Most of the talking heads in the know believed the Arizona immigration law would be upheld based on the questions the justices were asking. The Supreme Court ultimately overturned the law leaving just one provision in limbo. If a person is stopped for an offense, that person may be asked if they “have their papers”.
The Supreme Court has also struck down Montana’s anti Citizen’s United law. Montana’s law is over 100 years old.
This makes one wonder whether the certainty most of the talking heads had that at minimum the mandate in Obamacare would be overturned is valid any longer. Even on Intrade the betting showed north of 90% for striking it down. As of today the betting has fallen to 76% for a strike down.
There is something that all must ponder. The mandate is a Conservative idea promoted by the Heritage Foundation. It is the compromise the Obama administration decided to support even as it decided to forego the public option. In effect it made our healthcare insurance system entirely market based.
Personally I believe this is immoral as there should not be a profit center in healthcare insurance. Paying a bill requires no innovation and as such insurance companies are in existence to pollute the population pool by insuring only the healthy, while leaving the sick behind. They also get between the patient and the doctor by dictating what medicines can be prescribed, what procedures may be performed, and whether or not they will choose to pay the bill or find a reason to rescind (cancel) ones insurance.
The question every American must ask. Who has your back? Does a corporation whose fiduciary responsibility is to its shareholders care about you? Or does a politician who depends on your vote to stay in office necessarily care about you?
There may be a long term silver lining if the mandate is overturned. If the mandate is overturned the Supreme Court will in effect nullify Conservative doctrine. How so? Medicare as a voucher forces Americans to buy private insurance. Hypocrisy may have a cost after all.
That notwithstanding, if the Supreme Court strikes down any party of the law, in the short term they would have signed the death warrants on many Americans. I do not use this statement lightly. As someone with a wife with Lupus who does have insurance but work with many Lupus sufferers without, striking down this law will put the little care they get in limbo. While Republicans and Democrat fight over any new healthcare law, some will die.
One can only hope that the Supreme Court will realize that a Constitution is a body of man-made laws to ensure we have a civil and humane society and provide a verdict accordingly.