Is some health care reform better than none?

President Obama's calls for bipartisan health care reform reminds me of pleas during the holiday season for "peace on earth and goodwill to men." It's nice in theory but nearly impossible to implement.

The reform proposed by Obama today would merge parts of the reform plans passed by the Senate and the House. It will not be cheap, costing about $1 trillion over 10 years. Moreover, it would allow the government to roll-back insurance premium increases that it considers "egregious." It seeks to merge the bills that passed without Republican support in both houses of Congress and are stalled in conference committee.