This is not intended to be a political post but rather one of the few times over the past 15 years that I can reference something I learned in business school around group decision dynamics – the Abilene Paradox. 

I will never forget the "Road to Abilene" video designed to reinforce it.  What the heck am I talking about? 

Here's the short version pulled from Wikipedia:

The Abilene paradox is a paradox
in which a group of people collectively decide on a course of action
that is counter to the preferences of any of the individuals in the
group.

I agree that healthcare in the US is a wreck and, in many ways, the costs are obstacles to entrepreneurship and innovation.  How many people do you know that are staying in a job because they need the benefits?  But I digress…

Why are we spending the cycles of so many smart people and the enthusiasm behind a new President for something that is not in the line of sight for the American people?  My advice to President Obama and his really scary colleagues (on both sides) in Congress is to focus on the economy and jobs.  The political capital spent to elevate and drive healthcare reform has been substantial but the outcome is not something the American people want…now.  We may need it but it is not what is wanted as unemployment stays high and people are seeing wages flat or below where they were last year.

No one has invited me to the Oval Office (yet) to share my opinion but the further the party in power heads towards Abilene the more they will feel the wrath of the electorate in the 2010 mid-terms and the 2012 presidential contest.