When Gene Sperling was in charge of coordinating the US government's economic policy in the Obama White House, he found himself surprised and dismayed when serious people worried out loud to him that Obama's focus on health care was a distraction because it was 'not focused on the economy.' Too often, he found economic debate confused ends and means; that economic success was measured by metrics like GDP instead of whether the economy was succeeding in lifting up the sense of meaning, purpose, fulfilment, and security of people. Now more than ever, the need to step back and reflect on ultimate goals is evident.
