Healthcare
Hey Conservatives: The Founding Fathers were for ‘Socialized’ Medicine & State-Mandated Health Care!
So says Rick Ungar in an intriguing post on his Forbes magazine blog, The Policy Page:
“The ink was barely dry on the PPACA when the first of many lawsuits to block the mandated health insurance provisions of the law was filed in a Florida District Court.
The pleadings, in part, read –
The Constitution nowhere authorizes the United States to mandate, either directly or under threat of penalty, that all citizens and legal residents have qualifying health care coverage.
State of Florida, et al. vs. HHS
It turns out, the Founding Fathers would beg to disagree.
In July of 1798, Congress passed – and President John Adams signed – “An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen.” The law authorized the creation of a government operated marine hospital service and mandated that privately employed sailors be required to purchase health care insurance.”
If you didn’t click that link to read the Act, hit the jump to read a copy the legislation, “An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen.”
[via The Young Turks]
Thought for the Day: Are the US and Western Europe in ‘Decline’?
This super-cool BBC video titled, ‘200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes – The Joy of Stats’ featuring Dr. Hans Rosling explains part of why people say that but a great Op-Ed in the Toronto Star by US Naval War College professor, Tom Nichols, explains why the rumors of America’s decline might be greatly exaggerated (or is he merely indulging in some very wishful thinking??)
Will President Obama’s New Years Optimism Be Unraveled by the GOP?
Rep. Fred Upton (R-Michigan): Let’s go after health care piece by piece.
Read more:
Why is Obama leaving the grass roots on the sidelines? – I have to cosign this question 200%. Obama built an amazing social network of millions via twitter and My.BarackObama.com that helped him win the election in 2008 then didn’t message or corral them in any meaningful away once he took office and was fighting the Tea Party nuttery and outrage to pass healthcare reform. Now he might lose everything he gained because of a newly-emboldened GOP in the House??! Damn shame….
Central Provision of Obama’s Health Care Bill Struck Down in Virginia Federal Court
Read more via The New York Times.
Update: The judge who ruled health care reform unconstitutional owns a piece of a GOP consulting firm that worked against health care reform! [Gawker]
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