Columnist Peggy Noonan’s latest, Common Sense May Sink ObamaCare, suggests that voters have been asking themselves questions regarding the direction of healthcare reform in its current form.

I think the plan is being slowed and may well be stopped not by ideology, or even by philosophy in a strict sense, but by simple American common sense. I suspect voters, the past few weeks, have been giving themselves an internal Q-and-A that goes something like this:

Will whatever health care bill is produced by Congress increase the deficit? “Of course.” Will it mean tax increases? “Of course.” Will it mean new fees of fines? “Probably.” Can I afford it right now? “No, I’m already getting clobbered.” Will it make the marketplace freer and better? “Probably not.” Is our health care system in crisis? “Yeah, it has been for years.” Is it the most pressing crisis right now? “No, the economy is.” Will a health-care bill improve the economy? “I doubt it.”

That sounds about right to this voter.

What’s missing in the current national healthcare “debate” is a serious alternative to an eventual national healthcare system. One reason for having no alternative might be that there really isn’t an alternative to controlling medical costs. I would hate to think this is the case.

Rather than try to hit a reform home run, perhaps the President and Congress should content themselves with hitting a single. Not allowing employers to write off health insurance premiums for employees as a business expense would be a good start.

Dave, not holding his breath.