My Irish wife thought Americans loved liberty too much to accept the health care mandate
Posted on Wednesday, July 04, 2012 at 05:00 AM
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| Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, whose surprise vote was decisive in health care decision. |
There was an item about firefighters in Colorado not having health care. It was the typical network news lechh, with a plastic reporter not so much reporting as trying to grab us by the heartstrings. That sort of thing just gets my goat and I blurted out, "Oh gimme a break."
My wife started asking me questions about the the Colorado firefighters thinking I knew something about those who are fighting fires in Colorado and their health care issues. I don't. It was merely the reporter's tone that set me off, although I told my wife I doubted that the firefighters' tale was as straight-forward as NBC's talking emoticon made it seem.
I said that I thought this is NBC's way of providing more back-up for the new Health Care law in America. We got talking about the new law. I explained that I didn't understand all of it and went through a few of the provisions as I understood them.
I told her that people who were already sick or injured or whatever could not be denied health insurance. She didn't have much a problem with that one. I told her the government claims it will help control the costs of health care and health insurance, but "who knows? We have a lot of that here and costs seem to be exploding."
I mentioned that under the new law children could remain on their parents' policy til they were 26. That didn't phase her, although I find it odd that someone who's 25 can be considered a child.
Not a biggie, however.
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Read More:
Chief Justice John Roberts votes his Catholic conscience on Health Care bill -- One of six Catholics on court and a true lover of Ireland
Bill O’Reilly weighs in on Healthcare - says John Roberts decision on Obamacare was wrong
Ireland's health care example
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I then mentioned the individual mandate and my wife was stunned.
"You mean, even people who don't want health insurance are going to be forced to buy it?"
"Yup."
"Really? Surely that would be ruled out in court."
"No, the Supreme Court just ruled it was constitutional. It's the law of the land."
"I'm shocked by that. I didn't think Americans would stand for anything like that. They always give the impression of not liking it when the government intrudes in their lives. I'm really surprised that Americans are willing to put up with that."
My wife was sure Americans had more respect for individual liberty than that. "If people can be compelled to buy health insurance what can they not be compelled to do?" Indeed. Happy 4th of July. See more: 4th July
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seanomelb | Jul 10, 2012, 07:18 PM EDT
"Might be bought off" this is not America we enjoy our freedom and we are a richer nation for that. BTW the Four most profitable banks in the world are Australian and listed on the stock market and did not suffer the ignominy of the U.S. banks during the GFC.Have a good day Briano
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TheYank | Jul 09, 2012, 10:58 AM EDT
LarryDonnelly
It seems ludicrous, but given we're liable for tax even if we file abroad I'd like to know if this will be an issue too.
It seems ludicrous, but given we're liable for tax even if we file abroad I'd like to know if this will be an issue too.
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BrianO | Jul 09, 2012, 08:34 AM EDT
Seano, I repeat it often and loudly to as many of my fellow citizens as I can, for once I forget what freedom is I might be bought off for $600 a week. I like the New Hampshire state motto "Live Free or die"
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LarryDonnelly | Jul 09, 2012, 08:15 AM EDT
Hi Yank, sorry for the delay in coming back. I'm not sure if the law speaks to Americans living overseas.
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TheYank | Jul 09, 2012, 07:16 AM EDT
seanomelb,
The Declaration of Independence referred to "life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness." It was written by Jefferson in 1776. {The Constitution was adopted in 1787.}
The phrase "liberté, égalité, fraternité" was coined during the 1790s. This phrase (credit unknown) and Jefferson's "life, liberty & pursuit of happiness" are aspirational, a reflection of the change the two peoples hoped to achieve through revolution.
Jefferson and the other founders of America drew on the philosophers of the 18th century as did those who believed in the French Revolution. There are common roots to both revolutions, however I think those two phrases indicate that there were also differences in the aspirations of the two peoples. "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" are much more individualistic aspirations than are "liberté, égalité, fraternité."
The Declaration of Independence referred to "life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness." It was written by Jefferson in 1776. {The Constitution was adopted in 1787.}
The phrase "liberté, égalité, fraternité" was coined during the 1790s. This phrase (credit unknown) and Jefferson's "life, liberty & pursuit of happiness" are aspirational, a reflection of the change the two peoples hoped to achieve through revolution.
