The surprising optimist: why Tom Daschle believes that the country is ready for comprehensive health reform. Interview by Robert Galvin.

When Tom Daschle was last a private citizen, Jimmy Carter was president, and the country was embroiled in a debate about how to control health care costs. After a distinguished twenty-six-year career in Congress, Daschle has a lot to say about not only health care costs but overall system reform. With his deep understanding of the inner workings of Congress, Daschle breaks from the prevailing belief that incrementalism is the right approach; comments on the novel use of budget reconciliation to pass reform; and argues that the country, including some business leaders, is ready for comprehensive change with a bigger role for government.