In a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court decision released today declares that the ObamaCare mandate is a tax! The individual mandate is a key element for funding the Affordable Healthcare Act, requiring all Americans to purchase health insurance. Justice John Roberts sided with the Liberal justices in ruling that Congress has the power to tax and that the mandate is a tax, therefore within their authority to regulate under the Commerce Clause. With that, the fight to repeal ObamaCare now returns squarely on the upcoming elections. But for the moment, Barack Obama and his White House can declare a victory with today′s ruling by the Supreme Court.
You may recall that Obama and the Democrats had originally argued that the mandate was not a tax. But we, and the Supreme Court know differently. On the bright side, if there is one, the high court also struck down a provision of ObamaCare which would allow the Federal government to withhold Medicaid funding from states that opt out of the mandate. So the White House did not walk away spotless.
This is a sad day in American history. There is little doubt now that Obama has succeeded in turning the United States into a Socialist nation. While there is still a small window of hope, since the mandate does not take effect until January, 2014, that a new administration and a Republican Senate can overturn the whole law, fate now lies in the hands of the voters. Perhaps this is the best outcome, for now we have a true, ideological battle to wage.
Today′s ruling, the 5-4 Supreme Court decision to uphold the individual mandate of the Affordable Healthcare Act means that ObamaCare is alive and well. They confirmed what we knew all along, that the mandate was a tax, despite assurances by Barack Obama and Democrats that it was not such. So the fight continues, moving now to the ballot boxes. Whether or not ObamaCare survives the upcoming election depends on how well each side makes their argument to the voters.
June 28th, 2012 at 7:20 am
You may recall that Obama and the Democrats had originally argued that the mandate was not a tax.
That wasn’t their argument in the courtroom.
Regardless, I think not only did Roberts earn some karma points, he also just did the right a huge favor. Had this not been upheld, I have no doubt that single payer would have been the ultimate outcome.
June 28th, 2012 at 7:47 am
What’s the purpose of working? I’m beginning to think I should stay home and let the goodies come. I’d love to have more time to play my XBox anyways.
June 28th, 2012 at 8:10 am
@L – Where do you get that this gives anyone anything for free? Just the opposite actually. For most uninsured, this will cost them money to ensure that the rest of us no longer have to pick up there ER tabs.
June 28th, 2012 at 8:31 am
Obama the Job Killer is at it again. Stocks down sharply today. Freeloaders up. Health care costs up. Liberals continue to suck the life out of normal people.
June 28th, 2012 at 8:35 am
Freedom of choice just met it’s death panel.
TA?
Many poor people are uninsured. Tell me how they will pay this “tax”?
@LR
Exactly–what IS the purpose of working?
June 28th, 2012 at 8:49 am
I was uninsured for nearly four years. I was working part time and caring for a parent. I tried to buy insurance. Any decent policy would have cost over $1,000 a month – not an option at the time. I made too much – over $20 K – to qualify for any public plan. I tried for a high-deductible / low-premium plan – no such thing. Had I been able to purchase from an “exchange,” for roughly the equivilant of what my (now) full-time job pays for my monthly benefits, I would have. So while tecnhically “poor” at the time I would have been able to get it done under the new law.
Nothing changes for the ultra poor. They will – as they have done to date – continue to be eligible for Medicade and other programs and will not be turned away at emergency rooms.
The people this law helps are those in the middle – like I was in ‘08. It also helps those of us who HAVE insurance as we will no longer be footing the bill for those who do not. Have you been in an emergency room lately? It’s an entire day. Why? Because they are overwhelmed treating people who have no insurance.
I do not think ACA is perfect – far from it. But I do think it is an improvement over what we had before – and what we did not have.
June 28th, 2012 at 9:20 am
“I made too much – over $20 K”
According to your math–The unemployment rate will soar. Why work? SugarDaddy BO will take care of ya.
Maybe you don’t know TA but I am a RN/CCRN.That means I am certified in Critical Care. Have I been in an ER lately? ROFL
When ICU or CCU is low on patient count—Unit nurses must rotate to ER.The first word you learn is TRIAGE. So let’s say your mom comes in with 2 broken legs and has insurance. Maybe she has internal bleeding. Next ETA is a horrific car accident. Five severely injured illegals with no insurance. Your mom waits. They get care.
Obamacare is not about who is insured or not.
It’s a TAX on middle America.
You are delusional if you think this TAX will improve healthcare.I’ve already seen the effects.And that lovely dictate that BillyRay recently gave to 800K illegals?
The line to ER just went around the block times 3.
If you don’t believe me—go check out a VA Hospital because that is YOUR look see into the future of what your precious healthcare will look like.
Not Pretty.
June 28th, 2012 at 9:23 am
“That wasn’t their argument in the courtroom.”
Who gives a fck ? He told every American to their faces for years, town halls etc.. that in no way would it be a tax or that your taxes would rise.
Majority of this country, 61% did not want this so called TAX!!.
