat to the essence of America, I don't know what is.

My fellow Americans - my premise once again is a healthier, safer and better-educated America. I don't have all the answers, I have the beginnings of a plan, but am hoping that those among you who agree with this premise can work with me to help create a healthcare system for our country that results in every American being healthier and more resilient to the diseases above and many, many others.

Whatever our approach, it can't be one of compromise. We should never compromise our health, safety or education - they are too important. But by working together and using good old American ingenuity, we can and will find an answer that is right for America. My only requirement is that the plan be ready before the end of 2009, and that it be fully-implemented before 2015.

OK - the President's speech writer would do a much better job of writing this, but if he is able to convey the point that healthcare is no different from education or national security, and that there should be a national mandate for every American to be as healthy as possible, it goes a long way, and hopefully places the obsession on the outcome (healthier people) and not partisanship, or winning and losing.