Seems that when it comes to health care — and its reform — the discussion nearly always occurs within the context of the national equation. But ours is a decidedly states rights market. Just ask anyone from New Jersey.

And, as such, any talk of reform from either side of the aisle has to be addressed at that level.

In Colorado, for example, we are lucky enough to have what's called a citizens' legislature. That means they all have day jobs. They have to, really, since the General Assembly gathers in downtown Denver for "no more than 120 days" annually. So no matter how out of hand they get, or how wacky the laws they draft, the amount of damage they can do is somewhat mitigated by a smaller window of opportunity.