Here’s my letter to President Obama today, via http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/ (modified slightly to include some useful links):

Dear Mr. President:

Robert Pear’s article — “Obama Aides Aim to Simplify and Scale Back Health Bills” — in the 09/02/09 New York Times, contains this paragraph:

“It’s so important to get a deal,” a White House official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity in order to be candid about strategy. “He will do almost anything it takes to get one.”

Please, Mr. President, understand that it’s more important to get real reform — reform that reduces the cost of health care — than it is to get just any deal.

The suspicion is widespread that the subplot in the whole health care debate has to do with preserving the source of financing (Pharma, health insurers) for the next election.

If that’s true, it would be tragic for all of us.

It would be better to suffer a defeat fighting for real reform than to achieve nominal success with a bill than makes a mockery of the word, “reform,” not to mention the phrase, “change we can believe in.”

Please, don’t give us change we can laugh at.