America Needs a Road Trip

"Whither goest thou, America, in thy shiny car in the night?"- Jack Kerouac, On the Road

Perhaps like me, you have had more than enough of the childish bickering of politics. Regardless of the words of the president or the compelling need for healthcare overhaul, what passes as public debate continues to be a repeated game of posturing and fear-mongering, fueled by a democracy-damaging media that prizes sensationalism over intelligent conversation that can lead to actual change. As this article yesterday from Bloomberg and our own memory makes clear, cries of "socialism" and "goverment takeover"--whether or not there are legitimate fears or arguments behind them--have effectively squelched thoughtful, qualitative solution-seeking for generations. As creative as children might be, to come up with innovative, effective solutions for big problems, there has to be some adults in the room.

After a long summer in Chicago, I have decided to take a road trip, and I strongly suggest America does the same. Yes, America has great health technology and some clinics are top-notch, deservedly attracting international patients. But America does not have the "best healthcare in the world," as blowhards will respond to shut down any challenge. Every international study shows our health outcomes to be terrible compared to other countries, and no foreign friend is envious of our terribly expensive, often-health-denying, pill-crazy system.
So, as I am doing in a couple of days, we all need to get out of our insulated walls and, with eyes and heart and brain open, explore what else is out there in the world. Any kind of travel to other cities and other lands can help remind us that our mindset is not the only one, and (like in healthcare) may be stuck in ways that don't serve us. The road trip is a great way to expand our creativity, stretch our sometimes flaccid creativity competency muscle of flexibility, and come back home ready to make changes that we need.

I'm taking a short break from writing the blog, so I wish you well on whatever roads you travel in the next two weeks, and will be sure to share some creative insights from the East Coast when I return.