Happy Easter everyone:
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
What Are the Obamacare Legal Arguments?
Nobody has a better handle than Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) on the issues now before the SCOTUS regarding the "Affordable Healthcare Act," aka Obamacare.
In essence, the underlying question is simple: If Congress has the authority under the Constitution to issue an individual mandate that Americans MUST purchase a product, in this case health insurance, does that mean Congress can compel by individual mandate that Americans must do other things as well? And, of course, what "other things" might portend will make this SCOTUS decision, whichever way it is ultimately decided, a landmark decision with far-reaching implications either way.
As readers of this page can attest, I have opposed Obamacare from the moment I first learned about it. Apart from the legal nuances which are many and a bit obtuse for the casual observer, the fundamental question for me has always been this one: Does it make rational fiscal sense to foist this decision on the public at a time of record national debt and deficits, when all the cost estimates either from the independent CBO or other economists who have studied it confirm this will become by far the most expensive entitlement program ever launched in American history?
One can argue that Obamacare was conceived to "bend" the cost curve in future years associated with medical costs in this country, and that's certainly a worthy goal, as Medicare and Medicaid costs have nearly swamped our budget, but the scoring on the Act has proven it cannot be paid for in its present form without massive tax hikes. Now we await the judgment of the SCOTUS, and while we wait the fifty states and their residents remain frozen in uncertainty. If there were one word to describe Obama's legacy it would be that one - UNCERTAINTY.
Lee shares his views here in the third video in a series describing what's at stake and the probable outcomes as he sees them:
In essence, the underlying question is simple: If Congress has the authority under the Constitution to issue an individual mandate that Americans MUST purchase a product, in this case health insurance, does that mean Congress can compel by individual mandate that Americans must do other things as well? And, of course, what "other things" might portend will make this SCOTUS decision, whichever way it is ultimately decided, a landmark decision with far-reaching implications either way.
As readers of this page can attest, I have opposed Obamacare from the moment I first learned about it. Apart from the legal nuances which are many and a bit obtuse for the casual observer, the fundamental question for me has always been this one: Does it make rational fiscal sense to foist this decision on the public at a time of record national debt and deficits, when all the cost estimates either from the independent CBO or other economists who have studied it confirm this will become by far the most expensive entitlement program ever launched in American history?
One can argue that Obamacare was conceived to "bend" the cost curve in future years associated with medical costs in this country, and that's certainly a worthy goal, as Medicare and Medicaid costs have nearly swamped our budget, but the scoring on the Act has proven it cannot be paid for in its present form without massive tax hikes. Now we await the judgment of the SCOTUS, and while we wait the fifty states and their residents remain frozen in uncertainty. If there were one word to describe Obama's legacy it would be that one - UNCERTAINTY.
Lee shares his views here in the third video in a series describing what's at stake and the probable outcomes as he sees them:
Saturday, March 24, 2012
American Free Enterprise's Last Gasp
Law professors and community organizers just don't get the secret of the American freedom agenda, according to Mitt Romney in this victory speech in Barack Obama's backyard. This may be the final voice of reason when it comes to the contrast between government solutions and the free enterprise system.
I can hardly wait for the general campaign that will draw a clear distinction between these two vastly divergent philosophies. People tell me there's no hope to change things, they tell me things have deteriorated too badly to rescue the country, that America's in decline, that our debt and deficit picture is so bleak it can never be reversed now short of a general economic collapse.
Well, I just don't believe it. Ronald Reagan was famous for reminding us that "it's always morning in America." I still believe that. Every two years Americans have the privilege under our Constitution to go to the voting booth and change direction when they think things have gone awry. They did that in 2008, and got more than a few disappointing surprises since then. In 2010, they rejected the Obama agenda in resounding fashion by a record-setting reversal in the People's House, and booted Nancy Pelosi from the Speaker's chair.
In 2012, they have the chance to reshape America's policies once again by sending Mitt Romney to the White House and taking control of the Senate. As of this week, Republicans are leading in key Senate races across America, suggesting they may accomplish that important task. It's the reason we are a resilient nation, one that cannot be suppressed unless our wounds become self-inflicted. Our problem is not about enemies who can attack us from without - our problem is the divide within our borders.
But my faith in America remains steadfast. It's never too late to turn things around.
I can hardly wait for the general campaign that will draw a clear distinction between these two vastly divergent philosophies. People tell me there's no hope to change things, they tell me things have deteriorated too badly to rescue the country, that America's in decline, that our debt and deficit picture is so bleak it can never be reversed now short of a general economic collapse.
Well, I just don't believe it. Ronald Reagan was famous for reminding us that "it's always morning in America." I still believe that. Every two years Americans have the privilege under our Constitution to go to the voting booth and change direction when they think things have gone awry. They did that in 2008, and got more than a few disappointing surprises since then. In 2010, they rejected the Obama agenda in resounding fashion by a record-setting reversal in the People's House, and booted Nancy Pelosi from the Speaker's chair.
In 2012, they have the chance to reshape America's policies once again by sending Mitt Romney to the White House and taking control of the Senate. As of this week, Republicans are leading in key Senate races across America, suggesting they may accomplish that important task. It's the reason we are a resilient nation, one that cannot be suppressed unless our wounds become self-inflicted. Our problem is not about enemies who can attack us from without - our problem is the divide within our borders.
But my faith in America remains steadfast. It's never too late to turn things around.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Over the Rainbow - Eva Cassidy
One of my all-time favorites, didn't know until tonight it was on YouTube (isn't everything?) . . .
Enjoy:
Enjoy:
Those Maddening Mormons - Who Are They?
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a living Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gives an introduction of the Church to students at Harvard Law School on March 20, 2012.
Meet the Mormons:
Meet the Mormons:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)