Jefferson and the other founders of America drew on the philosophers of the 18th century as did those who believed in the French Revolution. There are common roots to both revolutions, however I think those two phrases indicate that there were also differences in the aspirations of the two peoples. "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" are much more individualistic aspirations than are "liberté, égalité, fraternité."
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TheYank | Jul 09, 2012, 07:10 AM EDT
seanomelb,
The phrase "all men are created equal" is from the Declaration, not the Constitution.
I don't like putting words in my wife's mouth, but I suspect she'd find a taxpayer-funded national health system more understandable than this mandate.
The phrase "all men are created equal" is from the Declaration, not the Constitution.
I don't like putting words in my wife's mouth, but I suspect she'd find a taxpayer-funded national health system more understandable than this mandate.
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TheYank | Jul 09, 2012, 06:54 AM EDT
bogsidebunny,
Nope. My wife's obligations with regards to the household charge have been met.
maireadinmelb,
A "more perfect union" is the opposite of a utopian vision. It's the recognition that man is weak, prone to corruption. That's why they designed a system of limited govt - not because they thought it would be "perfect," but rather it would be more perfect than any other system. Modern usage would probably call it the "least worst option."
Nope. My wife's obligations with regards to the household charge have been met.
maireadinmelb,
A "more perfect union" is the opposite of a utopian vision. It's the recognition that man is weak, prone to corruption. That's why they designed a system of limited govt - not because they thought it would be "perfect," but rather it would be more perfect than any other system. Modern usage would probably call it the "least worst option."
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seanomelb | Jul 09, 2012, 12:12 AM EDT
The greatest modern nation in your opinion.maybe you would like to live here in our great democracy where the wage safety net is is $600 per wk or have our 5% unemployment rate or or health system and all you can crow about is guns how de classe of you.
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shop tom | Jul 08, 2012, 10:03 PM EDT
seanomelb, it took America's founding fathers to put your "French cornerstone" into the US constitution, along with the right to free speech and the right to bear arms, among other, at the time, novel ideas that turned out to be the blueprint for the greatest modern nation. Obama, for his part, see the US constitution as an obstacle in his quest for ever-growing and controlling government, something the founding fathers took great pains to limit.
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seanomelb | Jul 07, 2012, 08:31 PM EDT
Briano It was the French "Liberte Egalite Fraternite" which is the corner stone of the American constitution.It amuses me how some of you Americans think you invented freedom.I suppose if you repeat it often enough you believe it to be factual.
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BrianO | Jul 07, 2012, 04:42 PM EDT
@Yank, The foriegners you argue with don't understand the importance Liberty and individual freedom that every American born citizen until recently is born with. The signers of the Declaration of Independence put every thing on the line for freedom and many were hanged, their wealth taken, and their families destroyed. Giving away any freedom for comfort is immoral to a free citizen of the U.S.A.
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BrianO | Jul 07, 2012, 04:36 PM EDT
To justify voting for the constitutionality of the law Roberts said it is a TAX, if it is a mandate he could not have twisted the truth that far. So if you wish it to be Constitutional it is a tax, non constitutional a fee.
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jerrydonovan | Jul 07, 2012, 11:23 AM EDT
Yank, the penalty/tax is ONLY paid by those who don't have insurance.This is to offset the cost to the taxpayers who like the other car owner in your example, would be stuck for the cost.
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seanomelb | Jul 06, 2012, 07:59 PM EDT
TheYank!! The opening words of the U.S. constitution states "all men are created equal.In regards to healthcare the EU is not one nation therefore each country has it's own system.Australia has six states and commonwealth territories and all enjoy the same system. You seem to forget that Obamacare was passed by the house,The Senate (by 60 votes) and signed off by the president and now recognised by the supreme court and the good old GOP will not except the will of the people or the courts.One should remember the Obama took the universal healthcare issue to the people(2008) and won the election.The U.S. suffers a malaise and stagnation due to the intransigence of the party of no.
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