For the first time in living memory, the men and women we sent to Washington in November may well find in themselves the courage necessary to establish a healthcare system worthy of those who elected them and accessible to all.

Nearly ninety percent of us want them act.

Though we disagree on details, the vast majority of us favor universal access.

All of us want a system that any of us can approach without fear or shame or dishonor.

We all want a system that is, in and of itself, bound to respect our basic humanity, whether we, or members of our families, are sick now, have been sick before, or may possibly be sick in the future.

If the representatives of the citizens of other nations can make such a system work (and those of nearly every other industrialized democracy in world have managed the task) surely those who represent us, the citizens of the most powerful country in all human history, can do so.

And in the end, despite anything the rest of us may say or do, the 537 men and women we elected in November have the power and bear the responsibility to act on our behalf.

They must now find the courage to act.

And, for the first time in living memory, I truly believe they will do so.