Ass holes days are numbered. Moron dug his own grave
June 28th, 2012 at 9:48 am
LOL TA. You just made the immoral argument that other people should subsidize your own health insurance but you don’t want to pay for anyone else’s. Everybody likes a free lunch, but nobody likes a freeloader.
June 28th, 2012 at 10:02 am
The day is not far when the productive class, finding itself outvoted by the freeloader class, will ponder if they emigrate or maybe try to secede.
I’m not making that up; I am from Puerto Rico, and I left the island because I was being taxed to oblivion (state taxes there are very high), and I could not afford even an a/c for my car, and I drove to work daily listening the electric plants running in the “rescued land” areas by people that don’t pay utilities, housing, land or food.
Puerto Rico approved the RosselloCare a few years ago, which was a voting-buying measure, and since then the budget has been a sea or red ink, the premiums skyrocketed, the doctors have been leaving the practice or becoming aroma-therapists, and the middle-class like me have fled!
I’m learning a third language, btw…
June 28th, 2012 at 10:30 am
Just like the old adage of seeing something half empty instead of half full, many are viewing the Supreme Court’s decision on Obamacare as a purely negative outcome. Sure, I would have liked the court to rule constitutionally and in a responsible fashion. Sure, I would have preferred the court use the law to base their decision instead of failed socialist ideologies. It would have also been nice to see the court use their power for the good of the nation instead of heading it towards a path of bankruptcy and despair.
However, in the Supreme Court’s infinite wisdom they voted to uphold the Marxists principles which Obama holds so dearly. Though many despair because of this mindless decision, I see a positive side that far outweighs the negative which seem to hang so heavily over America’s future.
Why? The answer is simple and can be summed up in one word: Complacency. It might seem over simplistic but it actually makes sense when you think about. First, you have to ask yourselves what got General Secretary Obama elected? It was the opposite of complacency: Motivation.
What the Democrats did in the last presidential election was motivate their base to go out and vote in droves. They got them to the polls. Through rhetoric such as hope and change they made everyone out in American feel as if they alone could make a difference just by voting for Obama. They made it feel that a vote for Obama would change the country for the better; a vote for Obama would make your life better; a vote for Obama would turn America into a true utopia. Though Obama and his failed policies could do none of this, people felt as if he do all of this and more. They were thus motivated to go out and vote.
However, times have changed. Obama is in power and his greatest assault against American freedom and Capitalism, Obamacare, was upheld. Now I ask: where’s the motivation to Obama’s supports? They already have what they want. If, however, Obamacare was repealed, there would have been a battle cry sent out by Obama and his Himmler-esk cronies. They would have berated the Republicans, chastised the courts and made it a point that if Obama were voted out of power this November, things would go back to the way things were during former President Bush’s times. Obama would have sent the fear of God into people and made them think if Romney got into office, a Republican-driven Supreme Court would repeal civil rights, women’s suffrage and all welfare-type programs. They would have painted a picture of the future filled with despair, filled with greedy capitalistic clones of Romney economically squashing the other 99% of society.
Instead of chanting, “Remember the Maine, down with Spain”, they would be shouting, “Remember Obamacares, throw Romney down the stairs!” (Maybe not exactly, but I just wanted it to rhyme). It would have again provoked the masses to go and cast a vote towards economic insolvency- I mean for Obama.
Now you have to ask: who is motivated now? I can tell you. All the Republicans, members of the Tea party, the working class, people who actually pay taxes and everyone who owns any size business across the country. Now, we have the motivation. We have the battle cry. We have more a reason now to vote Obama out of office than before!
In fact, I’d like to thank the Supreme Court for their ruling. For at this moment the tide has turned against Obama and the path to his exit from the White House has become visible. Thank you for your nearsightedness. Thank you for your demagoguery. Thank you for total disregard to the Constitution. For it is through this act of total ignorance that we Americans will take back the White House and elect a real American into office!
June 28th, 2012 at 10:49 am
LOL TA. You just made the immoral argument that other people should subsidize your own health insurance but you don’t want to pay for anyone else’s.
Huh???
No subsidies. Everyone should have insurance so that there are no subsidies needed. THAT is what ACA tries to do. It doesn’t entirely succeed, but it’s a step. I WANTED to buy insurance when I needed it. My current job spends about $400 a month on me. I’d gladly have paid that had it been an option.
Little changes for the very poor. They were subsidized before and will continue to be. So I truly don’t get on what basis people describe this law as some sort of giveaway or redistribution. If anything, it’s the opposite.
June 28th, 2012 at 11:21 am
TA, read my post, I already had the experience. The amount of the new subsidy is going to be several magnitudes more than before.
June 28th, 2012 at 11:56 am
“For it is through this act of total ignorance that we Americans will take back the White House and elect a real American into office!
You may dislike the current President, but is he not a “real” American?
If not, how so?
June 28th, 2012 at 1:03 pm
“You may dislike the current President, but is he not a “real” American?
If not, how so?”
You ass holes argue abortion is a right to a womans body yet we have no say so in any other medical cases concerning our bodys by being taxed for something the majority of us dont want.
