What is needed in Washington right now is an honest discussion, not a partisan one, on health care reform in America. That hasn’t yet happened. Thursday’s “summit” was more political theater than meaningful discussion by Democrats and Republicans, and Americans could be forgiven for wishing a pox on both their houses—if it weren’t for the growing costs of treating pox.

The health bill situation has become so complicated and so contentious that a few facts might be helpful:

The most recent CNN poll shows three out of four Americans are either against the Democrats’ proposed health care reform bill or would like all discussion of it to stop.

The president says we must pass all aspects of the bill now.

The Republicans say they would like to participate in the new bill.

The Republicans also say the most important issue is cost, and that must be addressed first.

The Democrats say if the Republicans don’t help pass the bill they will resort to “reconciliation.” That means exactly the opposite of what is common understanding of the term; they won’t reconcile their differences, the Democrats will go ahead on their own and pass the bill by a simple majority without the Republicans participating.

The president will announce an “updated” proposal today. What that might be will be a true indication of whether he is willing to compromise with the Republicans, a factor yet unknown.

We believe that the president’s approach at Thursday’s summit, a call to list the items both sides can agree upon, was a valid starting point. But in the end, partisan politics ruled the day. We also agree with the Republicans that the proposed bill is so complicated and unpredictable that an “incremental” bill is most likely to do less harm.

The American public, at the moment, is fed up with both parties and with the president. Unfortunately, both parties have shown they don’t care about the public’s concern. They will do what they want to do without consequences “inside the beltway.”

But there are consequences to that, which will present themselves in this fall’s election. The Democrats have more to lose. Their best hope for keeping their majority is by seeking a reconciliation in the true sense of the word. They would be wise to do so, and the public would be the beneficiary.