Monday, March 22, 2010

So bring on the healthcare!

Hoyer, Pelosi, and the Boner

Imagine a country where artists, freelancers, the unemployed -- in short, any citizen -- can have health coverage. They don't have to go the emergency room to get healthcare; they will be able to pay a certain amount (helped by the government, in the case of non-super-rich people) and be guaranteed healthcare. And yeah, it's kind-of a drag that this healthcare can't just be free, but then again, when the country has a deficit that's fast approaching thirteen TRILLION dollars, then hey -- I'm willing to help out and chip in for my healthcare, you know?

Imagine a country where a presidential candidate says he's going to get something done -- something that will prove to be the centerpiece of his presidency -- and he gets it done.

Bush's centerpiece? The Patriot Act.

Obama's centerpiece? Healthcare for us all.

And while the Patriot Act, which clearly violated many of the freedoms guaranteed to us by our Constitution, is still around, the healthcare reform legislation hasn't even been signed into law yet and already, Texas, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, both Dakotas, Florida, Virginia, Washington, Utah, Nebraska, and Alabama (so far) will be filing a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of, as an attorney claimed today on NPR, "taxing" U.S. citizens for just "living" by requiring people to pay a little for healthcare. The Virginia AG claims, "'If a person decides not to buy health insurance, that person by definition is not engaging in commerce.... If you are not engaging in commerce, how can the federal government regulate you?"' Uh, what?

Oh, and don't forget every idiot's favorite constitutionality argument, "state's rights." Those are also being infringed on, dammit, according to the more wacko AGs out there. Right.

6 comments:

Barbara Bruederlin said...

Your country took a step in the right direction today. Congratulations!

Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein said...

I hope all the law suits get smacked down in all the courts.

Life As I Know It Now said...

It came down to Nancy and her house and Nancy got it done. I think we need more butter and less bullets in this country. Let's fix us and become a strong nation again, not bomb the fuck out of the world with a mad happy Pentagon out of control and yet in control of the government. And YES, I think the Patriot Act ought to be smacked down as unconstitutional right now.

dguzman said...

Barbara--just trying to follow your country's stellar example, for a change!

Dr. Monkey--I think they will be; these state AGs are just blowin' smoke out of their asses with all that "states' rights" bullshit. These suits will meet the same fame as the constitutionality challenges against the Patriot Act--it's like they don't bother with the Constitution either way, you know?

Liberality--Amen to that. Since LBJ and his misguided "guns AND butter" bullshit, we've just been getting screwed. We're a military theocracy, just like Israel; I think that much is plain.

Karen Zipdrive said...

I was very happy for Obama and Pelosi.
But I am amazed at how many right-wingers have publicly made such spoil-sport asses of themselves over the outcome.
After 8 years of Bush without scenes or incidents from the left, you'd think these rightie maniacs would have learned a little common courtesy and restraint.
But no. They are assholes to the core.

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