UPDATE: FAQs OF SCOTUS RULING ON OBAMACARE
KEY RULING IN A NUTSHELL
"Our precedent demonstrates that Congress had the power to impose the exaction in Section 5000A under the taxing power, and that Section 5000A need not be read to do more than impose a tax. This is sufficient to sustain it."
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IN SPITE OF the monumental, hysterical chattering in the aftermath of this ruling, the ACA law now stands for the moment. In reality, it will be years, if not decades in the tweeking, undoing and/or remaking. It's far, far from over though it is currently the Law of the Land.
I for one am disappointed. However, I try my best to keep my life as far from the federal government in every way as possible. Free market innovations---like Minute Clinics at Walgreens and CVS, new inexpensive cures, as well as medical tourism---will keep rolling out and there will be much good that will come from this melee.
One more thing: If Romney has a better plan if he's elected pres, he and the GOP had better come forth and spell it out clearly. This ruling could help him get elected. On the other hand, he needs to come up with some sensible alternatives.
Several more thoughts: We all need to get on the band wagon and start or continue taking more and more personal responsibility for our health and welfare through sustainable, preventive lifestyle changes---diet and nutrition, exercise, moderation in drugs and drinking, moderation of time in front of a computer screen and cell phones etc. There are always going to be big ticket medical needs however, we can minimize these in ourselves and families and by taking better care of ourselves.
Also, the INTRADE odds predicted the ruling totally wrong, since it called that 70% were betting for repel. Not the smart money at all on this one and by a long shot.
SO,
If it's just a $95/year tax to the IRS to opt out of this mandate, then why not do it and have private insurance that is outside the law?
I am considering jumping out of my office window. Since it is only 4 feet above the ground, it probably isn't worth the effort. Especially when the temperature is pushing 100.
ReplyDeleteFunny....we do need to keep our sense of humor at this point or else all is really lost.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter called earlier to tell me just how hot it is and doing to be there ALL WEEK!
"Personal responsibility" I agree.
ReplyDeleteThat is precisely what Romney called the individual healthcare mandate when he boasted of proposing it, took credit for its passage, and exclaimed he was "very pleased" to see it implemented - the "personal responsibility principle."
"With regards to the mandate, the individual responsibility program which I proposed, I was very pleased to see that the compromise from the two houses includes the personal responsibility principle, that is essential for bringing health care costs down for everyone, and for getting everybody the health insurance they deserve and need. So I was very pleased with that development." --Mitt Romney
Let me explain, baby.
ReplyDeleteWhen I talk about personal responsibility, I'm talking about PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY which has NOTHING to do with what any politician----state or federal---says. What I'm talking about is about an individual definition of what it means to take responsibility for YOURSELF on many levels. You, dear man-child, have not a clue what I'm talking about because you define everything through the eyes of a father figure called the federal giverment. Good luck, William, in the years to come.
Apparently Mitt Romney sees a health insurance mandate as an enforcement of personal responsibility. Without it, people would be irresponsible and would cause harm to all - as Mitt put it - cause healthcare costs to rise, the same reason insurance is mandated for motorists. Personal responsibility principle - Mitt Romney's words, not mine.
ReplyDeleteYou've been very outspoken about taking personal responsibility for one's health and diet. Unfortunately, you can't mandate healthy behavior. But you can mandate that unhealthy people carry coverage so that it won't affect all insured when they seek emergency room treatment they can't pay for.