He has to explain exactly what problems he is trying to solve with health care reform, and persuade us that these problems warrant a wholesale revamping of our nation's health care, health insurance and health care delivery.

He has to identify exactly what his plan is. What specific law(s) does he want to see enacted?

He needs to explain how each law he wants to enact will solve the problems he says he wants to solve, without resulting in adverse consequences or worse problems.

He needs to explain what the new laws will mean to us...to our taxes, our current health plan, our relationship with our doctors, our access to services, our care at the end of our lives, our freedom to choose for ourselves, etc. If he says nothing will change, he is not to be believed.

He has to explain how his plan reconciles the seemingly mutually exclusive promises he has made to date (no tax increase on the middle class, no increase in the deficit, no reduction in benefits or quality of health care, no health care rationing, you can keep your current plan, lower overall cost of medical care, etc.). If he cannot reconcile these promises, he needs to say so candidly and explain which ones are "no longer operative."

He needs to address the concerns of his critics, with specifics. He must show a genuine willingness to modify his proposals to address these concerns.

He needs to explain how this Federal program will avoid the poor management and high overhead found throughout the rest of the Federal Government.

I will not be persuaded by the thrill of his rhetoric or by airy assurances and vague generalities.

Level with us or get off the stage, Mr. President.