A Really B.F.D--SCOTUS UPHOLDS HEATHCARE

For millions of people who are already benefiting from the Affordable Healthcare Act,the 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court is a huge relief. Justice Roberts could not afford another disaster and he became the swing vote. 


Basically, the entire bill was upheld with minor corrections to the expansion of Medicare by the States. But that is getting into the weeds.


Politically, it gives everyone something--the American people healthcare opportunities and the Right something to scream about. Who it benefits? Right now it is a huge achievement by President Obama but it may well energize Republicans to defeat him. Presidents since Harry Truman have sought a reform of our healthcare system and President Obama achieved it.


Progressives thinking the whole enterprise was doomed started pushing single-payer the last few days. While that may be the ultimate solution, our political environment is no where near accepting that notion and it would only polarize the situation even more. 


President Obama's task is to educate Americans on the provisions in the Healthcare Act. So far he has done a poor job allowing the extreme right to set the tone of the debate. Broken down Americans by large numbers back the individual provisions but overall disapprove the bill because they think the Government is now dictating the decisions of individuals.


It will be interesting to hear the Romney campaign on the decision since it only ratified his own health plan in Massachusetts. Also, strangely enough, the Heritage Foundation's idea of an individual mandate is now law but they renounced it when it was passed by Congress. I expect to hear a lot of chaff from House Republicans vowing to repeal the whole shebang. The past week has seen Republicans stumbling all over themselves to promise keeping the provisions that are popular. Personally, I would rather be in Obama's shoes than Romney's.


Credit should be given to Justice Roberts for navigating the ideological waters and reaching the proper conclusion. A declaration that the law was unconstitutional would have foreclosed any possibility that Congress could adopt any wide-ranging programs to address any major problems in the future.


The question no one seems to ask or answer is why did President Obama bring this to the Court,knowing its controversial nature in his election year? Prior to 2010, it is true, no serious judge believed the individual mandate could be ruled unconstitutional. However, the relentless propaganda over the last two years actually created conditions where the inconceivable was suddenly possible. Obamacare will be placed center stage in the election and it will be interesting to see how the optics are when Romney debates a settled matter. Will voters think he is beating a deadhorse or actually be incensed by the Court's actions?


From a personal perspective, I can cover my son until he is 26th--a major deal for a budding musician. I eventually can join "exchanges" which should provide lower cost health plans. I will not have a ceiling in case something catastrophic happens. It probably means that I will avoid bankruptcy from medical bills but probably from other things. So thanks, Barack.