As I look back on my career in the service as an officer, there were several words of wisdom that were drummed into me. They were not codified in regulations or even instructions, but more than anything else they provided guide posts for success.

The first was, "If you don't have time to do it right, then you certainly don't have time to do it over," or words to that effect. The second was far more important and related to changing direction quickly; "Order, counter order, disorder."

Looking at the chaos created by the Affordable Care Act in the health insurance and medical care industry, I wish our president and more members of Congress had had the benefit of military service.