When Federal Judge Robert Vinson declared unconstitutional a key provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – the so-called “individual mandate” he effectively rendered the whole act unconstitutional because of the lack of severability the Democrats insisted be a condition of passage.
I’m sure that there are some in the congress who understand the non-marquee provisions of the act that will percolate their way through the system and at some date be sprung on us because those individuals planted them deep in the act. Many of them in the form of limits to our rights or fees we have to pay that weren’t established up front. The one about national tax on home sales for instance. (Now that I am a real estate broker I am more concerned than I used to be.)
I can’t say that the Democrats are the only ones that do these devious things. I am reasonably certain they are not. But I can say that when either party puts “poison pill” clauses in a federal law that specifically prevent repeal of the act for political reasons, I am inclined to repeal for that reason alone.
If us American citizens who oppose “Obama Care” can be given another chance to get it right through a court action declaring it unconstitutional, we better be ready to step up with some better legislation to take its place. I am happy to see Mitch McConnell offering a couple suggestions to get the ball rolling, but we better have more rabbits in our hat than the couple he cited (medical mal-practice reform and interstate contracting for insurance). We wanted the national healthcare issue be a campaign issue for the next presidential election, but if it is struck down early, then the campaign issue will be about substitute ideas that are better rather than up or down on the existing law.
We may have gotten what we wanted in repealing the act, but the voters have not gotten what they want in a more effective health care system.
The Republican leadership in the House better get busy with a replacement that is substantial and comprehensive.
We can’t let the advantage swing back to the other side because we lack a better idea.
What do You VOTE FOR?
by Steve DanaI was out visiting with friends in the community recently and a woman comes up to me and said “I just wanted you to know that I voted for you.” Out of the blue, she told me that in spite of the fact that I was a Republican, she voted for me. She went on to say that as an avowed Democrat, she had never voted for a Republican but that my message was the right message for our time. She said that she has known me or about me for many years so I wasn’t a total stranger, but she knew we were on the wrong path with the leadership that was in charge and that she could trust me to do what I said.
I last ran for office in 2009 so this lady didn’t forget in all that time. I was flattered that she voted for me, but I was encouraged that my message of respecting property rights, smaller more accountable government had reached across the partisan divide and had at least reached one voter.
Since I ran for County Council in 2009, the political landscape has changed immeasurably. I remember talking to a popular Republican strategist in early 2009 about the fact that the mood in the country was changing. That in my interactions with my customers I could sense that people who had never been involved in the political process were getting fed up with the partisanship of both sides. They were concerned that Nero was fiddling as Rome burned. He told me I was full of crap.
There is no doubt that most of my loyal customers tended to be more conservative than liberal, but even the liberals were becoming alarmed with the direction their party was leading our country.
What followed that visit with the Republican strategist was the upwelling of the Tea Party movement. So who had their finger on the pulse on that one?
The lady that spoke to me the other day was a union member and she told me that I needed to know that even though her union advocated for a particular point of view, they didn’t necessarily speak for her or others that she knew in her union. She said that solutions to the problems we face will have to be based upon what is right for all the people first before the interests of the unions or the businesses. She said she respected my opinions and trusted that I would do the right thing.
That got me to thinking about how many other union members felt the same way. I didn’t have to look very far for my answer. One of my very best friends in the world is a member of the Operators Union. He works in the construction industry. He is one of the most conservative people I know. He has always maintained that the union did not speak for him.
Along the same lines, the suggestion that all business owners are Republicans is similarly false.
Our challenge in the coming months and years is to connect with union members who still believe in the benefits of union membership but also recognize that the message coming from union leadership is not necessarily the message of the rank and file.
Unfortunately, when union members speak publicly in opposition to the union stand on the issue, there is fear of retribution from other union members. The unions are not too tolerant of members who step out of line. It’s too bad that the unions can’t allow their members to disagree without becoming disagreeable. That may very well be their undoing!
My message to that lady the other day was to get involved. The days are gone when we can count on someone else to do what’s right. The stakes are so high at every level of government; we can’t leave the job to “others” any longer. If you are concerned about your community, then run for office or volunteer to serve on a board or commission to learn how the process works and you can be aware of the changes that are taking place right under your nose.
My message for everyone today is the same. If you are prepared to suffer from the decisions left to others then by all means go on your merry way, but if you are concerned about what is happening with your school district, fire district or diking district attend some meetings, volunteer for committees and commissions or run for office. Community service is a good thing.
If not, you may be leaving the decisions to folks with a radically different agenda! Can we really afford that?
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