Eredar Warlock

As anyone who knows about me can probably guess, my reaction to the healthcare law decision by the Supreme Court was one of red fury. I lapsed into - and still am - in a state where my only thoughts about it can be summed up by Patrick Henry's famous "give me liberty, or give me death" speech. The Left threw themselves into an orgy of celebration over the ruling, but that celebration quickly turned around when the political difficulties imposed by the ruling became apparent. The fact that those who had it passed were forced to defend the law's mandate as a tax - and a large one - which traditionally is extremely unpopular with the American Public is the only silver lining in the decision as far as I can see.

The decision took a problem and while shutting down one aspect of it (The Commerce clause) it created an entirely new one. Essentially the decision created an entirely new variety of tax not found in the Constitution. A "penalty" tax. Essentially, the decision gives Congress the unlimited authority to regulate behavior through taxes.

Anyone on the Left see a problem with that?

Think about it this way: A law is passed saying that everyone must eat spinach at every meal, or else face a steep tax penalty of $100 for every meal not including spinach. The IRS would be charged with enforcing the law. As happy as this would make sailors, I doubt any of the rest of the country would approve outside of the hardline health advocates and PETA types.

Or how about this: An NRA-controlled Congress mandates that all citizens purchase a firearm for home defense or face a $10,000 tax penalty after which a cheap .22 caliber rifle is delivered to you.

Or perhaps an insanely ideologued Congress mandating that all citizens be members of their own political party or face taxes that put them into financial ruin.


As hyperbolic as it sounds, it is well within the realm of possibility. The healthcare decision essentially recreates the possibility of a modern version of the Intolerable Acts being passed, which led the U.S. colonies on the road to the Revolutionary War. The taxing power of Congress is left virtually limitless.

But hey, at least we get free healthcare, right?

[QUOTE]"What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

- Patrick Henry[/QUOTE]

For my part, I will not comply with the Healthcare law, whatever it does to me or my finances.