This silly ruling is the root of the problem. Among the first acts of Congress were the two Militia Acts of 1792, which (among other things) required that every male citizen of the country acquire arms and ammunition. So the answer to the question does the Constitution permit the government to require people to buy something is undoubtedly ‘yes’, at least in the view of the legislators of 1792, who surely knew more about the intent of the Constitution than do people today, having only just ratified the thing 5 years earlier.
I mean, this was pointed out at the time.
SlyFrog
3784
It would be hilarious if this somehow ended with no mandate for individuals to be insured, but a mandate for insurance companies to provide affordable insurance without limitations or conditions.
How has the NRA not heard of those militia acts?? What an opportunity!
Timex
3787
The GOP is now long about preexisting conditions, saying “we cover those!”
But they don’t really. Their plans would have allowed insurance to charge you more for having preexisting conditions, or deny you coverage for certain drugs.
It’s like, their plan would still have insurance companies technically giving you insurance… It’s just be super expensive, bad coverage.
rowe33
3788
Isn’t that exactly what they want though? Got to make sure those private insurance companies get their fair share while keeping the health of the poor in the quagmire where they want it.
Yes, the GOP plan for healthcare is to make sure that health insurance is available to everyone.
- The fact that there is no way you can realistically afford it is not their problem.
- The fact that even if you can afford it, it doesn’t cover anything is not their problem.
- The fact that even if you can afford it, it actually covers what’s wrong with you, and then they jack up the rate or cancel your policy the next year is not their problem.
When talking healthcare, this is what the Democrats need to be emphasizing. They cannot let the GOP control the narrative by telling America “we support everyone having access to health insurance” and have it come off the same as the Democrats saying “we support everyone having reasonable health insurance”.
I have access to Ferraris. But if you told me I would die if I didn’t buy one, that would still be a problem.
Not if you just pull yourself up by the bootstraps and work harder to earn that Ferrari. I mean, dude, this is America! You’re either a God-fearing patriotic soon-to-be-driving-that-Ferrari-any-day-now working stiff like the rest of us or you’re a lazy liberal snowflake who wants their Ferrari just handed to them along with the steak and lobster you’re already getting thanks to welfare. Why do you hate America?!
Menzo
3792
Exactly. I don’t consider myself too poor to own a Ferrari. I consider myself temporarily Ferrari-less.
By thriftily putting $100 a month into my Ferrari Fund (sure, I’ll have to slash the kid’s college fund, but let’s face it, it won’t matter with what tuitions will be by 2034 anyway), I estimate that I will be able to own a Ferrari in 210 years! I can’t wait!
Of course, then I’ll have to figure out how to pay for the insurance premiums, but nobody said pulling yourself up by your bootstraps would be easy.
Good news Gordon! The GOP is fighting to make all contributions to your Ferrari Fund pre-tax (up to a capped amount based on income, the higher your income, the higher the cap amount), AND, when you finally do withdraw the money to purchase your Ferrari or Ferrari-related accessories and services, it will be tax-exempt then as well. Think of all the tax savings! #Murica #MAGA
This desiccated corpse is gonna be riding in style.
Sorry, couldn’t find a Ferrari. :D
The Finland vs. Nikki Haley twitter dust-up is pretty amusing. Or unutterably depressing. Probably the former if you are Finnish, and the latter if you are American.
rowe33
3798
My wife’s going to visit her sister in Finland next week. Is that enough to somehow establish citizenship so we have a safety net if 2020 goes to hell?
Maybe if enough Americans got together we could form a caravan of some sort and mass at the Finnish border.
RichVR
3800
Just wanted to say I always really appreciate your take on things Trump. Keep it up!
Donald Trump announces that his buddy Mitch McConnell in the Senate has already come up with a TREMENDOUS new healthcare plan, one that is absolutely tremendous.
You’ll be able to see it in 2 years, after the election. Trust him.
What a shame it would be if they all had to live on a middle class income and a republican health care plan with their families for five years.
Jesus Christ, this is their plan? That they have a secret plan to be revealed after the elections? I seriously doubt they will have a house majority in 2020 to get anything done anyway.
