The House will probably be voting on Obamacare late tonight or tomorrow. I expect it to narrowly pass, which is a vivid illustration of how badly the Obamacare pushers have lost the political debate, given the massive Democratic majority and the fearsome power of Pelosi’s anti-deliberative/democratic tactics against her own members.
This version, like that pending in the Senate, requires everyone to buy insurance, with the threat of jail if they don’t. The government mandating everyone to engage in a commercial activity is unprecedented in U.S. history. I doubt its constitutionality, and I am not the only one. Senator John McCain promises a constitutional challenge. From the story:
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) predicted on Thursday that there will be a constitutional challenge to the provision in the health care bill under consideration in Congress that would require all Americans to buy health insurance. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the federal government has never before mandated that Americans purchase any good or service. When asked by CNSNews.com on Thursday where in the Constitution is Congress given the authority to mandate that people buy health insurance, McCain said, “That is an excellent question and I’m sure that if they pass health care legislation, I think there would be a challenge.”
So much of this roiling could have been avoided if health reform had focused solely on the problem that needs fixing—expanding competition and helping those with pre-existing conditions/financial problems obtain coverage.
But increasing access isn’t the main point of this exercise. Rather, it is making us all increasingly dependent on Uncle Sam/Aunt Samantha, so as to increase government’s raw power. Since almost all human activities can, in some way, be tied to health, Obamacare opens the door to massive government intrusion over our lives by unelected bureaucrats, aided by bioethicists who would be in charge of the rationing decisions. And what health doesn’t excuse, “saving the planet” will.
What a debacle if this entire thrust toward collectivism isn’t stopped. It shouldn’t have to come to this, but if it takes “the lawyers” to rein in extra-constitutional power, so be it.