Come election day, he dug his own grave.
The only fckin shovel ready job he created was the hole he’ll rot in.
Real Americans dont want socialized medicine.
Our taxes in fact will go up, he lied knowing damn well it would be labeled a tax.
Roberts knows the people will settle this.
Yup, hes a one termer
June 28th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Naw he isn’t a “real American” in the regular sense. He is an internationalist, an elitist, and a socialist. All three of those attributes are the antithesis of our unique American culture.
June 28th, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Patrick;
“antithesis”
You’re far too kind sir. (redacted) much more than I would be.
June 28th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
As usual, ‘Me’, YOU ARE WRONG!!!
http://nation.foxnews.com/obamacare/2012/03/26/obama-lawyer-laughed-supreme-court
“U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli used the phrase “tax penalty” multiple times to describe the individual mandate’s backstop. He portrayed the fee as a penalty by design, but one that functions as a tax because it’s collected through the tax code.”
June 28th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Kudos, Tired American!
Complacency is the great sin of the American voter. The choices have always been very simple. If you want a government that taxes and spends too much, then vote Democrat. If you care about freedom and individual responsibility, then you vote Republican. Hopefully for a Conservative Republican rather than some lame RINO!
Chief Justice Roberts pretty much makes the point that the Supreme Court is in business to only uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. If we elect representatives who write and initiate bad laws, then its our job, as voters, to replace them.
In the long run, today’s decision has made the battle lines more clear and obvious. Hopefully, there are still enough American voters to put the nation back on course to continuing the dreams of our Founding Fathers. Between demography and the ever increasing expansion of government, the clock may have run out.
One way or the other, a Day of Reckoning is approaching. Hopefully it will be a peaceful one this November. Otherwise, expect over the next few years more chaos and decline as America unravels in bankruptcy.
June 28th, 2012 at 3:16 pm
@ Andy
Thats about as well as it can be said.
The majority did not want this for fear of smaller pay checks and doctor patient relations becoming extinct.
The people will have the last word.
Then the SOAB can flash us all a peace sign, get a fckin plane, and go hide.
I suggest you dont hide in Hawaii Barry, I was “truly” raised here, having “friends”, which would be an incredible disadvantage to you.
I suggest Chicago.(with Holder in tow)
Because the people will say “no” come judgement day. I promise you.
I aint sweatin
June 28th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
As usual, ‘Me’, YOU ARE WRONG!!!
As usual, I am right. And as usual, you can’t read.
First, I don’t rely on fox “news” editorialized summary to tell me what happened. I listened to the actual oral arguments on CSPAN. I know what happened through direct experience.
Second, if you read oh-so-carefully what I said, it was “That wasn’t their argument in the courtroom.” WASN’T. That WASN’T their argument in the courtroom. They DIDN’T argue that it WASN’T a tax. In fact, they DID argue that the penalty WAS effectively acting as a tax and was handled by the IRS.
Seriously man. If you’re going to argue with me, stop and take a deep breath first. Do some research. Read what I say carefully, check the facts, and only *then* admit you’re wrong before you type anything. It will save everyone some time and effort and save you delaying the embarrassment. That is, if you are capable of feeling that emotion. I have yet to detect any such ability.
Really though, I tire of making you look bad. If it weren’t for the enormous satisfaction it gives me every time, I’d have to stop from all the repetition.
June 28th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
Some Americans want Daddy government take care of them. Roberts cannot protect us from ourselves. Andy is right we must vote to put this country back on track.
As I said before no one, is going to take as good of care of me, as me. My parents have preached that to my siblings and me when we were under their charge.
Who is going to stop the government from doing the evil things they accuse health insurance of doing? No One. If I am harmed by a private company I have recourse. Under Obama Care I have death.
June 28th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
“Then the SOAB can flash us all a peace sign, get a fckin plane, and go hide.
I suggest you dont hide in Hawaii Barry, I was “truly” raised here, having “friends”, which would be an incredible disadvantage to you.
I suggest Chicago.(with Holder in tow)
Because the people will say “no” come judgement day. I promise you.”
What on Earth does that mean? He is in some danger because people disagreed with his opinions?
Geez, you guys are really wound up.
June 28th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
All this rhetoric about “taking back your country”.
You do realize that while it is part “your country”, it also belongs equally to everyone else.
Just because many of you think that you are somehow “more American” than the rest of us does not make it so. I pay taxes, just like you, served in the military, well, like some of you, and have an equal say.
Nothing was “stolen” from you. You lost an election, it happens. You may win it back in November and turn back the clock, maybe not, either way you all need to somehow come to grips with it.
It simply sounds like many of you are ready to “throw down”. Keyboard warriors.
June 28th, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Obama the Job Killer is at it again. Stocks down sharply today.
Yes down 24 points. Disaster. NM that JP Morgan’s trade loss was upped to as much as 6 billion.
Resilience!
BTW– when are you going to to run your congratulations to Obama for restoring low gas prices?
Still waiting…