6-29-12 The United States Supreme Court this week upheld the most critical part of President Obama's health care plan...the part that compels everyone to have health insurance, starting in 2014. It looks like the IRS will be the president's main enforcer, assessing extra taxes to people who can't prove that they are buying health insurance or having it provided to them through their employer. Republicans have expressed outrage and vowed to work to repeal the entire package, including the parts that stop insurance companies from not insuring people with pre-existing conditions, and that allow people to insure their children to age 26. But I think secretly the GOP is delighted in the ruling because it adds yet another bullet point to list when explaining why they think Obama has to go..."Obama let openly gay people serve in the military," "Obama is for gay marriage," "Obama won't allow the deportation of children of illegal aliens," "Obama can't get unemployment under 8.4%" and now "Obama is forcing people to buy health insurance." Obama is making Bill Clinton look downright conservative. In my memory there has never been a clearer choice for voters between a clear, unabashed liberal and a conservative. To Obama's credit, he has not backed down from his stand on social issues, and if you are for gay marriage, openly gay soldiers, and not punishing children for the sins of their parents, you have your man. The funny thing is, Obama is trying to solve the nation's health care problems with one huge, one size fits all bill, but addressing the immigration issue in bits and pieces. Many feel it should be the other way around...an overall federal immigration package while addressing health care on an issue-by-issue basis.
