None of us can pretend to have the moral and political courage to tackle the toughest of the tough public issues without some trepidation. The interest groups on all sides have, of course, a vested interest in the status quo. Government is generally pretty happy with itself, incumbents don’t run for office on change, and once you are inside the club you are–generally of course–pretty satisfied with the job you are doing. It’s easy to listen to what folks feel and want and then parrot it back in articulate sound bites, sounding impressive to your listeners.

Which is why when you see someone display powerful moral courage to elevate the level of dialogue in a meaningful way, it’s worth a deeper look and a more substantive appreciation even from afar.

In America today we too often focus on health care insurance reform but remain generally silent on the fundamental question of obesity in America today; we talk about education reform but don’t have a way to connect teacher and student performance; we push for environmental change but rarely want to find ways to modify the behavior of people to drive in single occupancy vehicles to work; we talk about government efficiency but fail to question an incremental $180 million for a questionable data center; the list goes on at the city, state, federal and international level. It is the very nature of our system, all political systems really. It’s why change is hard.

So take a look at this story of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev who has begun a massive campaign to talk openly, honestly, courageously and genuinely about the violence of alcoholism gripping Russian society. He calls alcohol abuse a “national disaster” and prods everyone, top to bottom, to get on board with a new approach. To change behavior, own the issue and recognize the reality facing the country of people’s own behavior.

As I’ve said many times, I believe on the deepest level that the issue in our country today less between left and right, progressive and conservative, labor and business, it is between those who want to embrace bold systems and structural change and those who are paralyzed by the grip of the institutional infrastructure of government.

I don’t know if it’s a Russian profile in courage, but having the courageous honesty to raise this issue in a society known for it’s social, moral, economic, historical and political connection to alcohol is impressive.

Yes we can.