We Americans were once the great adventurers. Exploring the landscape of public policy, we became the world's most innovative people. The quintessential challenge to that once great tradition of boldness is the reform of health care.

For almost two centuries, we were always reinventing ourselves. We mapped the stars and sailed the moon, plumbed the oceans' depths, cured polio and preserved freedom around the world. Fueled by a compelling wish to innovate, we Americans created astounding achievements in agriculture, technology, flight, education and the economy.

With our unique blend of public and private sector influences, we imagined our future, risked the loud opposition of the doubters and reached for better tomorrows. That was what most Americans loved about our country — the willingness to lead and achieve, try and fail, learn and try again.

The reader will note that some of my words relate to past tense. That, sorrowfully, is both intentional and factual. Following two centuries of American boldness and attainments, along came the 1980s and we began to withdraw.

Our public ambitions were stunted, our commonness through government declared "the problem." Private greed replaced public good, and our willingness to try, to risk, to lead were all but withdrawn. Massive corporations began to replace both individual initiative and representative government.

To our disgrace, we became timid, easily cowed by the few, the selfish and the always present naysayers. A minority of doubters and political "aginers' threw on the brakes.

Perhaps this long period of self-doubt and the tyranny of the minority has ended. In the past two elections, the most reactionary of our elected officials were defeated, and those progressives calling for "change" were given historically significant margins of victory.

The core public policy issues which ignited those last two elections were the unwinnable, expensive, unnecessary war in Iraq, and repairing the catastrophic economic failures on Wall Street and of the big banks. Americans voted overwhelmingly for those candidates who supported progressive policy and against those who cling to yesterday.

Now the real test of our intentions is upon us. Health care reform awaits, or as John Kennedy said in his inaugural address 48 years ago, "Now the trumpet summons us again."

The singular fact that our system of health care coverage, costs and payments is broken is beyond rational debate. Reform is the great test of our generation.

Will we continue to withdraw because of a loud, uninformed and often rude minority, or will we regain our traditional willingness to enact the wishes of the majority? Will we, at last, face down the entrenched, incredibly wealthy and empowered private companies and those who support them, or are we yet another timid generation?

The historic challenge of reforming health care is more than our concern with a broken insurance system — it is a test of America's commitment to regain belief in ourselves and restore the people's leadership.

Pat Williams served nine terms as a U.S. Representative from Montana. After his retirement, he returned to Montana and is teaching at the University of Montana.